Early Learning Center (ELC)

Preschool & Kindergarten

An Intentional & Joyful Start to Learning

The Early Learning Center at NIS is a place where children are encouraged to wonder, explore, create, and discover. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and guided by the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, we believe children are capable, curious learners who actively construct their understanding of the world through play, inquiry, relationships, and meaningful experiences.

Learning begins with children's questions, interests, ideas, and theories. Rather than being passive recipients of knowledge, children are active participants in their own learning, helping to shape the educational experience through their curiosity and exploration. We believe children learn best when they are trusted, listened to, and given opportunities to investigate meaningful questions in ways that reflect their individual strengths and interests.

Through thoughtful interactions with teachers, peers, materials, and the environment, children develop the confidence, skills, and dispositions that support a lifelong love of learning. Our role as educators is to observe carefully, listen deeply, and create opportunities that extend children's thinking while supporting their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Within a nurturing community built on belonging, respect, and care, every child is known, valued, and encouraged to grow.

How Young Children Learn Best

Discover the teaching practices, learning principles, and nurturing relationships that support curiosity, confidence, and growth in the early years.

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Welcome from Our ELC Coordinator

What makes the Early Learning Center at NIS such a special place to begin a child's educational journey?

Hear from ELC Coordinator Colleen Yasonia as she shares how our play-based, inquiry-driven approach places children at the center of their learning.

Discover how curiosity, creativity, and meaningful relationships help young learners develop confidence, explore their interests, and build a strong foundation for future learning and growth.

Every Child Belongs

Creating a strong sense of belonging is central to the ELC experience.

We welcome children from diverse linguistic, cultural, and learning backgrounds and recognize that every child arrives with unique strengths, experiences, and ways of learning. Our educators work closely with families to understand each child as an individual and provide the support, challenge, and encouragement they need to thrive.

By creating an inclusive environment where children feel safe, respected, and valued, we help every learner develop confidence in themselves and a sense of connection to their community.

English Language Requirements

Children do not need to speak English before starting in the ELC.

We support children in developing English naturally through play, daily routines, and interactions with teachers and peers. This helps them build confidence and begin using the language in meaningful ways.

At the same time, we encourage children to continue developing their home language, which supports their overall learning and ability to make connections as they acquire English.

Our ELC Curriculum

Learning Through Play, Inquiry & Relationships

The Early Learning Center combines the child-centered philosophy of the Reggio Emilia approach with the structured framework of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP). As children engage in these investigations, they develop early literacy and numeracy skills, as well as communication, problem-solving, creativity, and independence. This creates a strong foundation for future learning while preserving the curiosity and joy that make the early years so important.

The Reggio Emilia Approach

The Reggio Emilia approach shapes how this learning unfolds. Teachers carefully observe children's interests, questions, and theories, using them as starting points for deeper inquiry. Through play, discussion, creativity, experimentation, and collaboration, children become active participants in their own learning.

The International Baccalaureate Programme

Through the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, children explore big ideas about themselves, their communities, and the world around them. Learning is organized around meaningful concepts and questions that encourage curiosity, connection, and understanding.

EXPLORE OUR ELC CURRICULUM

Learning Spaces Designed for Exploration

In the Reggio Emilia approach, the environment is often described as the "third teacher."

The spaces within our Early Learning Center are intentionally designed to encourage exploration, collaboration, creativity, and independence. From open and flexible classrooms to outdoor learning environments, every space invites children to investigate ideas, express themselves, and engage meaningfully with their surroundings.

The environment supports children's natural curiosity while providing opportunities for discovery, reflection, and deeper learning.

Indoor Spaces

Indoor classroom spaces have a range of clearly defined areas to encourage exploration, investigation and play. These include areas for reading, writing, visual art, construction, music, dramatic play and imaginative play. Children’s interactions in and with these spaces stimulates them to become active learners.

A teacher points to a projected lesson about weather on a screen while a group of young students sit on the floor with their hands raised in a classroom.

Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor spaces provide a safe platform for exploration and inquiry. Through a variety of dry and wet spaces, this inviting environment fosters a sense of comfort and challenge as students can engage and ponder the natural world around them.

Children in a sandbox play with sand and watering cans in front of a wooden structure and trees.

Shadow Room

The Shadow Room is one of the more popular spaces inside that has no limits to their creativity!

A young boy in a striped shirt plays with colorful light projections on the floor and walls, surrounded by illuminated blocks and toys.

A Day in the ELC

Each day in the Early Learning Center follows a consistent rhythm that balances exploration, relationships, creativity, and discovery. While no two days are exactly alike, children move through a series of experiences designed to support their growth, curiosity, and well-being.

This predictable structure helps children feel secure while providing the flexibility needed to pursue emerging interests and meaningful investigations.

Community Time

Children, families, and teachers come together to build relationships and start the day with a sense of connection and belonging.

A woman and a child are making colorful mochi balls in the foreground, with a blurred background of a kitchen setting.

Collaboration Time

Children engage in inquiry, play, and project-based learning as they explore ideas, ask questions, and learn alongside others.

A group of young children gather around a table in a classroom, looking at a book and a small terrarium, with wooden tables and chairs visible in the background.

Outdoor Exploration

Outdoor environments provide opportunities for discovery, movement, risk-taking, and connection with the natural world.

Children in the foreground lean over a potted plant, while blurred figures and greenery form the background.

Physical Education

Through active play and movement, children develop coordination, confidence, teamwork, and physical literacy.

A man in a green shirt and glasses sits on a gym floor, facing a group of young children in green hats and shirts who are sitting in a semi-circle, with a blurred background of a gymnasium.

Japanese Language & Culture

Children build connections to the local community through language, songs, seasonal traditions, and cultural experiences.

