Early childhood education can be complex to some parents, especially new ones. With so many choices out there, parents are left puzzled as to which preschool would best suit their child, making them feel safe and at home. That’s why Little Tillage Preschool and Developmental Childcare Center, The Hub SS2 is determined to be your child’s home away from home.
Situated at The Hub, SS2, the three-storey preschool can be seen from afar. Stepping into the school, I was warmly greeted by Ms. Naomi, with a brilliant smile. I was amazed at the sheer size of the school. The school was incredibly spacious, with high ceilings that were painted blue and generous natural lighting from the tall windows.
Doing It Right
Ms. Naomi revealed that it was the love she had for children that led to the establishment of Little Tillage.
Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. - Charles R. Swindoll
The school puts focus on making learning fun for children and making them love going to school. While some preschools have curriculum and teaching methods with a more traditional focus, but at Little Tillage, multiple faucets of a child’s education are considered. The school believes the curriculum is set to start children not only on educational learning, but also on the path to physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Little Tillage adopted what they feel are some of the best and latest frameworks and methods of child development, which have been adapted to better suit the local community.
Little Tillage introduces an American classroom experience built upon international teaching frameworks which are aligned with the Malaysian Ministry of Education requirements. Their lesson plans utilize concepts such as whole-child development which is a fully integrated method that expands the learning experience by touching several areas at once, and Multiple Intelligence framework, a concept that develops the nine areas of human intelligence. In addition, lessons are designed to take advantage of all three different learning styles (visual, auditory, and experiential) so that each child is comfortable learning their own way. Ms. Naomi explained that weekly lessons are done thematically, with themes that immerse the child in learning in a way that truly teaches the concepts. This school believes that it’s time to revolutionise mundane, old-school education to create a more effective and fun learning environment.
Learning, although fun at Little Tillage, is also filled with content as the school starts the children with similar subjects to those in primary school such as math, science, language, social studies, music, and art. To prepare children to face a global society, the program emphasises on strong early English learning, but Mandarin and Malay are taught as well. They provide English acquisition through activities, cultural learning, visual aids, and auditory communications. By utilizing all three types of learning in a fully immersive classroom, children are able to have the opportunity to learn English as another first language. Little Tillage accepts children starting from the tender age of 18 months (who will join their Playgroup) up to 6-year olds (who will attend their Kindergarten). Full-day and half-day programmes are also made available at the school.
Just Like Home
As parents, it’s obvious that you’d want the best for your child and at Little Tillage they do exactly that. The school treats each child as their own, nurturing and loving your child as you would do yourself. Teachers here teach with love and passion and the environment cannot get any more homely. High ceilings painted blue with sunlight pouring into the school via ceiling-to-wall windows create a comfortable and conducive atmosphere for the children. Play materials that encourage children to explore their creativity are aplenty, allowing children to have easy access to them. A backyard garden is also available and is often used during teaching to allow children to explore the outdoors. A cosy area for infants is also made available on the first floor. Spacious reading corners are available which house more than 100 books in English, Malay and Mandarin are rotated on a regular basis to keep children engaged and happy.
On the second floor lies spacious classrooms and an open space which can be utilized for activities that need a lot of space. Walls are also painted with chalkboard paint to allow easier access to enrichment activities and make it easier for children to unleash their creativity. Classrooms are also equipped with excellent resources to ensure a smooth and enriching learning experience for the children. The layout and classroom environment mimic those in primary school to expose and prepare children for their next step. The third floor has a teacher’s lounge, and space for messy play. Space for dancing activities, which are fitted with wall-to-wall mirrors are also made available on the third floor. Meals are freshly prepared using ingredients that are nutritious for the child, just like home-cooked meals.
Driven by Passion
The teachers here at Little Tillage are driven by passion, their love for children and early childhood education. They aren’t afraid to get down and dirty with the children. Lesson plans are meticulously constructed by the teachers, a labour of love, I would say, in order to make learning fun for the children. Teachers at the school are very hands-on and committed to provide the best for each child throughout their time at Little Tillage. Formal Early Childhood Education training and certifications are also necessary, and taska teachers are sent to the Basic Childcare Course (KAP) to learn about basic childcare in accordance with the Childcare Act 2001.
Little Tillage also understands the importance of communicating with the child’s parents. Thus, the school utilizes an app where parents can monitor and check daily logs of their child. Check in and check outs are done by responsible teachers, and updates on the child will be regarded then as well. Physical, written daily logs are also kept and updated, in case parents wish to read about their child the old-school way. Other than that, parent-teacher conferences are held for all age groups, while report book day is also held for children ages 4, 5 and 6, both which are done bi-annually. Security is tight with alarms and CCTVs monitoring every nook and cranny to ensure safety of the children. Pick-up person forms are distributed to parents to ensure that only an authorized guardian is allowed to pick up the child from school. A sturdy entrance gate and infant safety gates are also installed for maximum security and safety.
Little Tillage is committed to ensure that each child that graduates from the school becomes future leaders that of character, with a great standing in their communities and a basis for lifelong learning. If you’re looking for a place that’s a home away from home for your little ones, Little Tillage Preschool and Developmental Childcare Center, The Hub SS2 is definitely your best bet.
