Harrow Little Lions Early Years CentreS

Our Harrow Little Lions Early Years Centres provide an exceptional learning experience for children aged 2 to 6 years old. Research shows that this important stage of a child’s development needs high quality provision that recognises the child’s needs and ensures that it fully optimises their learning and development.

Our curriculum is carefully constructed to ensure that it reflects the most up to date and relevant knowledge regarding what is most important for children aged 2 – 6 and deliberately draws from the best Kindergarten Curricula from across the world. This specifically incorporates the Chinese guidelines for Kindergarten aged children while also acknowledging aspects of the English Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). A central philosophical and practical consideration is ensuring that the curriculum meets the needs of the child and is delivered in way that all children can access it. Equally there is a strong emphasis on cultural heritage and identity with an outward facing International Mindedness that will prepare children for the global dimensions and demands of the world they will live and work in. Part of this curriculum is ensuring that children thrive in a truly Bilingual environment that both secures confidence and development in their home language as well as natural exposure to and acquisition of the English language.

It is at this stage too, that the Harrow Values of Courage, Honour, Humility and Fellowship are introduced and nurtured within each child. Developing the traits, skills and attributes which support their journey from Little Lions to future leaders is a central ambition for our provision.

Effective Learning and Skilful Teaching

Set in state-of-the-art facilities, our approach ensures that every individual reaches their full potential and acquires the knowledge, skill and learning behaviours they need in order to be successful lifelong learners, adults and citizens.

Children learn most effectively when they are confident within the learning environment so that they can take cognitive risks that secure and grow neurological connections. In order to do this they need to be taught and supported by skilled and responsive adults, and also have opportunities to explore, internalise and rehearse what they have learned in a high-quality environment that supports their independence and creativity.

Educational research has shown that, for optimal development, children need to be exposed to diverse stimuli. They learn by experiencing new ways of moving, new textures, new sounds, new experiences and new environments. Within this, skilful and sensitive adult support, encouragement, questioning and instruction enable children to learn and develop, acquiring new knowledge, developing new skills and embedding learning behaviours that underpin their ability to progress.

Our educational programme is shaped by the EYFS and the Learning and Development Guidelines for children aged 2 – 6. These cover the learning domains of

Language development (Home Language and English)
Social Development
Health and Hygiened
Literacy
Mathematics
The Arts
Understanding the World
Sustainability (Environmental Awareness)
Digital Knowledge and Awareness
Cultural identity, heritage and diversity / International Mindedness

And the learning Disciplines of

Thinking and cognitive Development
Curiosity
Motivation
Creativity
Emotional Development and Wellbeing

These provide the content on which children’s progression and long term success is based.

Harrow Little Lions Early Years Centres provide children with a carefully structured curriculum and an evidenced based approach to teaching that ensures emotional, social and cognitive development is at the core of everything that we do.