Early Years
at Kings Schools
International

Designed for children aged 3 to 6, our Early Years programme offers a warm, playful and purposeful start to school. Through guided exploration, stories, movement and creative discovery, children build confidence, communication, independence and a genuine love of learning.

Early Years
Early Years

Choose a year

Early Years

Reception

Learning is practical, playful and closely connected to children’s everyday experiences. Activities encourage children to listen, communicate, explore and feel confident within the classroom community.

Reception

Communication & Language

  • Listening attentively in groups and following instructions.
  • Naming familiar objects, introducing ourselves and building everyday vocabulary.
  • Expressing ideas in simple sentences and joining ideas using ‘and’.

Personal, Social & Emotional Development

  • Recognising feelings and learning to manage emotions.
  • Building relationships through caring, sharing, fairness and turn-taking.
  • Developing independence, healthy habits and persistence when facing a challenge.

Physical Development

  • Developing balance, coordination and ball skills.
  • Strengthening fine-motor control through scissors, pencils and creative materials.
  • Practising pencil grip and letter formation.

Literacy

  • Enjoying stories, rhymes and books, and talking about what we have heard.
  • Learning letter sounds through Phase 2 and 3 phonics and blending simple CVC words.
  • Recognising and writing our names, tracing lower-case letters and creating labels and captions.

Mathematics

  • Subitising small quantities and counting forwards and backwards to 20.
  • Comparing quantities, finding one more or one less, and exploring addition and subtraction with objects.
  • Exploring number bonds to 5 and 10, part-whole models and ten frames.
  • Recognising 2D and 3D shapes, repeating patterns and positional language.
  • Comparing length, height and weight, and talking about time in everyday routines.

Understanding the World

  • Exploring seasons, weather, plants and life cycles.
  • Investigating the senses, materials, water, sound and movement.
  • Learning about the Sun, Moon and stars and using electricity safely.
  • Discovering our local community, family histories, landmarks and cultural traditions.

Expressive Arts & Design

  • Experimenting with paint, clay, collage and a variety of materials.
  • Developing imagination through role-play and storytelling.
  • Exploring songs, rhymes, dance, rhythm and musical instruments.
Early Years

Year 1

Year 1 develops strong foundations in English, Mathematics and Science across three terms, supported by History, Geography and Art & Design.

Year 1

English

Term 1

Phonics Phase 4/5 review, simple sentence structure and narratives through fairy tales.

Term 2

Instruction writing, rhythm and rhyme in poetry, and recounting personal experiences.

Term 3

Information reports, traditional tales from other cultures and creative story endings.

Mathematics

Term 1

Counting to 20, place value, addition and subtraction within 10, and 2D shapes.

Term 2

Place value to 50, subtraction within 20, length, height, weight and volume.

Term 3

Counting in 2s, 5s and 10s, halves and quarters, money, and telling time.

Science

Term 1

Common animals, parts of the human body and the five senses.

Term 2

Objects and materials, their properties, and seasonal changes in autumn and winter.

Term 3

Wild and garden plants, tree and flower structure, and spring and summer changes.

Foundation Subjects

History

Toys from the past and significant individuals, including the history of flight.

Geography

The local area, basic map skills, and the four countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom.

Art & Design

Self-portraits, colour mixing, painting, textiles and clay.

The Year 1 plan aligns with Pearson Edexcel iPrimary Progression Tests and Achievement Tests.

Early Years / Kindergarten

A Play-Based Foundation for Lifelong Learning

Early childhood is an important period in a child’s development. We recognise that every child is unique and provide a play-based, inspiring learning environment where children can develop socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically.

The Pearson Edexcel iPrimary Reception/Year 1 curriculum is a three-year programme for Reception 1, Reception 2 and Year 1, supporting children from approximately ages 3 to 6 and preparing them for full-time academic education.

