ACADEMIC OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW IN
THE PRE-PREP
The Pre-Prep curriculum comprises two
separate stages:
The Early Years
(Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Reception)
Children begin their education based around
the English Early Years Foundation Stage
curriculum. This curriculum advocates a
play-based approach and the concept of
‘The Unique Child’. This means each child
is different and learns in many ways. It also
values how children learn through the aspect
of Characteristics of Effective Learning. It is
split into seven distinct areas: four core and
three specific.
– Communication and language (core)
– Personal, social and emotional
development (core)
– Physical development (core)
– Literacy (specific)
– Mathematics (specific)
– Understanding the world (specific)
– Expressive arts and design (specific)
At Wellington, we follow the IPC from years
1 to 5. The IPC has been selected for our
pupils due to its international approach to
education, high curriculum standards and
relevant and meaningful assessments. The IPC
is a superb, inquiry-based learning tool trusted
in over 1,600 schools in 92 countries. It offers
a comprehensive, thematic and creative
programme where a variety of subjects are
covered cross-curricular within the theme
of the chosen topic. Subjects include science,
history, geography, art, ICT, international and
society, music and technology.
Whilst no one particular subject dominates
the IPC, some units may focus more on a
particular subject area. A detailed curriculum
letter is sent to all parents at the beginning
of a new unit, which informs them what their
children will be learning and doing in the unit.
The pupils start each new unit with a ‘Wow
Day’, which the teachers organise to get the
children excited about their upcoming unit,
followed by a ‘Knowledge Harvest’, where
the pupils think about and record what they
already know about their upcoming unit.
Children in Early Years also have daily
Chinese lessons for 30 minutes and weekly
library, music, PE and swimming classes
(save that pre-nursery children will not have
swimming). Children in nursery and reception
also have daily phonics sessions and maths is
taught as an integral part of the daily routine.
All other areas of learning are taught through
the various contexts we have throughout
the year, which generally change each half
term period. Over the ensuing weeks, the children will
take part in a variety of lessons, projects
and activities all geared towards the theme
of their current unit. This is known as ‘The
Big Picture’. Ultimately, the pupils finish
with an ‘Exit Point’, which is essentially an
amalgamation of what they have learned in
that particular unit. During the course of each
unit, the teachers will undertake selected
assessments of each pupil and the pupils will
have the opportunity to assess themselves
against a clear set of criteria.
Key Stage 1 (years 1 and 2) The IPC itself focuses on three areas, which
are knowledge, skills and understanding.
The children progress to the English National
Curriculum for literacy, mathematics and
phonics. In all other subjects they follow
the International Primary Curriculum (IPC).
Further details on the IPC will follow. Children
in year 1 and year 2 have daily phonics,
literacy, maths, Chinese and IPC lessons.
Phonics classes in Key Stage 1 are streamed
according to children’s previous exposure to
phonics and retention of prior learning. They
are also streamed for Chinese.
16
INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY
CURRICULUM (IPC)
Knowledge: Facts that we as educators think
our pupils need to know. This is information
that we know is true and the way we answer
a knowledge question will be either right or
wrong. For example: Paris is the capital of
France. That is knowledge.
Skills: Finding out how to do things. Skills are
practical and can be described as ‘being able’
to do something. For example: being able to
tie shoelaces, being able to read a map, being
able to perform an operation. There are skills
within every subject that children study at
school; from mathematics to art to history to
science to music. Skills take time to develop
and as we learn, we learn skills in small,
progressive steps.
Understanding: Developing a sense of the
meaning behind why we know and do things.
Understanding involves a combination of
accumulated knowledge, practiced skills
and reflection over time. In addition, a real
strength of the IPC is that it allows teachers
to use ‘host country’ examples and learning
experiences to teach their pupils. This means
that when learning through subjects such as
history and geography, the teachers will be
able to teach using ‘China based’ examples
and lessons where appropriate. The IPC
prepares our pupils for the ever-changing
world in which we live by giving them the skills
to be independent thinkers, adaptable and
open-minded. It has been a great success at
Wellington so far.
STAFF
Every child in the Pre-Prep has a class teacher
and teaching assistant. In Pre-Nursery, due
to the age of the children, we have three
teaching assistants in the classroom. The
class teacher teaches the main parts of
the curriculum and leads the pastoral role.
The class teachers are supported by other
specialist teachers, who take a larger role as
the children get older. This allows children
to become familiar with a variety of adults,
which promotes their independence and
adaptability skills.
All our class teachers are trained to the
highest standards and are experienced in
teaching the English curriculum. Many of our
teachers have degrees in Early Years and
primary education, which are supplemented
by formal teaching qualifications. Our teaching
body reflects the international profile of
our students, with teachers joining us from
Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand.
We ensure that our teaching staff embody the
values and high expectations of Wellington
as well as bringing their own personality and
interests into the classroom.