Principles of education
Our pre-school curriculum is based on the education framework system for preschool education and is also adjusted to English language schooling. The daily conversation in our preschool is in Czech as well as in English.
We guide our preschoolers through their pre-school studies according to our school’s philosphy, which is based on respect and good relationships. Our approach to students is non – directive, as we carefully prepare the children for their elementary school studies. We do so in an environment that enables the students to socialize with their fellow classmates and teachers, as well as promoting a positive approach to studying as well as leisure time. It is important to guide the students towards independence and an open-minded, friendly approach towards others, which includes the ability to resolve conflicts. We put an emphasis on positive motivation towards learning through experiential studying as well as the ability to learn from mistakes.
The concept of our pre-school was positively and extensively evaluated by the Czech School Inspectors (the complete report of the Czech School Inspection from February 2017 here).
English language with native speakers
The English department in our pre-school is taught exclusively by native speakers who are fully qualified and present throughout the whole day. Students are therefore able to learn English during their daily activities throughout their school day.
Based on our experience, we believe that children should start learning English in their pre-school years, as they are more prone to find
joy in learning during their favorite activities and aren’t worried about making mistakes. Education at this age is spontaneous with the use of phonetic memory, as children tend to imitate sounds. This offers them a great starting point for pronunciation and ultimately, the understanding of a foreign language.
We teach English in cooperation with the rest of the pre-school programme. Our teachers work together on various topics through which our students build their vocabulary and gain general overview of the not just the language, but the culture as well.
Effective pre-school education in Czech language
The teaching of the English language does not take place at the expense of the Czech language. Czech teachers always speak Czech to the children, which leads to a natural perception of the bilingual environment. The children have a speech pattern in front of them at all times, we pay attention to correct phrasing and pronunciation, vocabulary development, and we consistently take Czech realities and traditions, songs and fairy tales into account in the kindergarten programme.
The overall concept of pre-school training in our kindergarten aims at the development of speech, vocabulary, correct use of language, correction of speech immaturity, practice of memory, expressive abilities, pre-math orientation, preparation for writing and reading, and equal sensory development. Promoting the child’s occupational and social maturity and mastery of gross motor skills is also an integral part of preschool preparation. The programme also includes systematic speech therapy aimed at preventing speech disorders. In the pre-school year, children are also tested for school maturity, on the basis of which teaching is adapted so that children enter primary school mature in all areas, i.e. cognitive, linguistic, social-emotional and physical, and able to cope independently with the demands of primary school.