Nursery school
Organisation
Preschool welcomes children from 2 and half to 5 years old, a critical time where their progression and development are particularly sensitive. For many young pupils, preschool is a first opportunity to integrate into a larger group of children and make new experiences.
In addition to French, our first language, English classes start as early as in the first year of preschool when young children are in the ideal age for learning languages rapidly. Our preschool pupils will progress in a stimulating multilingual environment where the professors, all native speakers, offer individual care and support.
- Preschool (TPS): 2.5 years
- Nursery (PS): 3 years
- Reception (MS): 4 years
- Year 1 (GS): 5 years
Organisation of the week and of the school day
Classes span across 9 half-days per week:
- 4 full days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
- 1 half day: Wednesday
For all levels, the day starts at 8h30 and finishes at 15h30.
Morning classes for pupils in preschool end at 11h30 and are followed by an 1h30 midday break. Only on Wednesdays classes end at 12h00. During the morning, a 20 min break is organised on a slightly different schedule than elementary pupils.
Rest period
Respectful of very young children’s rhythm of life, our organisation of school time takes into account the physiological needs of each pupil to allow for adapted rest periods. Until the age of 4, the majority of children need a rest period that ensures their equilibrium and allows them to learn in good conditions. The scheduling is thus flexible and takes into account the needs of each children. In any event, the rest period is limited to 1h30 and activities are proposed as soon as the wake-up.
In pre-kindergarden 3yo
this period is prioritised over other activities
In pre-kindergarden 4yo
it is not mandatory and it depends on the child’s needs
In kindergarden
there is no systematic rest period
EDUCATIONAL GOALS & PEDAGOGICAL VISION
Educational objectives in nursery school and the educational vision of the EFI Brussels
The main objective of preschool is to give pupils the desire to learn, to become autonomous and to assert their personality. The schools engages its pupils in becoming self-confident in their capacity to learn and to succeed at school.
Preschool help children become capable of interacting and communicating with others. In this process, a particular attention is given to the development of their social, emotional and motor skills: respect for rules, self-confidence, concentration, fine and gross motor skills etc.
Renowned for their pedagogical quality, the French school programs in Preschoool offers a subtle balance between personal development and the acquisition of fundamental aptitudes:
- They develop linguistic skills
- They discover writing with graphical gesture
- They develop motor skills
- They discover the link between sounds and letters
- They learn the basis of maths (counting and resolving problems)
- They become even more curious of the world around them
- They develop their imagination and curiosity
It is in this spirit that EFI Brussels has developed its pedagogical model, where learning is based on playful and interactive sequences (games, songs, handling objects, performances, visiting museums etc.). Furthermore, our pedagogy favours encouragement with positive and constructive feedback (even in case of failure).
After 3 years, pupils will have acquired a solid basis which they will rely on to develop even more skills in elementary school.
Teaching languages in preschool
Children in preschool follow a teaching program where native speaker teachers quickly familiarise pupils with the different languages of the school and help them improve their comprehension and speaking skills throughout the year.
French
Half of our teaching is conducted in French, which is our language of instruction and the main language spoken throughout our school. From the 3rd year of nursery school (Year 1, GS, 5 years), our pupils enter a more intensive programme, preparing to learn how to read and write in French.
English
Half of our teaching is conducted in English from preschool (TPS) onwards. As our nursery school pupils are so young, we do not take into account their level of ability in our English language classes. Our teachers are used to adapting their teaching methods to manage potential differences in level of ability and to help all our pupils progress.