A child wearing a blue demon mask and blue paint on their hands is in the foreground, with blurred wooden chairs and tables in the background.

Rest & Reflection

As the day progresses, the routines support children’s developmental needs. Younger children have time to rest, while older children reflect on their learning through small group discussions.

Children sit on a green rug in the foreground, engrossed in books, while a bright, airy room with furniture forms the background.

Partnering with Families

We believe families are a child's first and most important teachers. Strong partnerships between home and school help children feel secure, supported, and confident as they learn and grow.

Through ongoing communication, collaboration, and shared reflection, we work closely with families to understand each child and celebrate their development. Together, we create a connected learning community where children experience consistency, belonging, and encouragement both at school and at home.

Supporting Your Child's Learning at Home

One of the most important ways families can support learning is by nurturing their child's natural curiosity. Simple everyday experiences such as talking, playing, exploring, reading together, and asking questions help children make sense of the world and build confidence as learners.

We encourage families to read regularly with their child in any language and to continue using the language they are most comfortable with at home. A strong home language provides an important foundation for communication, literacy, and future language development.

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FAQs about ELC

For many families, the Early Learning Center experience may look different from the education they experienced as children. Below are answers to some of the most common questions about our approach to learning, child development, language acquisition, and school readiness.

Will my child learn reading, writing, and math in the ELC?

Yes. Children in the ELC develop early reading, writing, and math skills through meaningful, hands-on experiences.

Rather than teaching these as isolated subjects, we integrate literacy and numeracy into everyday learning. Children explore language through storytelling, conversations, and early writing experiences, while mathematical thinking develops through activities involving patterns, numbers, shapes, and problem-solving.

This approach helps children build a strong foundation by understanding ideas rather than just memorizing skills. They learn to communicate, think, and make connections, developing confidence as learners.

By the time children enter elementary school, they are well prepared to continue developing their reading, writing, and math skills in more structured settings.

It looks like play. Are they really learning?

Yes! Play is one of the most powerful ways young children learn.

Through play, children explore ideas, solve problems, test their thinking, and make sense of the world around them. These experiences develop essential skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.

In the ELC, play is intentional. Teachers carefully design the environment and guide learning through questions, materials, and interactions that extend children’s thinking and deepen their understanding.

For example, when children build with blocks, they explore mathematical and scientific ideas such as shape, balance, and structure, while also learning to plan, collaborate, and solve problems.

This kind of learning builds a strong foundation for future academic success.

What support is available if my child is struggling?

Children develop at different rates, and this is expected in the Early Learning Center.

Teachers work closely with each child to understand their needs and provide support in the classroom through guided activities, small-group work, and individualized attention. The focus is on helping children build confidence, develop independence, and grow as learners.

When additional support is needed, our Student Services team works in partnership with teachers to provide targeted guidance. In the ELC, this often focuses on social-emotional development, early learning skills, and language development.

Our goal is to ensure that every child feels supported, capable, and able to make meaningful progress.

Why are children of different ages in the same class?

We intentionally create mixed-age learning environments because they benefit all children.

Younger children learn by observing and interacting with older peers, building confidence and developing new skills. Older children deepen their understanding by guiding others, explaining their thinking, and taking on leadership roles.

This approach reflects real-life learning, where children develop socially, emotionally, and academically through relationships with others. It helps create a collaborative, supportive environment where every child can learn and grow.

How many children are in each class?

Why are children doing different activities instead of the same thing?

While there are times in the day when children come together as a whole group, much of the learning happens in smaller groups or through individual exploration.

This allows children to make choices, follow their interests, and engage more deeply with their learning. Teachers carefully design the environment and guide these experiences to ensure that each child is supported, challenged, and developing key skills.

Through this approach, children build independence, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and confidence, all essential for future learning.

Because every child learns differently, offering a variety of learning experiences ensures that each child can engage in ways that are meaningful and effective for them.

Why aren't children always seated at desks?

Research shows that young children learn best through active, hands-on experiences.

In the ELC, children use a variety of spaces, including the floor, tables, and outdoor areas, to explore ideas, work with materials, and engage in their learning. This flexibility allows them to move, collaborate, and interact in ways that support how they naturally learn.

The environment is carefully designed to encourage curiosity, focus, and sustained engagement. When children are interested and involved in what they are doing, they are more likely to concentrate, think deeply, and develop their understanding.

This approach supports both independence and a strong foundation for future learning.

Why are there spelling mistakes in children's writing displays?

At this stage, learning to write is about building confidence and expressing ideas.

In the ELC, we encourage children to take risks in writing and to communicate their thinking, even if their spelling is not yet accurate. Focusing too heavily on correctness too early can make children hesitant and less willing to write.

Instead, teachers support children in developing the foundational skills they need to become strong writers over time. This includes building fine motor skills, learning how sounds connect to letters, and developing the ability to express ideas clearly.

As children grow, accuracy in spelling and writing is developed in more structured ways. By starting with confidence and a willingness to communicate, children are better prepared to become capable and successful writers.

Does NIS expect parents to use English at home?

No. We encourage families to continue using their strongest language at home.

A strong home language supports a child’s overall language development, thinking, and confidence. Children use this foundation to make connections as they learn English at school.

By developing both languages, children are better able to communicate, understand, and express themselves across different contexts.

Will my child be ready for Elementary School after ELC?

Yes. The ELC is designed to build the skills and confidence children need for a successful transition into Elementary School.

Through play, inquiry, and guided learning experiences, children develop early literacy and numeracy, independence, communication skills, and the ability to work with others. These are the foundations for more structured learning in the Primary Years Programme.

By the time children enter elementary school, they are well prepared to take on new challenges and continue their learning journey with confidence.

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