First School

The newly created First School covers children from 18 months to 7 years of age and is organised into two sections: the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Children are placed in classes depending on their age at the beginning of the academic year. We accept applications from parents of children who are 18 months or older on this date (see Admissions policy).

The First School upholds and promotes the Mission Statement of Garden International School.

Parents as Partners

At Garden International First School we feel it is important to develop positive relationships between home and school, parents and teachers. We aim to make you feel welcome and provide you with all the information you require for peace of mind before and during your child's time with us.

Garden International First School has an 'open door' policy and we encourage parents to come into school to discuss any concerns they have, however minor they may seem, before they become an issue for you or your child. A very important means of parent-teacher feedback is the 'Communication Book' in which the teacher records important information and in which you, as parents, can communicate with the teacher. The Communication Book comes home each day with the child.

Reports to Parents

Term 1

Parents receive a written report on the progress of their child in December. This is a 'settling in report' and relates mainly to social and emotional issues your child might be having. At the end of the term all classes have Parent-Teacher meetings.

Term 2

Parents are invited to meet with teachers to discuss their child's learning.

Term 3

At the end of year a full written report is sent home at the end of term and all classes have Parent-Teacher meetings.

The First School has a weekly assembly in which we celebrate festivals and special days from all religions, cultures and countries as well as celebrating children's achievements of the previous week. Parents are able to attend the weekly assemblies.

The First School Day

School starts at 8.20am. Early Years part-time finish at 11.30am, full-time at 2.00pm. Nursery and Reception finish at 2.10pm and Years 1 and 2 at 2.30pm. All children should be collected by 2.45pm.

Early Years timetable

Nursery timetable

Reception timetable

Year 1 & 2 timetable

Snack and Lunch

Snack is available in the morning and consists of fruit and a biscuit or sandwich. Lunches are available for your child from the school canteen, which provides a variety of Western, vegetarian, and Thai food every day. Alternatively pupils can bring their own packed lunch if they wish to do so.

Uniforms

School Uniform is available at the school office. All children should wear a green polo shirt and blue shorts for boys, checked skirt for girls.

Footwear should be white socks and sensible black shoes.

Hats to protect the head from the sun should be worn outside at all times.

P.E. Kit

White G.I.S. T-shirt and black shorts with green stripes, white socks and trainers.

Swimming

For swimming, pupils need a swimming costume, goggles and towel. If girls have long hair, they also need a swimming hat or a hair tie.

Please ensure all uniform is labelled with your child's name as soon as it is bought so that it does not get lost or misplaced.

Jewellery

Jewellery is not to be worn by children unless it is a small religious emblem, stud earrings or a watch. This restriction on jewellery is to ensure that your child is at as little risk as possible from an accident in school time and secondly, to ensure items which are of sentimental value are not lost at school.

Foundation Stage
Early Years, Nursery and Reception
The Foundation Stage aims to:

• Build on children's experience of language at home and in the wider community by providing a range of opportunities to use their home languages so that their developing use of English and other language support one another.
• Provide a range of opportunities for children to engage in speaking and listening activities in English with their peers and adults.
• Ensure that all children have opportunities to recognise and show respect for each child's home language and culture.
• Provide language support wherever possible, in particular to extend vocabulary and support children's developing understanding.

We are equipped with the facilities necessary for real play and challenging learning experiences that reflect and show respect for the diversity of children's individual needs. All children receive positive and consistent encouragement to play and laugh, to learn, think and do, and have a wonderful opportunity for meeting with and developing a far-reaching understanding of many people and their cultures. A lifetime of happy learning begins right here at Garden International First School. A real education for life!

In the Foundation section we recognise that your child may make achievements that you would like to have a record of, just as if it had occurred at home. For this reason we collect, date and record your child's development to enable us to inform you when these achievements are reached. This information will be incorporated into your child's first term and end of year reports.

Each class teacher also records your child's progress in a 'Special Book'. This book is a valuable working record of each child's progress during the year and is regularly updated by teachers. It is available to view in school by the child’s parents whenever they ask to see the book, as well as going home regularly. The completed book is presented to parents at the end of the academic year and forms the basis for discussion at the end-of-year parent-teacher meetings.

