Nursery and Early Years in Somerset West

At Helderberg International School in South Africa, our Nursery and Early Years classes cater for children from 2½ to 6 years old. Our experienced, nurturing teachers bring our Cambridge Early Years curriculum to life because we know that children learn best when they feel happy, safe and supported. We aim to foster a love of learning and encourage curiosity through hands-on learning, as this is the beginning of their educational journey at Helderberg International.

Our programme recognises that a child’s foundation for successful learning is shaped through personal, social, emotional and physical development.

“Before we ever put a pencil in our child’s hands, those hands should dig, climb, press, pull, squish, twist and pinch a wide array of environments and a wide variety of materials.” – Amanda Morgan

Perceptual, gross and fine-motor skills need to be well established before formal learning can take place. Our programme therefore has a strong emphasis on language development, physical development, creative and sensory activities, ensuring that our children are ready for formal schooling in Year 1 at Helderberg International School.

We follow the Early Years Cambridge curriculum, which develops knowledge, skills and understanding through engaging themes. The Cambridge Early Years Programme focuses on 6 key areas:

Communication, Language and Literacy – language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) help children make sense of the world, build social connections and solve problems.

Creative Expression – allows children to communicate their ideas and develop their imagination through Arts and Crafts, Music, Dance and Drama. This important area brings together skills and cognitive processes from across the whole curriculum.

Mathematics – introduces mathematical language and concepts through games and activities, relating them to everyday life.

Physical Development – builds strength, endurance and coordination and encourages children to develop healthy habits from a young age.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development – teaches emotional regulation, builds confidence and interpersonal skills.

Understanding the World – creates curiosity about the world by exposing children to basic scientific principles through theme-based learning.

Lessons are presented primarily in English, although our young students are exposed to Afrikaans through songs and rhymes. Our engaging themes allow children to be introduced to new vocabulary, and from an early age, children are exposed to learning letter sounds. Stories, songs and dramatising form a large part of our Language programme at Helderberg International School.

Within our Early Years Programme, children participate in a range of enriching activities which include Art and Craft classes, Physical Education (PE), Music, Ballet, Ball Skills and Little Green Fingers – where they assist and learn in our vegetable and herb garden project at Helderberg International School in Somerset West, South Africa.