Written by Ganjar Mulyadi
Head of Preschool and Primary Department

Early childhood is the most critical window in human development. At Singapore Intercultural School (SIS) Bandung Preschool, an innovative educational synthesis bridges this vital stage: combining the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) with Singapore’s Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) framework to create a seamless launchpad into Cambridge Primary.

IEYC Implementation at SIS Bandung: Inquiry in Action

The IEYC operates on the principle that young children learn best through active, play-based inquiry and emotional security. At SIS Bandung, educators bring this framework to life through purpose-built environments featuring dedicated inquiry zones, natural sensory tables, and hands-on construction areas.

Learning follows the IEYC’s structured Process of Learning:

• The Entry Point: A captivating hook—such as discovering a “mysterious giant egg” in the school garden—sparks immediate curiosity.
• Capturing Curiosity: Teachers assess prior knowledge and let children’s questions shape thematic units (e.g., “Dinosaur Detectives” or “Blast Off!”).
• Reflective Celebration: Each unit ends with a shared event where children showcase their learning journey to peers and parents.

Through this approach, SIS Bandung fosters international mindedness, personal resilience, and holistic development, treating children as active researchers rather than passive listeners.

The NEL Foundation: Mathematical & Literacy Precision

While the IEYC acts as the creative heart of learning, Singapore’s NEL framework provides the cognitive spine. SIS Bandung embeds NEL’s systematic literacy and numeracy strategies early on, notably through the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) mathematical method:

1. Concrete: Children manipulate physical objects to grasp numbers.
2. Pictorial: Concepts are visualized through diagrams and drawings.
3. Abstract: Formal mathematical notation (+ or -) is introduced only after deep conceptual understanding is formed.

This eliminates early math anxiety and builds intuitive problem-solving habits within a play-filled setting.

The Ultimate Launchpad for Cambridge Primary

The synergy of IEYC and NEL equips students to transition effortlessly into the Cambridge Primary curriculum (ages 5–11):

• Scientific Inquiry: Early hands-on investigations prepare students for formal scientific experimentation.
• Problem Solving: CPA-trained learners deconstruct complex primary word problems with ease.
• Learner Attributes: Students naturally embody key Cambridge traits, becoming confident, responsible, reflective, innovative, and engaged.

The SIS Bandung Advantage

SIS Bandung provides seamless vertical alignment between preschool and primary departments. Preschoolers routinely visit primary science labs and libraries, while educators collaborate across grade levels to align expectations. By harmonizing IEYC’s joyful exploration with NEL’s academic structure, SIS Bandung ensures children are not just ready for primary school, but ready for life.

References

Fieldwork Education. (2018). The International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC): Research and overview. Fieldwork Education.
Ministry of Education, Singapore. (2022). Nurturing Early Learners (NEL) framework: A curriculum framework for kindergartens in Singapore. Ministry of Education.
Cambridge Assessment International Education. (2020). Cambridge Primary curriculum framework: English, Mathematics, and Science. Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). (2020). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8 (Position Statement). NAEYC.
Shonkoff, J. P., & Phillips, D. A. (Eds.). (2000). From neurons to neighborhoods: The science of early childhood development. National Academies Press.

Singapore Intercultural Schools. (2023). The SIS Way: Our pedagogical approach and curriculum integration. SIS Group of Schools.