Kindergarten Visit

On Tuesday 19th May we visited the Hong Kong Institute of Education HSBC Early Childhood Learning Centre where the principal is Mrs Edith Leung Yuk Ian. The Kindergarten is within the wide college campus area as is a primary. Its situated in the new territories.

The principal works there part time as she  also works training Hong Kong Teachers. We saw a video befre our walk round which the establishment has produced about the activities and learning which take place. Funding source is the Hong Kong Bank Foundation. There are 160 children attending with a mix of full and part time places. The nursery istelf contributes to training of nursery and teaching staff in Hong Kong. Their mission is to put into place innovative teaching. There is a strong emphasis on developing good reading habits, lots of work is undertaken with the children on questioning, exploration of their learning experiences. There’s an emphasis on developing problem solving skills for instance through a recent topic on bamboo where the children were involved in a variety of problem solving experiences. The children have learning portfolios and teacher assessment is recorded with detailed progress an online databank is used by staff to assist in this recording.

There was a creative corridor where there were areas for children to experience creativity through play and where their work was exhibited. They were promoting emphasising cultural experience and also doing much on the arts. Some lovely shadow play was done using ohps and large screens with the children creating shadow drama etc. There was a parents resource centre, PTA and volunteer parents involved. They had been working in the library recently sorting, organising the lending library. Parents could view what the children were doing through two way mirrors and CCTv systems within the nursery and this was used to assist in reporting on progress to parents – a group fo partnes would observe the children at play and then meet with the principal and teachers to discuss the progress of the children, share, communicate and teachers would also model ways of playing with the children. It was felt this classroom observation and discussion with the parents was psositive and the parents found it helped them work with the nursery and with their children. Lots of outdoor play going on with a planting/cultivation site, big sandpit, cycling track, outdoor playground and a picnic area. There was also a multi functional playground area where children were involved in water play and also where they could try ceramic art work. The nursery had a large children’s library and older children would read stories to younger ones there. There was a chef on site who cooked healthy snacks and lunches. The children had a soft toy playmate called Zippy who helped with social and emotional wellbeing – something liek persona dolls. Toddlers were learning basic living skills – a big seated buggy was used for walks. The little ones were getting onsite toilet training.

The principal is a lecturer who has been seconded. The teaching staff have their BEds or are training for one. Staff had made several visits abroad to see good practice and to share and learn.

The centre has opportunitities for student teachers ti work there and volunteer. Its seen as being a very open training centre. They feel they have a clear emphasis on developing and nurturing early childhood theory and practice.

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