St. Andrews International School Dusit (or simply St. Andrews Dusit) offers a British International Education programme specifically catering for Kindergarten students that aim to nurture young children while using a holistic approach.
From the time the school opened in 2010 with only five students, the school established a kindergarten programme that has established its reputation as an outstanding Early Years learning institution. It has become a trusted school for children of Thai nationals as well as expatriates in Bangkok.
While most of the children enroled in the school reside in the nearby Ari and Victory Monument area, which are conveniently close to BTS stations in Bangkok, it is renowned throughout Bangkok for developing both local Thai and expat children’s English and other academic learning. It’s also conveniently located right outside the Chitralada Palace and nearby to Ramathibodi Hospital.
A Preview of The Kindergarten Learning Environment in St. Andrews Dusit
The St. Andrews Dusit Kindergarten program stands out from other kindergarten schools in Thailand because it actively follows the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)—the exact same standard that’s used in the world-famous British Education System, which is used by many other schools in the UK. EYFS mandates the framework of standards that schools, and childcare providers should fulfil for the learning, development, and care of children from the time they’re born up to the age of five.
Learning in St. Andrews Dusit Kindergarten is predominantly play-based in the Early Years stages, and the main goal is for children to gain fundamental knowledge of literacy and numeracy through dynamic, playful activities. By the end of their Early Years education, most children are expected to have gained rudimentary number and reading skills as well as basic knowledge of a foreign second language.
Children enrolled in this British-style kindergarten receive extraordinary and hands-on guidance in their everyday learning journey, thanks to the school’s exceptionally low teacher-to-student ratio of 1:4. This ensures that they get the attention and care they need in these crucial years of their rapid development.
Even at a very young age, students in the St. Andrews Dusit International Kindergarten programme are given the fantastic opportunity to interact and learn from children from other cultures. The school organises plenty of interactive and fun activities that promote awareness, appreciation, and respect for different cultures all over the globe, such as dancing, singing and creative expression.
For instance, children are divided into groups and assigned a country during International Week. They learn facts about the country assigned to them, as well as its culture and people, for that entire week. In our highly globalised and interconnected world, such experiences prepare these young learners to face diverse groups of people and develop their acceptance and appreciation of the similarities and—more importantly—differences between ethnicities and cultures.
Priorities and Highlights of Education in St. Andrews Dusit Kindergarten
Kindergarten is typically regarded as the first year of formal schooling, making it an essential time in a child’s life.
Kindergarten in St. Andrews Dusit focuses on providing holistic development, play-based learning, and individualised attention to every child’s needs. To be more specific, here’s what children (and parents) can expect:
- Holistic Development
St. Andrews Dusit actively embraces the EYFS framework in promoting the holistic development of children. As a result, the school organises learning activities that aim to encourage not only intellectual growth in terms of new knowledge about the world; the school’s programs are also expertly designed to nurture children’s social, emotional, physical, and creative development. Our mission to build a robust foundation for the children’s well-being and lifelong learning.
- 7 Key Learning Areas of Development
To support its objective of providing holistic education, St. Andrews Dusit Kindergarten focuses on 7 major areas of learning and development:
- Physical Development: Physical development through play activities, which help them improve their coordination and refine their motor skills. Those activities also widen their understanding of self-care and health. This is coupled with healthy meals and snacks, and of course, planned nap time to refresh the student’s energy.
- Personal, Social, And Emotional Development: Our students are exposed to activities designed to develop their self-confidence, emotional health, and interpersonal abilities. Despite being shy or nervous during class, students are given many opportunities to showcase their talent and abilities with their classmates and teachers.
- Communication and Language: Our students are given lessons to help develop their listening, understanding, and speaking skills. This exposure to children with different cultural communication styles and languages helps further boost their skills. Many Thai parents are often concerned whether their children can adopt English language fast enough to communicate with their friends. However, here at St. Andrews Dusit, our Kindergarten teachers encourage and teach different levels of English, gradually building their vocabulary and pronunciation.
- Literacy: To prepare them for entry into the formal education system, children in our International Kindergarten programme are taught valuable skills in reading and writing. Diligent practice of skills is encouraged—not perfection. Parents are encouraged to help at home with reading out loud with their children.
- Mathematics: Basic Mathematics comprehension is taught at school with mathematical concepts, such as shapes, numbers, and measurements. Different methods and exercises are used to give meaning to real world understanding of Math used.
- Expressive Arts and Design: Children’s creativity is encouraged and promoted using various activities relating to music, dance, imaginative play, and other age-appropriate art forms. Here is where our International Kindergarten programme excels as our teachers often find unique and fun ways of expressing and design arts and crafts.
