Yew Chung’s leading bilingual preschool offers a unique play-based approach

Established over eight decades ago, Yew Chung International School Hong Kong (YCIS) offers a through-train education from kindergarten to secondary. As part of a more comprehensive network with sister campuses in Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Qingdao, and Silicon Valley, YCIS provides a unique blend of East and West. Students are immersed in the different cultures while acquiring a high proficiency in both languages. 

Early childhood education is offered to children aged six months to four years through three distinct programmes – Infant and Toddler Learning Programme (ITLP), Pre-nursery and Kindergarten Threes and Fours.

Play-based approach

At the heart of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) programme is a child-centred, play-based approach through which children are treated as active and competent learners. ECE teachers actively provide educational opportunities for children to explore, investigate, and seek answers to relevant questions. This approach empowers young children to be creative and critical thinkers. Students are encouraged to experiment with different character roles and gain empathy by exploring others’ perspectives through imaginary play.

Emergent curriculum

In line with a play-based approach, YCIS delivers an emergent curriculum to young learners. This begins with an openness to the children’s interests. Teachers observe, reflect, and respond to the interests of the children. Each classroom is a unique group of learners with their own interests, passions, and curiosities. The emergent curriculum allows children to independently choose activities to progress with their learning. “Teachers go beyond the obvious to observe the underlying meaning behind students’ play. Then, before responding, the teachers will reflect on what they have seen as a teaching team and engage in a reflective discussion on how they can extend the learning playing out within their classrooms,” says Rachel Blois, an educator at YCIS. 

Primary school transition

The emergent curriculum is underpinned by a thorough individual planning process, where teachers monitor the development of each child against the EYFS learning goals. If through these observations, it is evident that a child needs further opportunity or support, teachers then create individual responses to ensure that each child is developing holistically from year to year. As a through-train school, YCIS ECE works closely with the Primary section, taking the pressure off both children and parents with an intentional and supportive Primary section transition, starting early in the fours programme.

Multilingual environment

Students enjoy an immersive multilingual English/Cantonese/Mandarin learning environment from the very start. Each ECE classroom is run by a Western, and a Chinese teacher with responsibilities shared equally between the co-teachers. Children are supported in their mother tongue, with all Chinese co-teachers proficient in Cantonese and Mandarin. The Kindergarten also has specialist Mandarin teachers who further support the multilingual learning environment. While the Primary and Secondary sections continue to recognise and value the role of a child’s mother tongue in learning, the two languages of instruction are English and Mandarin. The school welcomes students from all backgrounds, with particular attention given to children who do not have the language skills of the school to ensure they do not feel left out while they acquire language confidence. 

Focus on values

YCIS’s success is, in part, credited to the school remaining true to its core over the past 89 years. The ECE curriculum is centred around 12 founding YCIS values which focus on the essence of solid relationships and teamwork, children as capable learners and an openness from the teachers that they are also able to learn from their students’ creativity and belief that anything is possible. 

TKO campus

In 2019, YCIS expanded with the opening of a new Early Childhood Education campus in Tseung Kwan O. Located in the beautiful grounds of Savannah, the campus spans over 20,000 square feet with lots of natural light and provides a fun and spacious environment for children to run, explore and learn. Dedicated spaces cater to ITLP, Pre-nursery, and Kindergarten students with highlights including a shadow cave for napping, a reading garden, an open physical activity field, a role-play area, a music room, a library area, and a creative studio. 

Flexibility for families 

The early years programme offers excellent flexibility and provides a framework to help young children adjust to a school routine. Infants and toddlers can attend morning or afternoon sessions; Pre-nursery students have the option of full or half days, and Kindergarten students attend full days. In response to parents’ feedback, YCIS recently announced a new half-day programme for three-year-olds which offers ECE families an even higher level of flexibility.

With well-regarded teaching philosophies delivered in a bilingual environment and close to a century of proven results, it’s no wonder that YCIS ECE has such an excellent reputation, both in Hong Kong and globally. For more information or to arrange a tour, visit the school’s website.