Jackie Thompson co-ordinates this department and believes that "The Foundation Stage is the beginning of a long and exciting journey. Children should be given the opportunity to begin to discover their true potential while developing a lasting love for learning".

The Early Years curriculum is about developing key learning skills such as speaking and listening, concentration, persistence and learning to work together and co-operatively with other children. It is also about developing early literacy and numeracy skills that will prepare young children for Key Stage One of the National Curriculum. We strongly believe that by making activities fun and exciting we will inspire young children to learn.

Our team of experienced and caring Early Years teachers plan learning experiences of the highest quality that appeals to young children's natural spontaneity and inquisitiveness. At KISU we know that if children are happy and secure they will achieve and gain in confidence. The Early Years curriculum is taught through exciting and child friendly topics. We recognize that young children deepen their understanding by playing, talking, observing, questioning, experimenting, reflecting and responding to adults. Well-planned play is a key way in which children learn whilst enjoying themselves and feeling challenged.

A visit to Kindergarten 2 may lead to an encounter with Goldilocks in the 'Three Bears' cottage or you may find yourself in the midst of a construction site where the children are busy building houses for the 'Three Little Pigs'. In such an environment favourite nursery rhymes and fairy stories are brought to life and provide a myriad of learning opportunities for young children.

As you pass by Kindergarten 3 you may be alarmed by the squeals coming from the children as they experience the sensation of slimy worms wriggling through their fingers. The classroom has been transformed into an underground tunnel where children crawl through the roots of trees hanging from the ceilings. All this serves as a stimulus for the children's learning about 'The World Beneath Our feet.'

Reception children continue to discover more about the world when they follow the capers and adventures of Barnaby Bear as he travels around the world. In a topic all about 'Ourselves' children draw on their own experiences and life at home. They celebrate important days and discover how we celebrate events such as birthdays, weddings, and different religious festivals such as Christmas, Diwali and Eid. The whole class is involved in the planning, preparation and organization of these celebrations. Alternatively you may find yourself shipwrecked on an island with Shipwreck Sam and may be enlisted to build a new shelter or hunt for buried treasure.

The youngest children of KISU are encouraged to 'play' on the computer using educational software programmes which asks the children to listen and carry out basic instructions, thus gaining a familiarity and keenness to work with computers. These are creative games which seeks to encourage the child to count, spell and use mouse control to achieve set goals.
Teachers carefully monitor each child's progress throughout the foundation stage to ensure tasks are well matched to each individual's ability and needs, and to inform teachers and parents of the next step towards achieving the Early Learning Goals.

In the Early Years Department we recognize and encourage the important role that parents play in their child's education. We endeavour to make parents feel welcome valued, listened to and fully informed. We firmly believe that the Foundation Stage provides the best possible start to education.