At The Sunshine Kindergarten (TSK), we know that the foundation for lifelong learning begins early. With our children joining us from as young as 19 months old, we understand how crucial it is to provide them with amazing opportunities for discovery, exploration and challenge at every step.
At TSK we take great care to ensure that inspiring experiences across all elements of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) are an integral part of our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, sparking curiosity, creativity and critical thinking in our young learners from their earliest educational experiences.
The journey at TSK is just the beginning. Our students are continuously supported to thrive throughout their education. With an interdisciplinary, practical and hands-on approach, our students are able to embrace challenges, solve problems and collaborate with one another. We provide students with unrivalled opportunities to get inspired and develop a lifelong foundation of intellectual curiosity and creativity, right through from their earliest STEAM experiences at TSK all the way through to tackling MIT set challenges in the Higher Phase at The British School of Kuwait (BSK).
Research shows that introducing STEAM concepts in early childhood significantly benefits children’s development in a variety of ways. Their early experiences with STEAM foster creativity, critical thinking and problem solving skills, as well as developing communication and collaboration, setting a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Head Teacher, Hannah Farrell highlights the value of STEAM within the curriculum, “STEAM experiences in the Early Years really ignite a love of learning and promote a growth mindset. We want our students to be curious and confident to explore, ask questions and find solutions, rather than striving for the perfect outcome, so they can thrive in a supportive environment.”
At TSK, we embrace a play-based approach which prioritises the process that a child goes through in their learning experience, rather than the outcome. This method allows children to confidently explore, experiment and discover through hands-on experiences. Rather than focusing on the pressure of a final product, we encourage children to enjoy the journey of learning - testing ideas, making predictions and observing outcomes in a whole host of different areas.
For example, during a water play session, a 19-month-old might experiment with different objects to see which ones make the biggest splash when dropped. This simple activity introduces basic scientific concepts while promoting curiosity and exploration. Similarly, building with blocks can evolve into an engineering challenge, where children work together to create structures, learning about balance, symmetry and gravity in the process. This is especially the case with the support and interaction of our skilled and experienced practitioners who can extend our children’s thinking even in the midst of their play.
At TSK, we place a strong emphasis on junk modelling as a key component of our innovative STEAM framework. Junk modelling allows children to transform everyday, recyclable materials into creative masterpieces, fostering creativity and encouraging self-expression. Through the process of assembling and repurposing materials such as cardboard boxes, bottle caps, and fabric scraps, children explore designing, engineering and problem-solving in a hands-on and engaging way.
This type of creative play not only nurtures imagination but also supports the development of fine motor skills and critical thinking. By experimenting with different textures, shapes, and structures and making careful choices about the materials to use, children learn to think critically and adapt their ideas often leading to unexpected, fun and interesting solutions.
The STEAM foundation built at TSK prepares our children for a seamless transition to The British School of Kuwait (BSK). By cultivating these essential skills early on, we ensure that our students are confident, curious, and capable learners who are ready to embrace the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of them. As they progress through their educational journey, the STEAM principles they’ve learned at TSK will continue to support their growth, enabling them to excel across these disciplines in their later school years and beyond.
At TSK, we take great care to ensure that STEAM learning is fully and meaningfully embedded in our EYFS curriculum. With dedicated specialist spaces for music lessons and high-quality resources, such as light boxes, a STEAM wall and sensory pods, our students are immersed in unforgettable experiences that promote challenge and discovery. By focusing on play-based, process-oriented learning and providing fully equipped ‘Creation Stations’ in every classroom, we ensure that even our youngest learners are engaged, inspired and prepared for a bright future at BSK and beyond.
Together, we are building the innovators, thinkers, and leaders of tomorrow, starting from the very first steps of their educational journey.
Enabling environments, warm relationships, and plenty of time for talking about our experiences are some of the key aspects in supporting very young children with their playful choices and engaging their interests.
