Detailed information about our infant department

(Preschool, Kindergarten and First Grade)

The Infant Department is divided into a Reception Class, and classes for five-year-old (Year 1) and six-year-old (Year 2) children. We aim to provide a stimulating and exciting learning environment which will encourage and foster the children's desire to learn. We provide the security necessary to develop each individual child's personality and talents.

The Infant School concentrates on building English Language skills through conversation and stimulates these skills through the use of puppetry, interesting reading materials, poetry and storytelling. Visits to local museums, galleries, and places of interest provide extra experiences and insights which enrich our topic work and language development.
We are particularly interested in encouraging a love of reading for enjoyment and in teaching the children to value and care for books. We have developed a successful home/school reading programme. The six year old children have Norwegian lessons once a week.

We encourage children to develop their imagination and self-expression through drawing, painting, modelling, fantasy play, construction activities, oral and written language activities, music appreciation, signing, dance and drama. Recorder lessons are available for the six-year old children. These include simple notation. One of the high points of the infant week are the assemblies.

We have weekly Physical Education lessons and are fortunate that the availability of an excellent gymnasium allows us the use of a wide range of large and small gymnastic equipment.
The children are encouraged to develop their curiosity and interest in the world around them and to develop problem-solving strategies through mathematics, computer skills and scientific and environmental investigations.

There is close cooperation between our Infant Department and our host school Kalvskinnet. Each week our six and seven-year olds join the Norwegian seven and eight year old children for an English language lesson of games and songs using the B.B.C. "Big Muzzy" video programme.
The Infant Department appreciates the importance of creating a secure and relaxed atmosphere, where children of all nationalities work and play happily together. We aim to promote international understanding both in and out of school and to encourage high standards of ethics and behaviour amongst the children, both in our assemblies, and in our every-day activities.

We invite you to learn more about the different programmes of instruction we use in our reading and writing language acquisition by visiting any of the sites below:

Adventures in Letterland
Join Annie Apple, Bouncy Ben, Clever Cat, and all the other characters in learning the letters of the alphabet in a colourful, enjoyable manner. We use Letterland activities for all children from the Reception Class through Year 4. Visit the Letterland Homepage to learn more about this programme!

The Oxford Reading Tree
Biff, Chip, Kipper, Floppy, and the whole gang take us on a merry adventure into reading. This series of books, increasing in difficulty over time, help Birralee children learn to read -- and they love it! We use the Oxford Reading Tree for all children from the Reception Class through Year 4. Explore the Oxford Reading Tree homepage here.

"Muzzy in Gondoland"
"Muzzy in Gondoland", fondly known by the children as "Big Muzzy" is a B.B.C. video programme which we use as a basis for joint English language teaching with our host Norwegian school.