Odyssey, The Global Preschool, Mont Kiara

Nestled in the vibrant neighbourhood of Mont Kiara, Odyssey, The Global Preschool is a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool that provides an incomparable early years education experience for children aged 18 months to six years old.

Originating from Singapore, the school expanded its footprint to Malaysia in 2014 and has won critical acclaim for its best-in-class pedagogues and campus, which is specially designed to promote exploratory learning amongst children.

A stimulating environment that encourages hands-on learning

Each Odyssey school is designed to be a safe and conducive environment for children, and it’s Mont Kiara campus is no different.

It features beautiful, contemporary architecture spanning over 20,000 square feet of space, with massive indoor and outdoor areas surrounded by lush greenery, in addition to a rooftop garden.

Specialist classrooms enable holistic development across different areas of learning, such as music and the arts, which are essential in a child’s early years to build their sense of confidence and satisfy their innate curiosity to explore and interact with the world around them.

These include the Atelier, the school’s art studio, which is furnished with a variety of materials including acrylic paints, charcoal, and clay to encourage children to unleash their creativity by creating beautiful artworks.

Another avenue where they can express themselves through rhythm and dance is the Jam Studio, which houses a multitude of percussion instruments as well as floor-to-ceiling mirrors. There’s also La Cucina, the kitchen and dining space, where children can take part in cooking activities to build their fine motor skills.

Purposeful design extends to the children’s classrooms, which are spacious, brightly lit, and equipped with learning corners, where the children have access to ample materials and resources. For example, each classroom has a mini library to promote literacy, supplemented by a large, common library on the upper floor which is filled with engaging books in different languages.

The Reggio Emilia way

Odyssey’s award-winning Reggio Emilia curriculum empowers children to be directors of their own learning and instilling a sense of ownership in their educational journey. Unlike traditional, instructional methods–where teachers impart knowledge to students and learning is typically a one-way street– the Reggio Emilia approach recognises children as autonomous individuals that are active, capable, and valuable.

Through programmes such as Art Odyssey, Music Odyssey, and Fitness Fun, as well as Little Chef, Outdoor Learning Experiences (OLE) and Emotional Cultural Quotient (ECQ) Literacy, children make sense of the world around them, cultivate their problem-solving skills, and engage in active social interaction. The focus extends beyond academic achievements to encompass life skills, dispositions, and attitudes essential for 21st-century learners.

In the Early Years programme for children aged 18 months to three years old, the focus is on building their language and communication skills, as well as physical, social, and personal competencies. As they enter the preschool years of four to six, the emphasis shifts to more structured learning across multiple disciplines.

“At Odyssey, our vision is to equip our children with a lifelong love for learning. We believe that every child is capable and has their own strengths and abilities. Teachers play a role as facilitators, providing children with room to make their own choices,” says Odyssey The Global Preschool, Mont Kiara's Head of Brand, Ms. Petulia Lun.

Understanding that children learn in different ways, lessons and activities are conducted in small groups, ensuring they receive personalised attention and a tailored approach to learning that best fits the individual child.

Best-in-class educators

At Odyssey, educators play a pivotal role in shaping the learning experience. As such, the school provides extensive training for its staff, with peer-to-peer coaching, workshops, and mentoring sessions to ensure teachers are well-versed not only in Odyssey’s creative curriculum, but also the latest pedagogies.

Classrooms at their KL campus are staffed by at least two teachers, including a curriculum specialist and a Chinese-speaking teacher as part of the school’s Mandarin immersion programme, ensuring that children are immersed in a language-rich environment that supports dual language learning.

Moreover, the school has designated Art and Music Specialists who head the Atelier and Jam Studio respectively, bringing their creative expertise when designing lesson plans to enhance the child’s learning experience.

Hands-on, minds-on, hearts-on

Project work is a core part of Odyssey’s curriculum and revolves around different themes each term, a process which lasts around six to 10 weeks. Throughout this period, the children will explore, discover, research, investigate, test, reflect, and come up with their own solutions to challenges.

Ms. Petulia cites a Little Chef project, where teachers presented an initial theme of healthy food. As the term progressed, the children learned about the different types of healthy food, selected their preferred ingredients, and created their own recipes.

“Learning is integrated into the project as children learned concepts such as shapes and colours, and they also improved their fine motor skills as they practised making the recipes,” she shares.

At the end of the term, the school held a Little Chef Day project showcase, where parents came to support their child, seeing for themselves the holistic way in which their children are able to apply their knowledge and skills in practical, real-life scenarios.

Rather than gauging a child’s progress and development through exam results or worksheets, the goal is to nurture children that can confidently speak about their learning, and who are proud of their own achievements.

Conclusion

Odyssey, The Global Preschool in Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, offers an unparalleled early childhood education experience rooted in the Reggio Emilia philosophy. With its award-winning curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, and dedicated educators, parents can be rest assured that their child is receiving a world-class educational experience that embraces diversity, and where learning goes beyond boundaries.