The new structure of Sierra Leone's educational system recognizes preprimary (nursery) education as of utmost importance to child development. Children between the ages of three and six can enroll in preprimary education which aims to prepare children for primary education. preprimary education can be formal or informal, where formal pre-primary education enlarges and enriches children's use of language and enables them to socialize and fit into society. preprimary education is usually offered by private schools, mostly found in the capital, Freetown, and other large towns. The government pays the salaries of teachers in these schools and regulates these private preschools through the Nursery Schools Association and the Inspectorate Division of the Department of Education.
Pre-primary education
- Ages : 3-6 years
- Duration: 3 years
- Primary Languages: English
- Terms : 3 terms
- Admission Term: Beginning of the term
- School types: kindergarten, nursery, crèche
Why Preprimary Education?
- children grow up healthy, well-nourished, and protected from harm, abuse, and neglect, with a sense of self-worth, identity, enthusiasm, and opportunity to learn.
- social-emotional development, language, creativity
- To lay the foundation for the development of the whole child for life;
- prepares the child for school.
The preprimary curriculum focuses on 8 main areas including:
Social or Emotional Development- age-appropriate social skills like Self-Concept, Self-Control, and Positive behavior, students Demonstrate developmentally appropriate emotional skills,
Psychosocial Development (Knowledge of Family and Community)- positive and easy transitions (home to school, pre-school to primary school), and respect for self and others
Physical Development and Well-Being- focuses on basic gross motor skills, basic fine motor skills, knowledge, and practices of good health habits.
Cognitive Development:
- Math- knowledge of basic numbers, Counting, Patterns: shapes, sizes, and colors,
- Science- ability to make things happen, solve problems and use all their six senses
- Creativity- creativity and learns to take initiative
- Critical Thinking- the ability to solve more and more complex problems, ability to think critically and ask questions
- Intuition- Demonstrates that they can trust themselves, their 6th sense, and are open to different forms of knowledge
Technology- Capability to use technology in the classroom (developmentally appropriate planning with media such as radio, television, videotapes, computers, telephones)
Spiritual or Moral Development- the students learn how to respect different values and how to express them about themselves, the community, and the world at large, and how to love and care for nature.
Literacy Development- the ability to associate the sound with the written word according to developmental level, Demonstrates understanding of the value, and has an appreciation for books and the knowledge they can give.
Language Development- student develops the ability to express themselves in basic English and the community language.
Examples of International schools offering Pre-primary education in SIERRA LEONE
The KidZone Academy Cambridge International School
This is an international, coeducational school that provides education to students from all nationalities. The school is a child-friendly school with a safe and nurturing environment that gives opportunities for all students to grow at their own pace, through individual and differentiated instruction. A school is a place where children can freely create and enjoy educational experiences in a harmonious atmosphere so children can develop in all aspects including physical, social, intellectual, and emotional.
- Established: 2010
- Address: 4 Main Motor Road, Wilberforce, Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa
- grades: kindergarten to primary
- Language of instruction: English
- student-teacher ratio: 10:1
the school offers an international education, from the toddler class in the Early Childhood Program to Stage 6 in the Primary Years Program. The school emphasizes a strong culture of learning and the well-being of students, offering an integrated curriculum that fosters friendships and peers support across all levels.
The Early Childhood Center (ECC) curriculum offers a unique blend of active learning and inquiry, based on the philosophies of the Highscope program based on Piaget's intellectual development theory. The children are exposed daily to indoor and outdoor play with a variety of natural and man-made materials available so they can imagine, explore and experiment.
The Early Childhood Center (ECC) caters to children between the ages of 1 and 5 years and comprises of the following classes:
- Prepper 1 class- 1 to 2-year-olds
- Prepper 2 class- Ages 2 to 3-year-olds
- Preschool 1 class- 3 to 4-year-olds
- Preschool 2 class- 4 to 5-year-olds
Preschool 1 and 2 corresponds to the Foundation Stage ( Nursery and Reception) of the British education system and the Preschool Stage ( Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten) of the US system. the Pre-Kindergarten class focuses on the transition to full-time schooling through to the primary years.
Co-curricular activities- the children are exposed to a diverse range of co-curricular activities including music, movement, library and technology programs, the Games Club, and African Dance, to mention but a few. These play a crucial part in the cognitive and physical development, as well as building the emotional and social skills of the children.
The British International School and Montessori Education Freetown
This is an English medium, coeducational international school with a program based on the Montessori system and accepting students from the ages of 16 months to 16 years. The school accepts children aged 14 months to 3 years in the Nursery section, which is divided into two main groups namely the Junior and Senior Babies groups. Children in Nursery are introduced to the Montessori program to develop their sensitive periods of development. The Montessori preschool group is composed of children aged 3 to 4 years and 4 to 5 years in the Kindergarten group.
