Squirrels
The first steps into school. Routines, self-care and hearing both languages through play; English arrives first through songs, movement and everyday words.
- Age
- Age 3
- Months
- 36–48 months
- Class size
- At most 14 children
- Staff
- 1 Turkish + 1 native English teacher, 1 assistant
Language of the day
Three is the age when most children leave home for the first time. In the Squirrels class we plan the first two weeks as "settling-in weeks": one hour on the first day, with a parent in the room; then a little longer each day, with the parent a little further away. We decide together, watching your child, when it is time to say goodbye at the door.
At this age English is not a lesson; it is the background sound of the classroom. Hannah speaks only English with the children but never expects an English answer. In the first months most children simply listen and understand; waving along to the "good morning" song or tidying up when they hear "tidy up" are the first signs. Speaking comes in its own time.
Nap time takes place in a darkened rest room next to the classroom, each child in their own bed. For children who are toilet training we use the same method as the family; children who still wear nappies are welcome.
What we work on this year
- Trying self-care steps alone: toilet, hand washing, putting on shoes
- Knowing class routines in both languages: good morning, tidy up, wash hands
- Understanding simple English instructions and acting on them
- Moving from two- or three-word sentences to longer ones in Turkish
- Sharing, waiting for a turn and beginning to put feelings into words
The class teachers
One Turkish side, one English side. Both are in the classroom all day.
All staff and their training