Core Areas

  • Maths – developing mathematical curiosity and introducing key mathematical concepts
  • English – supporting early language development, English exploration, reading and literacy
  • The World Around Us – developing early research and questioning skills while encouraging social development

Additional Areas

  • Physical Education
  • Art
  • Slovak Language
  • Music
  • Teacher-led and child-led play

Our Early Years approach supports the development of the social, emotional, cognitive and physical skills children need to thrive.

Where strong
foundations begin

In Early Years, learning grows through purposeful play, caring relationships and guided discovery. Children develop communication, confidence and independence while building the social, emotional and practical foundations they need for the next stage of school.

Language and relationships

Conversation, stories and shared experiences strengthen communication, empathy and a sense of belonging.

Learning through play

Purposeful play helps children explore ideas, solve problems and make sense of the world around them.

Confident beginnings

Children settle into school life through warm relationships, familiar routines and encouragement to try new things.

See the rhythm
of the school year

Open School Calendar

Term dates, family events, celebrations and key Early Years moments in one place.

From seasonal celebrations and themed weeks to family gatherings, trips and special classroom moments, our calendar helps families feel part of the Early Years journey throughout the year.

The way children
grow here

Young children learn best when they feel safe, valued and free to explore. Our Early Years classrooms combine caring relationships, purposeful play and gentle guidance so every child can develop at their own pace while growing in confidence and curiosity.

The way children
  • Learning through purposeful play
  • Language-rich daily experiences
  • Warm, responsive relationships
  • Space to move, create and discover

Our Early Years approach is guided by ten practical principles that help young children feel secure, stay curious and make meaningful progress through play and everyday experiences.

Principles
for Progress

Open communication with families connects learning at school and home and supports every child consistently.
Timely encouragement helps children recognise progress, try again and feel proud of their effort.
Children learn to make choices, care for their belongings and take increasing responsibility for themselves.
Warm connections with adults and friends create the trust children need to explore and take healthy risks.
Active play develops coordination, body awareness, confidence and readiness for focused learning.
Children are encouraged to notice, wonder, ask questions and follow ideas that capture their imagination.
Consistent daily rhythms help children feel safe, understand expectations and become more independent.
Conversation, songs, stories and questions help children build vocabulary and express their ideas.
Carefully planned play gives children meaningful opportunities to investigate, practise and create.
We observe, listen and respond to each child so learning starts from their interests, strengths and needs.

A curriculum
with depth
and direction

01/07

Expressive Arts and Design

Art, music, movement and imaginative play give children many ways to explore ideas and communicate creatively.

  • Art and materials
  • Music and movement
  • Imaginative expression
Expressive Arts and Design
02/07

Understanding the World

Hands-on discovery helps children notice people, places, nature, technology and change in the world around them.

  • People and communities
  • Nature and investigation
  • Everyday technology
Understanding the World
03/07

Mathematics

Children explore number, pattern, shape and measure through practical experiences and playful problem-solving.

  • Number sense
  • Patterns and relationships
  • Shape, space and measure
Mathematics
04/07

Literacy

Stories, sounds, mark-making and books help children discover the pleasure and purpose of reading and writing.

  • Early phonological awareness
  • Enjoying books
  • Emergent writing
Literacy
05/07

Physical Development

Daily movement and practical activity strengthen coordination, balance, independence and control.

  • Gross motor skills
  • Fine motor skills
  • Healthy routines
Physical Development
06/07

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Children build secure relationships, recognise feelings and develop confidence as members of a caring community.

  • Self-awareness
  • Managing emotions
  • Positive relationships
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
07/07

Communication and Language

Children learn to listen, understand and express themselves through conversation, stories, songs and shared play.

  • Listening and attention
  • Speaking with confidence
  • Building rich vocabulary
Communication and Language

Learning that
connects the dots

In Early Years, children do not experience learning as separate subjects. A story can lead to counting, role play, art, movement and outdoor investigation, helping ideas become connected, memorable and meaningful.

Contact Admissions

Whether your child is taking their first steps into school or preparing for the move to primary, we would be happy to help you discover if Early Years at Kings Schools International is the right fit for your family.

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