The EtonHouse Inquire-Think-Learn Curriculum Framework has been developed to support teachers in responding to a learning context of the 21st century in early years … a time of rapid change where learning, creativity and critical thinking must be the focus of a quality early childhood programme.

In Early Years, we do not only work with academic content (number, reading and writing). We aim to support the holistic development of the learner – physical, emotional, social, intellectual, creative and language development.

There are 8 big ideas that underpin the EtonHouse Inquire-Think-Learn curriculum framework.

These are:

An image of the child as competent learners. Children are respected as competent, curious, interested in their world and acknowledged as sophisticated thinkers and communicators

An understanding that play and conversation are the central modes of learning

A recognition that the curriculum has research-based intellectual and pedagogical integrity

The importance of seeing the learner within a socio-cultural context where knowledge is constructed as the child interacts with both the physical and interpersonal environment

The ongoing commitment by educators to view themselves as researchers who work with colleagues, children and families to deepen their understanding of their teaching

The facilitation in flexible environments that recognise that children learn not only from their teachers and peers but also from their interactions with the physical environment

A demonstration as educators of accountability for children’s learning through reflective pedagogical documentation

The establishment of a reciprocal partnership with parents, recognizing them as the child’s first educator

As part of this inquiry-based learning approach, young children at EtonHouse are respected as competent thinkers and communicators who are offered many opportunities to engage with a range of materials and resources that extend and challenge their thinking.

Early Years

In the pre-school settings at Dalian, EtonHouse offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) from ages 3-12. This is an inquiry-centred, multi-disciplinary philosophy is equally a foundation for teaching and learning. The IB PYP is a framework for international education designed to foster the development of the whole child as a global citizen. It supports the intellectual, aesthetic, physical, cultural and social needs of the student. This is achieved through learning that is identified to be engaging, relevant, challenging and significant. The framework of the PYP sets learning objectives, what we want our students to know, combined with the application of sound classroom practice, how best will they learn and effective, appropriate assessment how will we know what they have learnt. These three components, along with the attributes of the IB Learner Profile, form the basis for implementation of the IB programme.