Small Wonder Malaysia, Eco Ardence, Setia Alam

A wholesome and holistic educational experience awaits pupils at Small Wonder Malaysia, Eco Ardence (formerly known as Treemendous Ardence).

Nestled within Ardence Labs, a vibrant community hub within Setia Alam, the school has a strong rapport with the local community as a trusted institution–and its recent acquisition by educational group Busy Bees is set to take the kindergarten to greater heights.

Helming Small Wonder Malaysia, Eco Ardence are sisters Sophia and Elly Chong, who are senior principal and principal, respectively.

The pair, who hail from diverse backgrounds that include IT and biomedical science, found their calling in early education in 2012, and have not looked back since. This genuine passion can be seen from the way the kindergarten is run, from the balanced curriculum to the facilities, which cater to children aged four to six years old.

Blended approach to learning

Small Wonder Malaysia, Eco Ardence offers half-day and full-day programmes, providing peace of mind for busy working parents looking for a safe and conducive environment for their child to learn and grow.

The curriculum includes both teacher-led and pupil-centred approaches, integrating Montessori principles, thematic teaching, learning corners and project-based learning, as well as elements from the National Standard Preschool Curriculum (KSPK).

On the academic end, the school emphasises language proficiency in English, Bahasa Malaysia, and Mandarin, to prepare pupils for SK and SJK(C) schools. However, Sophia stresses that children learn best when they are having fun, which is why the school has plenty of engaging and enriching activities, such as music and dance, role-play activities, art and crafts, and more.

Music is also incorporated into the curriculum for all age groups. Elly, who leads the music programme, believes it has massive benefits for the children, from developing their fine motor skills to improving coordination. Classes are held weekly, where children learn about music appreciation, rhythm, movements, and percussion instruments. Meanwhile, optional afternoon enrichment classes span speech and drama, ukulele classes, fun dance, as well as a leadership programme.

Cultivating creativity and problem-solving skills

One of the key highlights of Small Wonder Malaysia, Eco Ardence, is its project-based learning (PBL) approach for older pupils.

Whereas thematic teaching revolves around knowledge sharing, where teachers set objectives and impart knowledge to students, project-based learning is much more flexible – as it gives the child room to delve deeper into their interests, within the confines of the class rules.

For example, Sophia shares that they had a session where the children were taken on an excursion around Ardence Labs, where they explored the different shops within the community hub.

“We were expecting them to be interested in the grocer, or the pharmacy, as these are usual places that their parents would take them. But they expressed interest in an empty shop lot. They got the idea of ‘opening’ a toy shop. It then sparked more ideas – so there was a class that wanted to make kites to ‘sell’ in the shop, which they did from scratch, while another decided they wanted to do the interior design for the ‘shop’.” Sophia shares.

“These activities can help develop their problem-solving skills, and they have opportunities for discussion, to work as a team, or play the role of leader. They can express themselves while honing critical thinking skills,” she adds.

Another way that the school encourages independent learning is via learning corners, which are divided according to themes. The discovery corner, for example, is based on science and geography, while the constructive corner carries building blocks which the children can use to create structures based on their own creativity.

Purpose-driven facilities

Every corner of the school is purposefully designed, with artwork from students and their families proudly displayed around the premises–a testament to the strong bond the school has forged between teachers, parents, and pupils.

At the centre of the school on the ground floor is a large sand pit and a garden area. This is complemented by a spacious and well-lit atelier, complete with child-height kitchen island, where they may participate in cooking activities.

There is also a wide staircase that doubles as an auditorium with a projector, and a blackboard that occupies the entire side of the stairs, where pupils have the freedom to draw and express themselves. The idea is to create spaces between classrooms that allow pupils to engage in meaningful activities that are conducive to their learning.

Established trust

A dedicated and consistent team is one of the reasons why the school sees parents returning time and time again. “One of our students from an earlier batch is now in secondary school, but the parents have decided to send their youngest to our kindergarten again,” says Sophia.

Teacher turnover is low, and the school has built a strong foundation of trust within the local community.  “Previously, our school was in a corner lot in a housing area, and we followed traditional thematic teaching methods. Over the years, we have improved our pedagogy, and moving to a new building in Eco Ardence three years ago has afforded us the luxury of having more space, and nurturing the children in a positive learning environment,” she shares.