Early Years

Children are eligible to join the Early Years setting when they are 18 months of age. They remain within this setting until they are three years of age. Children are eligible to join the Nursery if they are three at the beginning of the academic year (see Admissions policy).

The Early Years department has qualified and experienced staff who are able to provide for your child in a stimulating and safe environment. Our Early Years provides a programme of care suited to the needs and developmental stages of very young children. Play, care and consistent modelling of appropriate behaviour ensures the development of healthy, happy and well-balanced children. Through play and carefully organised real-life situations your child will learn to master new social skills both independently and with the support of other children and adults.

The Early Years day allows for free movement within the setting and outdoors in the garden. Opportunities exist for playing, eating and resting as appropriate for your child. The children are supervised by qualified adults and by classroom assistants at all times for their safety and well-being.

The Foundation Stage Curriculum

The Foundation Stage begins when a child turns three. It has its own distinct curriculum based on the curriculum of England and Wales. We want your child to be a fulfilled and well-adjusted learner. To be happy, motivated to learn and empowered to achieve their best potential they need to be given the opportunity to develop in all areas of the curriculum.
The curriculum is organised into six areas of learning by supporting, fostering, promoting and developing:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication, Language and Literacy;
• Mathematical Development;
• Knowledge and Understanding of the World;
• Physical Development;
• Creative Development.

The Early Learning Goals establish expectations for most children to reach by the end of the Foundation Stage. Each one of the six areas of learning is sectioned into Early Learning Goals and then "Stepping Stones". Further details of the curriculum can be requested from the school.

Foundation Stage Assessment

At Garden International First School we are aware that children learn at different rates. Therefore it is necessary to be able to plan a child-centred curriculum and set individual learning goals for each child as well as maintain a broad curriculum with an overall view of the learning and skills we wish the children to acquire.

• Create a stimulating and effective learning environment for all the pupils entrusted into our care.
• Promote a good working environment for pupils, teachers, non-teaching staff and parents
• Develop awareness in pupils of their own value as an individual and as a member of the community
• Help pupils develop lively inquiring minds, the ability to question and to apply themselves to tasks and physical skills
• Inspire confidence in students to acquire basic skills, knowledge and concepts, wherever possible through first hand experience
• Instil respect for religious and moral values and to help pupils to value and be sensitive towards others
• Help pupils to understand and appreciate the world in which we live
• Create life-long learners

Key Stage 1 Curriculum

The Key Stage 1 curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales which provides guidance on what should be taught and the expected standards of pupils’ performance. It includes, but is not restricted to:

English, Mathematics, Science, Information Communications Technology, History, Geography, Art, Music, Physical Education, Design and Technology, Thai Studies and Personal and Social and Health Education.
Within the curriculum areas, we ensure that we:

• provide a wide variety of educational opportunities
• offer challenges, enjoyment and success in the pupil’s work
• plan breadth and balance of curriculum
• provide equal access and opportunity
• provide a curriculum that will be well-matched to the pupil’s needs
• will show differentiation, progression and continuity in learning
• will provide a curriculum relevant to society today
• "teach how to learn" (i.e. processes, not just acquisition of knowledge).

Complete curriculum documentation is available at the school. Teachers provide the core subject learning of Literacy and Numeracy as distinct subjects but are encouraged to adapt all curriculum areas to provide a thematic approach to their students' learning. This results in learning activities that may cover multiple aspects of the curriculum in a single instance i.e. Science, Art, Geography and Literacy in an individual activity.
In addition to the curriculum, we aim to develop confidence, independence, self-discipline and positive working, and social relationships.

Home Reading

A great deal of importance is placed on home reading, and all Key Stage 1 pupils are expected to read every evening at home. Each child will take home a reading book and a library book every day in their school bag. They will also bring a Reading Record with the date and book title. These books will be sent home every afternoon and should be returned to school everyday, regardless of whether the book has been finished, as the same book will be used for class reading. Please ensure that you sign and comment in the reading record when you listen to them read.

Key Stage 1 Assessment

All children are continuously assessed by teachers using both summative and formative assessment strategies. Summative assessment provides information as to pupil learning after a teaching and learning cycle has occurred whilst formative assessment provides the information needed to adapt the teaching and learning process as it is occurring. These are both used to inform future provision and as indicators of progress when reporting to parents.