- Understanding the World: Lastly, children in St. Andrews Dusit Kindergarten are guided in making sense of their immediate community and the physical world. Thanks to its cultural diversity, the school further promotes this goal by opening children’s eyes to the enormous variety of cultures and perspectives, along with the many differences between them and their fellow kindergarteners. We often allow students to explore out of classroom lessons to understand better the world around them.
- Learning Through Play
Since it follows the British Education System’s EYFS standards, St. Andrews Dusit International Kindergarten in Bangkok prioritises play as an indispensable el
ement in children’s learning and development.
The school encourages children to engage in playful exploration, uncover new insights by themselves, and acquire knowledge through diverse playful experiences. Moreover, St. Andrews ensures that activities are educational and enjoyable to cultivate a passion for learning in children. Once students are well adjusted to their environment, classmates and teachers, they are more comfortable to learn and pay attention in the lessons.
Kindergarten classes in St. Andrews Dusit encourage students to use their imagination as they play and explore the world around them.
- Child-Centred Framework
St. Andrews Dusit heavily focuses on respect for each child as a person. Thus, teachers and teaching assistants are all trained to keenly observe the young learners and provide a personalised learning experience for each one. Owing to the school’s low ratio of teachers to students, St. Andrews teachers have ample resources to design practical learning experiences for every student that matches their unique skills, interests, and learning style. As a result of this customised and child-centred approach, students at St. Andrews are more deeply engaged in their own learning and development.
- Experiential And Exploration-Based Learning
The learning environment in St. Andrews Dusit Kindergarten is designed to promote exploration and learning through a wide range of educational experiences. To support this objective, the school provides access to safe outdoor environments, a large variety of learning materials, and opportunities for engaging in hands-on activities.
Outdoor learning is a vital component of their educational activities, helping the children develop multiple skills. The school has an indoor shared area and a soft play area where they can comfortably play, learn, and interact with other children. It also has an outdoor playground and sandpit where children can explore and play while enjoying some sunlight and breeze.
In each of those areas, our school has set up various activities and challenges for the children, which are designed to develop their abilities across the seven essential learning areas we previously discussed. Those skills will serve as the foundation for more complex and sophisticated skills that they will learn and hone in the coming years as they continue their development, both at school and at home.
- Regular Assessment and Early Intervention
Early Years—which include their year in Kindergarten—are a time of phenomenal growth and changes in children. To ensure that they are developing at an optimal pace, St. Andrews Dusit performs frequent evaluations to track the development of each child. This helps the school identify any developmental delays or special needs early on, ensuring that the proper support and interventions are given to every child who needs them as soon as possible.
- Parental Engagement
While St. Andrews Dusit is treated as the children’s ‘second home,’ the school recognises the crucial influence of the home in each child’s development. That’s why the school puts a strong emphasis on forging close partnerships with the children’s parents or guardians.
The school organises many activities for parents and guardians to be actively involved in their little one’s learning. St. Andrews actively promotes collaboration between teachers and parents to ensure teamwork and the children’s best learning outcomes.
- Secure And Supportive Environment
Last but not least, our children’s safety and well-being are paramount. The school is meticulously designed to ensure children’s utmost safety, with full consideration of their vivacious energy and preferred play activities. The school is also equipped to provide first-aid treatment and other appropriate health services for children, with a registered nurse standing by at all times.
In addition to that, the learning environment our school is warm, welcoming, and secure. All of the school’s staff—from teachers to maintenance crew—are rigorously screened and trained to ensure that the children are safe and nurtured as they learn and play, through strict safeguarding policies.
Healthy Eating, Adequate Rest for Happy and Healthy Children
Enough restful sleep and proper nutrition are crucial to guarantee optimal growth and development in children.
With this in mind, St. Andrews Dusit Kindergarten Bangkok serves the children nutritious and well-balanced meals and snacks (which cover the five major food groups). Food is prepared fresh daily at the canteen, approved for safety, and delivered straight to the classrooms.
We also offer special services for children with unique dietary needs or allergies. For instance, there are vegan options and specially prepared meals for students who suffer from food allergies.
Several research studies have shown the importance of sleep in consolidating new knowledge and moving it into long-term memory. That’s why St. Andrews allows children to take naps at scheduled times throughout the day. Teachers, teaching assistants, and dedicated staff ensure that children are comfortable and help them sleep so they can wake up with renewed energy to take on the rest of the day.
Know More About the Best British Kindergarten in Bangkok
This page offered an overview of the learning environment at St. Andrews International School Dusit Kindergarten. As you may have noted, the school provides a rich, stimulating, and caring environment where children of all cultures can thrive and develop a broad range of skills that are essential for their overall growth and future academic success.
If you’re interested in providing the best Early Years’ experience for your child and would like to learn more about our trusted British Kindergarten in Bangkok, we’ll be happy to set up a meeting or call to discuss further. See what our school has to offer for your child’s holistic development. Please feel free to book a school tour with our Admissions team today.