Beaconhouse Preschool Gasing

Located at the corner of Jalan Gasing, Beaconhouse Preschool Gasing is an established preschool that offers a holistic, well-rounded educational experience for children aged between 18 months and six years old.

Since it was founded in 2006, the school has grown year-on-year with improvements to both its facilities and its pedagogy–such as the recently introduced International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC).

This comprehensive UK-based curriculum encompasses different areas of learning and emphasises critical thinking, creativity, and a global outlook.

“Our goal is not just to prepare our pupils academically and socially for primary schools but also to instil in them values such as empathy and resilience,” says the Head of School, Rafhanah Haneem (pictured above).

By nurturing these skills from a young age, Beaconhouse Preschool Gasing aims to equip children with the necessary tools to navigate an ever-changing world successfully.

Child-initiated learning

As a learner-focused, progressive pedagogy, the new IEYC curriculum resonates perfectly with Beaconhouse’s “Play to Learn, Learn to Play’ philosophy.

There are over 22 units that teachers can choose from based on their observations of the children’s interest in the classroom. Each unit features integrated learning, with specific modules and activities designed to develop different areas of learning, from Maths to arts and literacy.

“Imagine That”, for example, is where pupils learn about artwork from famous artists, such as Dutch painters Piet Mondrian and Vincent Van Gogh.

Besides identifying the techniques that these artists use, they delve into concepts such as shapes and colours. Another activity involves making their own impression of the artworks, solidifying the link between learning and doing.

Other interesting units include “Blast Off”, which focuses on science and space, and “Let’s Play Outside”, which emphasises physical activity. Pupils will go through five or six units in one school year, ensuring they are exposed to a variety of different topics.

In keeping with the Ministry of Education’s framework, core subjects such as Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mathematics, and Mandarin are also implemented into the overall curriculum. The result is a balanced approach to play-based learning that drives curiosity and problem solving, whilst not neglecting the needs of formal education.

Beyond regular classroom hours, the learning and play continues with a variety of enrichment activities offered as part of the extended and full-day programmes, from public speaking to football and modern dance.

Upgraded facilities

Complementing the new curriculum is a brand-new play area, designed to stimulate exploration, imagination, and sensory development.

A mud kitchen and water play area encourage hands-on learning experiences, while ensuring children still have fun and can stay active.

In today’s tech-first world, visual learning, interactive lessons, and engaging activities are essential to foster a dynamic and immersive learning environment for young learners.

This is why classrooms at Beaconhouse Preschool Gasing have also gotten an upgrade, and are now equipped with smart screen TVs, allowing teachers to integrate multimedia resources and present interactive educational content.

A school with heart

A child’s learning journey would not amount to much without caring and supportive teachers. At Beaconhouse Preschool Gasing, you can see that the team of teachers truly care for their charges and are proud to celebrate their milestones.

One clear example is the vibrant displays of colourful artworks and projects adorning the classrooms, hallways, and common areas, reflecting the pride and joy the school takes in its students’ accomplishments.

The children are treated as individuals, and teachers do not talk down to their pupils. They lead by example with exemplary speech and manners.

Haneem believes in cultivating a school environment that feels like a welcoming home for both students and parents alike. In pursuit of this goal, she values the crucial role teachers play. That’s why she emphasizes not only qualifications but also experience. Having both qualifications and experience is seen as an added advantage.

“Our educators are required to align their teaching methods and classroom management with Beaconhouse values while staying current with the fast-paced trends in early childhood education. Qualities such as being polite, pleasant, patient, and having a strong desire to learn are essential for our teachers. Additionally, we provide in-house professional development to ensure they stay updated with the latest learning trends and pedagogy.”