Purple Dragon Early Years, Bandar Mahkota Cheras

It all began during a global pause — a pandemic that turned living rooms into classrooms and parents into full-time educators. For Jean Tan and her husband, Adrian Ryan, that moment of stillness became the turning point of a lifetime.

At the time, both were thriving in high-powered careers as chartered accountants and management consultants in London’s financial district. But while juggling remote work and caring for their young son, something shifted.

“We were basically working from home while trying to entertain and teach our son,” Jean recalls. “That’s when we started researching early childhood development — and realised just how critical those early years are. Their brains are like sponges. It really opened our eyes.”

The more they learned, the more they saw: the early years aren’t just important — they’re foundational. Their son’s rapid growth in language, social awareness, and curiosity revealed how much children absorb when given the right environment.

“We didn’t want to miss out on these precious years,” Jean says. “We wanted to build something meaningful — something grounded in research, led by passion, and centred on children.”

Incentivised by the TalentCorp programme run by Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources, the couple decided to take the plunge and relocated to Malaysia for good. And in 2023, their vision came to life. The couple opened the doors to Purple Dragon Early Years — a thoughtfully designed early childhood centre in the growing suburb of Bandar Mahkota Cheras.

A Curriculum with a Global Heart and Local Soul

Purple Dragon is a research-backed, child-led ecosystem where every detail is intentional. Their approach is a blended curriculum that marries the best of:

• Finnish play-based learning (via HEI Schools, in partnership with the University of Helsinki)
• UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage developmental milestones
• Malaysian national curriculum requirements (JKM standards)
• Neuroscience-based insights on how children actually learn

“We tailor everything — from lesson plans to outcomes — based on the specific developmental needs of our children, and our Malaysian context.” Explains Jean. This includes structured developmental tracking every six months, where parents are shown exactly how their children are progressing — using a blend of UK and JKM milestones.

A Finnish Framework with Malaysian Soul

As much it is a blended approach on education, yet, the core of Purple Dragon lies in a globally renowned curriculum: HEI Schools, developed in collaboration with the University of Helsinki — consistently ranked among the world’s top institutions in education research.

A Curriculum with a Global Heart and Local Soul

The HEI Schools system is built on the Finnish approach to learning: child-led, play-based, and emotionally intelligent. Purple Dragon subscribes to the HEI digital platform, giving its teachers access to:

• Weekly thematic lesson plans
• Developmental learning goals by age group
• Play-based activity ideas
• Teacher training resources
• Tools for progress tracking and communication

Adrian, as Technical Director, personally oversees the adaptation of the HEI School toolkit to fit the local timetable and goals. “We’re not Montessori,” Jean clarifies. “Montessori is great for independence, but it lacks the social learning component. Our Finnish base emphasises both — social-emotional growth and academic readiness.”

Where Play Is Serious Business

Purple Dragon’s belief in the power of play is not anecdotal — it’s rooted in neuroscience.

“People still misunderstand play-based learning,” Jean says. “Some think it’s just play-play, no learning. But we try to educate parents — neuroscience says it takes 400 repetitions to create a new brain synapse, but only 10 to 20 when done through play. That’s huge.” Jean always tried her best to convince the true benefit of play.

Through roleplay rooms, creative setups, and thematic activities, children learn math through shopping games, language through storytelling and Mandarin songs, and social-emotional skills through team projects. Even mealtime becomes a teaching moment — talking about textures, tastes, colours and emotions.

“It’s about seeing every moment as a teaching opportunity,” Jean adds that everything is part of the learning experience. Play is the core of learning.

Teachers Who Create & Deliver

A progressive curriculum needs progressive teachers. That’s why Purple Dragon hires educators who are qualified (Diploma in Early Childhood Education or PERMATA certification), and also deeply passionate in educating children.

“This isn’t a place for teachers who want to follow a textbook and call it a day,” Jean says. “Our teachers have to prep materials, think creatively, and bring every lesson to life.”

To ensure quality, Adrian meets weekly with the team to adapt HEI plans and troubleshoot implementation. Some staff are even pursuing certification with HEI Schools, maintaining fidelity to the model. Teachers are also well-supported — with daily lunch from the centre’s in-house chef, regular team-building events, and continuous coaching.

Food that Feeds More than the Stomach

Speaking of food — it’s a standout. Purple Dragon’s chef prepares a 3-week rotating menu that introduces children to dishes like sushi, chicken stew, honey pancakes, steamed vegetables, and more.

“Many centres serve porridge every day because it’s easy to feed. We don’t believe in that,” Jean says. “We let children feed themselves. That’s part of building independence and confidence.” Meals are shared in a dedicated child-friendly canteen — messy, colourful, and full of conversation.

Clean, Safe, and Designed for Little Explorers

Cleanliness, hygiene, and safety are non-negotiables here. With full CCTV, a semi-gated community, and close collaboration with guards, the centre is secure and protected.

They employ a full-time cleaner who sanitises toys and facilities daily—even on weekends. Health protocols like temperature checks and isolation of sick children are strictly followed.

Every learning space is carefully designed:

• Soft-padded baby gyms
• Roleplay kitchens
• Child-sized furniture
• Quiet corners for rest
• Art rooms, and picnic-style outdoor areas that bring nature into learning.

Deep, Thoughtful Parent Communication

Every child at Purple Dragon has a dedicated Telegram group that includes both parents, teachers, and management. Parents receive daily updates on meals, naps, moods, and more. Each classroom also has a parent-teacher group, while the school maintains a general broadcast channel for announcements. This layered communication model ensures transparency, trust, and partnership — enhancing the school’s collaborative ecosystem.

Growing Outdoors: The Future of Purple Dragon

They are now working on their next milestone — a flagship campus at Cheras Vista, slated to open in 2026. Designed with nature in mind, the new centre will feature two bungalows, a central outdoor zone, sand and water play areas, and a futsal court — all to encourage exploration, resilience, and growth. “We’re big believers in the outdoors,” Jean shares. “We want to raise children who can fall, scrape their knees, and get back up. That’s real learning.”

Purple Dragon Early Years is more than a preschool — it’s a movement. A thoughtful blend of Finnish innovation, neuroscience, local values, and parental instinct, it’s a place where children grow to be confident, curious, and joyful. “We’re not promising to raise the next Elon Musk,” Jean smiles. “But we promise to raise children who love learning and are ready for anything.” And really, what more could a parent ask for?