Pre-school Section
- Established: 2009
- Address: No. 7/8 Hill Cot Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- ages: 3-5
- Duration of study: 2 years
- Primary Languages: English
- Terms : 3 terms
Accreditation and membership: Council of British International Schools (COBIS), the Ministry of Education Sierra Leone and the International Montessori Council,
The Montessori system offers a unique method of introducing children to enjoy learning and where a variety of materials are used to meet the child’s developmental needs and to enable them to experience the excitement of learning on their own, thereby developing a natural desire for learning.
The school is made up of the following classes according to age groups.
Nursery- 16 months to 2 and a half years
Pre-School- 2 and a half years to 3 and a half years
Lower Kindergarten- 3 and a half years to 4 and a half years
Upper Kindergarten- 4 and a half years to 5 and a half years.
All learning activities are based on the UK system’s Early Years Framework (EYFS) and linking each stage with the Montessori Approach. Personal, Social, and Emotional Development.
Communication And Language- children are given every opportunity to share their natural curiosity and ideas and are encouraged to talk through structured play and circle time activities.
Physical Development- a variety of resources are used both indoors and outdoors to help children to develop their gross motor skills, for example, by kicking a football, building blocks indoors, and interacting while using play equipment outdoors.
Literacy- exposes the children to prints, reading, and writing, through daily reading sessions, and various activities to support fine motor skills needed for writing.
Mathematics- children are encouraged to explore numbers through games, songs, and structured activities.
Understanding The World- Children are naturally curious and hence the school offers a prepared environment that encourages exploration of texture, color, science activities. circle time talks and pictures about places and nature are also used to complement their learning.
Expressive Arts And Design- children are encouraged to express themselves through art and design. They are allowed to paint, color, mold with playdough, and their finished work is put on display in the classrooms. They are also encouraged to express themselves through singing and using simple musical instruments.
Nutrition- the school encourages parents to pack healthy options of food, fruits, and vegetables to enable the children to develop healthy eating habits.
Play Times- children engage in various play activities outdoors which enables them to become physically active, challenge themselves.
Independence- children are encouraged to be autonomous and independent through daily routines which help them to settle in quickly. They are taught how to do things and care for themselves.
Extracurricular activities- The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities and clubs which include Basketball Club, Creative Writing BIS Echo, English Corner, French Club, Phonics Reading Club, Piano Club, American Sign Language, Dance Club, Cooking Club, Art Club, Creative Art Club Choir Club, Soccer Club, and Drama Club, to mention but a few.
UDIFA Day Care and Nursery
This is a private institution that offers excellent childcare services for children aged 3 months to 5 years, in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The school creates a unique, exciting environment with an extraordinary education that embraces a diversity of students and promotes growth both academically and personally. UDIFA Day Care and Nursery aim to offer all children the highest-quality teaching and learning, to provide a safe, happy and stimulating environment, to ensure that children feel valued, included, and respected, and to Equip the children with life skills and learning, that will prepare them for the world.
Kindergarten Section
- Address: 9b Pipeline Drive, Off Wilkinson Road Freetown
- Ages: 3-5
- Duration of study: 3 years
- Primary Languages: English
- Terms : 3 terms
Curriculum- the school incorporates the Early Years Foundation Stage with the Sierra Leone education system to set a standard of learning, development, and care of children from birth to 5 years. It offers 9 areas of learning and development that shape the educational activities offered here.
These areas of learning include Communication and language, Numeracy, Literacy, Personal, social and emotional, Physical development, Creative development, Understanding the world (Science, History, Geography, etc.), Information Technology, and Food Technology.
Classes are divided according to age groups and include the Babies Room, Toddler Classrooms, Nursery Classrooms, and Reception Classrooms. The Babies' room is for children aged 2 months to 1-year-olds, the Toddler 1 class for 1 year to 2-year-olds, and the Toddler 2 class for 2 years to 3 years olds.
Nursery and Reception Classrooms
Nursery 1 (3 years), Nursery 2 (4-year-olds)- At this age children start exploring their ability to communicate, move purposely, control important body functions while asserting their independence and individuality. The school hence provides a calm, caring, supporting, and free environment, with a trained staff that can manage the changing moods, different levels of capabilities, and variety of interests among the children. Children are constantly encouraged to be confident, open, independent, and with positive core values because this stage will shape their personalities and characters.
Children learn a variety of activities including how to ride a tricycle, use safety scissors, identify colors, shapes, spell two letter words, identify the difference between girls and boys and recall a story. children start to do additional programs such as IT, Food lessons, and field trips, to mention but a few.
Reception (5 years)- This is the final year of early childhood education where children are prepared for primary school. Programs at this stage start to become structured creating meaningful learning. At this stage the children will have established core skills and values including confidence, the ability to think for themselves, communicating effectively, working together, solving problems, and understanding the world.
They will be able to read and write, be confident in their alphabets, identify and understand high-frequency words, blend phonics, and learn how to write. At this stage, they will also be able to Understand numeracy through learning about numbers and doing basic calculations, describing and recognize 2D and 3D shapes, and understanding the chronological order of things. They will also use their personal and social skills to exercise self-discipline, patience, working as a team, problem-solving, and how to observe, reason, and discuss. They will also be able to Approach the world with curiosity and develop knowledge on how the world around them operates.
