Early Learning Center

Welcome to the ELC

The Early Learning Center (ELC) / Pre School is home to our youngest learners, children from ages 2.5 to 5. It is a children’s center where joy, play, wonder, curiosity, inquiry and creativity are the ways in which children learn. We recognize and respect the potential of each child to communicate their understandings, thoughts and feelings using many different “languages” as ways of expression. These may include dramatic play, sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, video, words, stories, poems, climbing, running, and many, many more.

Through the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) and inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, we endeavor to foster children’s learning through the development of all their “languages” and by creating an environment to support this way of thinking and being.

Early Learning Center/ Pre School is a mixed-age program comprised of children between 2.5 to 5 years age group. Between 2.5 to 3-years-old children enroll initially for a half-day program, which can be extended to a full-day program after 3-6 months with the teacher’s recommendation and on parents' request. The 4-year-old children generally come for the full-day program, depending on parental choice.

Prior to entry parents and children are invited to spend some time at the center. Children must be able to use the toilet independently prior to admission. Please see the Admissions section of the website for further details regarding admissions policies and procedures.

School Day


Half-day program: 8:30 am - 12:00 noon Monday - Friday
Full-day program: 8:45 am - 2:00 pm Monday - Friday

Children may be dropped off at the ELC/Pre-School from 8:25 am. *Half-day students do not stay for lunch.

Snack/Lunch


Snack time is held in the morning. The children bring two or three pieces of fruit from home each week and this is shared with the class each day.

Lunch is from 12 noon for those children remaining full-day. Parents have the option of ordering lunch from the school FRESH MEAL OPTION or bringing lunch from home.

Facilities

The ELC, adjacent to a lovely park, is housed in a purpose-built building across a few minutes walk from the main YIS campus. There are classrooms, an atelier (art studio), and large communal area called, the Piazza, which includes the dining area, library and plenty of space for creative exploration. Upstairs is the school auditorium. The ELC also has a playground for outdoor activities and terrace areas in the front and back of the building.