Primary school is the first step towards formal education for young learners. As such, it is crucial that your child not just learns what’s part of their chosen curriculum but also masters skills that are relevant to their overall development.
Also, a smooth transition from preschool to primary school is as important as the learning itself. As students complete kindergarten, they must acquire key skills to be able to seamlessly integrate their Early Years learning into their formal education.
At GIIS, our young learners are guided and supported through various ways to make this transition smooth and meaningful. One such strategy is to provide additional support to bridge any learning gaps for students who join Grade 1 in January.
While the academic session at GIIS runs from April to March, GIIS provides this additional support to those who complete their kindergarten (K2) by November as per the local preschool calendar in Singapore.
Also read: How do Smart Schools lead to better learning outcomes?
The objective is to enhance student performance in academics and also ensure their emotional well-being as they progress through the school years.
Eligibility to join Grade 1 in January
Your child is eligible to join Grade 1 in January if they are five years old or above and have completed the K2 programme or equivalent. They can join Grade 1 in January where our teachers use differentiated instructional strategies to help them catch up with students who have been attending Grade 1 all year.
Ideally, our customised instructional strategies will give them the skills and knowledge needed to transition directly into Grade 2 with the rest of their class, despite their delayed entrance. This is done over a period of two-and-a-half months between January and March as the new academic session starts in April at GIIS.
How does it work?
These students at GIIS are grouped together to receive coaching in specific areas of Grade 1 curriculum. Then, through teacher support and help from their families, students focus on the concepts and coursework needed to enter Grade 2. Missed work will be provided through printed worksheets that students can take home to aid classroom progress.
Focus on key skills
Students in our Bridge support attend classes led by expert educators who have the expertise and experience in providing guidance to transitioning primary students. Your child will receive focused instruction in these skills necessary to experience success in Grade 2:
● Reading and comprehension
● Writing
● Communication
● Numeracy
● Science
For a standardised curriculum like the CBSE, key concepts and topics from the syllabus, necessary to step into Grade 2, are focussed upon. For an international curriculum like the IB PYP curriculum, which is transdisciplinary in nature, along with literacy and numeracy skills, students will also be trained to understand the process of inquiry and eventually be able to apply the skill in their units.
Student progress is closely monitored and assessed to ensure each student is well-prepared to move on to Grade 2. Our academic staff is highly skilled and has been helping students transition effectively for over a decade. Families who enrol their children for Grade 1 in January pay pro-rated fee from January through March.
At GIIS, our students and their families are our top priorities. Through these timely interventions and age appropriate strategies, we aim to provide a happy and memorable school experience for our students.
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly admissions counsellors today.
Rekha Varghese
Ms. Rekha Varghese is the Vice-Principal of GIIS SMART Campus, Singapore. She has over 25 years of experience as an educator and expertise in Early Childhood education. She is a member of the Academic and Examination Board of GIIS and has been deeply involved with the development of academic processes and practices of the school. She believes that milestones achieved in social and emotional growth at this key stage pave a way for confident individuals of the future. As a pedagogical leader, she has been mentoring educators who are keen to work with this age group. Her understanding of educational philosophies, including the CBSE, IB PYP and other child-centred pedagogies, have helped her in this endeavour.
