The Kindergarten
Conveniently located in a shop lot off Persiaran Surian in Kota Damansara, the recently opened, Belle & Russell is a licensed kindergarten that offers Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) inspired educational programmes with an emphasis on balanced Intentional Teaching and Guided Play. Intentional Teaching is one of the eight key pedagogical practices in the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF); an understanding that children learn best through series of child-guided activities. Ergo, when placed in such an environment, children are conditioned to explore, investigate, enquire and manipulate any given material as they wish and acquire skills through their own experiences.
Guided Play, on the other hand, reflects an understanding that children go through the learning process at their own pace in an environment prepared by adults or with guidance from adults. As such, Belle & Russell strongly believes that children learn best through the combination of these two pedagogical methods than other forms of play or learning and even than direct instruction. Belle & Russell's approach to teaching and learning is highly interactive and stimulating, thus making learning lively, captivating and relevant.
Core Values
Belle & Russell has six core values which form the foundation on which all children enrolled at the kindergarten are encouraged to strive to practice and conduct themselves.
a) Be Kind:
- Practice patience, respect, care and love.
b) Be Confident:
- Practice endurance, self-discipline, impulse control and believe in themselves.
c) Be courageous:
- Practice determination and diligence and dare to try.
d) Be respectful:
- Practice recognition of gratitude, appreciation and be humble and respectful.
e) Be honest:
- Practice truthfulness in thought and action.
f) Be creative:
- Practice adaptability, explorative and adventurous
Educational Programmes
All educational programmes at Belle & Russell are generally taught based on the interplay between Thematic Approach and Learning Through Play, in a structured, methodical, and interactive manner. A Thematic approach to learning is used, which cuts across multiple disciplines. As such, pupils at Belle & Russell are encouraged to link all these subjects together with the aim of understanding the bigger picture of any theme or subject being studied.
A play-based approach is used in which all children are thoroughly valued, constantly stimulated and purposely encouraged to play and extract something valuable in so doing to the best of their ability in an environment prepared by the teacher. Educational programmes are carefully segmented into three different groups, namely, Junior Kindy, Pre-Kindy and lastly, Kindergarten. All lessons in each level are individualised for each child, and are designed in such a way meant to build and reinforce children understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering, Aesthetic and Maths (STEAM). The following areas of learning are offered and taught:
1) Communication, language & literacy
2) Aesthetic & creative expressions
3) Numeracy & concepts
4) Personal & social development
5) Science & technology
6) Physical skills & well being
Facilities
Belle & Russell prides itself on its secured, clean and appealing interior. Their gorgeous nature-inspired hues and textures inspire calmness, honesty and productivity; a great example of how to seamlessly bring the touch of the natural world in the classrooms. The walls are wallpapered with colourful paintings of all sorts of cartoon characters. One life-size, lifelike artificial tree with its branches spreading outwards and upwards, placed in the middle of one enormous round shaped green artificial grass rug. Beneath the tree is all sorts of soft toys of varying sizes, colours and educational purposes.
Reading corners are beautifully adorned and strategically placed. All books have been carefully hand-picked by the principal herself. The kindergarten places a greater emphasis on the importance of sanitation and hygiene. As such, all visitors are required to sanitise their hands before entering. Every single toy of varying sizes at Belle & Russell will be cleaned and sanitised every day after school hours. In efforts to ensure that children get off to a great start and obtain enough nutrients from their diet, healthy meals are provided three times a day and are professionally cooked.
