Daily note
Every day, a short summary in the closed parents' group, the words of the week and (permitted) class photos.
Bilingual programme
English is not a lesson slot but half of the day. And Turkish loses nothing: the whole national preschool programme runs in Turkish. How? With three rules and two teachers.
Three rules
Three simple rules keep two languages together in one classroom. Turn the cards over to read why on the back.
One day,
two languages.
Each colour is the language spoken in class at that hour: cobalt for Turkish, lemon for English, stripes for both. About half of the day is in English, and the share grows a little with age.
08:00 – 08:45 TR + EN
Arrival and free play
Karşılama ve serbest oyun
Both teachers greet the children at the door: one says "günaydın", the other "good morning". Whatever language the child answers in, the conversation carries on in it.
1 / 11
08:45 – 09:15 Türkçe
Breakfast
Kahvaltı
The children set the table: cheese, eggs, vegetables and wholemeal bread. Table talk is in Turkish.
2 / 11
09:15 – 10:00 English
Circle time
Calendar, weather and the words of the week, with songs and movement. This half hour is entirely in English.
3 / 11
10:00 – 11:00 Türkçe
Learning centres and projects
Öğrenme merkezleri ve proje
Small groups at the block, art, science and book corners; the national programme goals are run in Turkish.
4 / 11
11:00 – 12:00 English
Garden
Bahçe
Outside in all weathers: sandpit, climbing frame, vegetable beds. The language of garden play is English.
5 / 11
12:00 – 12:45 TR + EN
Lunch
Öğle yemeği
The children fill their own plates. Dish names are written in both languages on the menu; both teachers sit at the table.
6 / 11
12:45 – 14:00 Türkçe
Rest and quiet reading
Dinlenme ve sessiz kitap
The three-year-olds nap; the four- and five-year-olds rest and read quietly. A bed is ready for any child who wants to sleep.
7 / 11
14:00 – 15:00 English
English hour
Games, drama and word cards. Not a lesson but a game: the rules are spoken in English.
8 / 11
15:00 – 15:30 English
Afternoon snack
İkindi
Fruit and a light snack. "Can I have…, please?" is heard most at this table.
9 / 11
15:30 – 16:30 TR + EN
Workshop
Atölye
Art, music, movement or chess, in the language of whoever leads the workshop.
10 / 11
16:30 – 17:30 Türkçe
Story and goodbye
Hikâye ve veda
A review of the day, a story and a quick chat with families at the door.
11 / 11
English hour
Every afternoon, for one hour, the whole class turns into an English game: drama, word cards, action songs and short stories. The hour is built around the theme of the words of the week, so children use the words they heard in morning circle in play.
- The theme and 8–10 words of the week (on the Words of the week page, with sound)
- Card games, matching and guessing games in small groups
- Short drama: everyday roles like the shop, the doctor, the bus driver
- A "game at home" idea for families at the end of the week
Language share by age
At three, English comes mostly through songs and routines; at four and five, project and story times bring the share up to half.
Shares are the daily average of the language spoken in class; they may change during settling-in weeks and on special days.
The Turkish side
The Turkish teacher runs the national preschool programme of the Ministry of National Education in full. A child with a strong first language learns a second one more easily, so Turkish is never pushed into second place.
- Turkish language development: vocabulary, telling, listening
- Self-care and social-emotional development
- Maths and science concepts, art and music
- Preparation for reading and writing at 5–6 (entirely in Turkish)
- Daily contact with families and termly meetings
How do we follow progress?
Termly development file
A file prepared by both teachers: what your child understands and says in Turkish and English, and where they need support.
Face-to-face meeting
A 30-minute meeting with both teachers once a term; more often if needed.