King's College School Alicante: Adrian Hickman on Early Years Education
Adrian Hickman, Head of Primary at King's College Alicante, explains the ins and outs of Early Years Education
King's College Alicante is a bilingual school in Spain's
Alicante province that follows the UK teaching curriculum for students aged from 2 years old all the way up to 18. Adrian Hickman, Head of Primary at the school (left), delves into the important questions parents want answered about sending their young children to the British school:
How does King's College Alicante implement early childhood education?
At King's College Alicante, children in Early Years follow the British Early Years Curriculum and learning is based around the seven areas listed below:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Literacy (Reading and Writing)
- Maths
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Pupils in the Early Years participate in adult led, independent and child initiated learning both indoors and outdoors to support their development. We work systematically to develop the whole child and believe that embracing the unique child, providing an enabling environment with positive relationships are the key success factors to academic success. In the Early Years Foundation Stage, we like children to be independent and confident learners. Therefore, our timetables give students the opportunity to choose what activities they want to complete as well as having skills taught and modelled by our teachers. In addition, during the summer of 2024, the Early Years building here at KCA will undergo an exciting refurbishment resulting in a new structure, new classrooms, furniture and resources. This is an example of one of the many things we do at KCA to highlight the importance of Early Learning and to ensure we continue to provide outstanding experiences and learning for our children.
How does early years education contribute to a child's overall development and what are the long term benefits in Early Years Education?
Early Learning is crucial for all children as it provides the foundation for their development and future academic success. During the first years of a child's life, his or her brain develops rapidly and is receptive to new experiences and information. Quality early childhood education provides opportunities for children to develop essential social, emotional, cognitive and motor skills. In addition, the Early Years curriculum we have at King's College teaches children to foster curiosity, creativity and a love of learning, something that can last a lifetime. Research shows that children who receive high quality early learning experiences are more likely to achieve better results, possess higher levels of social competence and exhibit fewer behavioural problems.
In what ways does early years education promote social and emotional skills?
Early Years education promotes social and emotional skills as it provides a structured environment for pupils to interact with other children and adults, facilitating the development of empathy, cooperation and communication. The Early Years environment that we provide gives children opportunities to develop relationships, learn from each other, resolve conflicts, regulate emotions etc. Forming positive relationships with staff also helps develop a child's self esteem and how to manage emotions.
How does early childhood education support parents in their role as primary educators?
Early Years education provides extra support and guidance to parents. Thanks to the constant communication between home and school, parents have a stronger understanding of what to expect when and how they can help their child on their personalised learning journey too.
Use the contact details below to talk to King's College today and find out about how your children could benefit from their Early Years Education programme:
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Address
Glorieta del Reino Unido 5, Alicante 03008
Tel: 0034 965 106 351
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King's College has the mission of providing high-quality British education, offering a transformative learning experience to its students. Committed and effective teaching is grounded in its core values and the latest educational best practices from the UK, enabling students to achieve their academic and professional aspirations.
¿Why Choose King's College Alicante?
Deciding which school your child should attend is of vital importance as it will determine their educational and developmental journey. Therefore, King's College Alicante is committed to guiding its students from their early years of education to graduation. It is the only school in the region that regularly undergoes certified external inspections by the Department of Education of the British Government. In its latest report, conducted by the inspectorate body Penta International, the school has been rated as "Outstanding" in all categories.
Like all King's Group schools, King's College Alicante delivers the highest quality British educational model, based on a rigorous curriculum and innovative teaching methods that foster skills such as creativity and critical thinking. At 16, students take the IGCSE exams (International General Certificate of Secondary Education), which are equivalent to the Spanish Secondary Education Graduation certificate. From age 16 onwards, they follow either the International BTEC in Business or the International Baccalaureate (IB). The IB program at King's College Alicante offers the widest range of IB Diploma Programme subjects in the region, including a variety of previously unseen specialties in Alicante. Additionally, the entire program is delivered in English, except for modern language subjects.
Teaching methodology at King's College Alicante
They believe in learning through exploration and research to encourage students to think, question, and seek new ideas. They have a rich educational program in the field of languages, teaching Spanish, Valenciano and English, with the inclusion of French and German from age 11 to 13, and Chinese inside the IB programme, which next year will also be an extracurricular. They also offer musical, sports and informational training, as they have classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards and Wi-Fi connection, as well as the Chromebook program in secondary school, supported by the latest technologies including 3D printers, green screens, robotics and virtual reality.
Sports and the arts are another cornerstone of education at King's College, so in addition to being part of the curriculum, various optional activities are promoted, including football, basketball, judo, gymnastics, athletics, swimming, table tennis (ping-pong), water sports, paddle tennis and diving.
- 11-a-side football field
- Indoor soccer field
- Basketball court
- Tennis courts
Visit King's College Alicante
King's College is located on the outskirts of Alicante, specifically at Glorieta del Reino Unido 5, Alicante 03008, with easy access to the city by road and public transportation. It is a modern building tailored with state-of-the-art facilities designed for children aged 2 to 18 and has a capacity for 1,230 students.
King's College Alicante
Glorieta del Reino Unido 5, Alicante 03008
Phone: 0034 965 106 351