Parents FAQ's
1. What do you mean by “Concept Preschool”?
In a Concept Preschool there are different rooms or spaces set aside in the environment that allows easy access to a variety of learning materials in an interesting and productive manner. These rooms are designed to enhance the learning of basic concepts (like size, colours, shapes, numbers, And counting), skills, themes or topics.
The concept rooms are usually designed to offer a variety of materials, designs, and media through which students can work by themselves or with others to operationalize the information learned in the classroom. Such concept rooms also help the children to be more willing to engage in the activities. In short a concept Preschool will have self-contained rooms in which students engage in independent and self-directed learning activities.
2. How is your school different from the other preschools?
The Little Elly Preschool Program is unique from many of the other preschool programs out there because it makes use of multi-age curriculum to guide your child throughout the preschool years.
Other preschool programs often work in one of two ways: either they cater specifically to one preschool age group or they have a general curriculum that is supposed to work for all kids, whether they are 2 or 5.
Little Elly combines these methods with a set of age-based curriculum options that allow your child to move from one developmental phase to another within a single program. This accommodates the learning changes that take place during the preschool years while still allowing for a connection between curriculums’ that facilitates learning.
There are three different curriculums; a playgroup for age two, nursery for age three and kindergarten for age four – six curriculum. Each part of the program notes the particular needs of your child at that age, giving him (or her) the skills necessary to complete the program successfully. Within each curriculum are a variety of different tools to make learning work for all children. And each curriculum leads easily into the others so that the entire program can be easily followed.
The Little Elly Program can be started at any preschool age. As the child gets older, it allows for kindergarten preparation and helps the child to get ready for all of the school years to come. If the child isn’t quite ready to move on to the age-appropriate part of the curriculum, we can always backtrack to get him caught up to where he needs to be. This helps us to identify any areas in which the child might be lacking so that we can better assist him in meeting his educational needs in the future.
This is not the only way in which the Little Elly Programs help parents. It also provides some of the materials that you might need towards simplifying the teaching process! Many of our parents find the preschool an enjoyable process.
There are plenty of different preschool programs out there for a parent. However, many of these programs forget to take into account the individual, developmental needs that children go through during the preschool years.
Little Elly Preschool not only remembers these needs, its Early Learning program is designed around them. Children change so quickly throughout the preschool years and they need a program that is going to change with them while still maintaining a flow in design that makes learning easy and fun.
3. Why do you have a blend of both Montessori Method and Kindergarten method in your curriculum?
The Montessori approach is a kinesthetic educational model in which the entire child’s senses are employed is emphasized, and allowing a child to pursue his or her interests without interruption is a basic tenet, as is learning through discovery rather than rote memorization. Learning is highly individualized on a per student basis. This model directs children to improve concentration, self-motivation and self-discipline.
In the kindergarten classroom there is more of a shared experience; the kids enter together as a group and learn together as a group. Children are involved in their own learning and link new ideas to their prior knowledge and share what they've learned are well on their way to becoming successful learners. They are curious, exploring, experimenting, discovering, touching, asking questions, and motivated to learn. Our Early learning programme hooks into their natural desire to learn .Despite the significant differences between the two, we want to point out that one is not necessarily a better than the other. There are benefits to both.
The Motor skills room at LE benefits the sponge-like minds of children to improve their fine motor skills.
There is a perception that Montessori children struggle with the transition to the traditional classroom. At LE, all students are easily blended from the Montessori environment into a traditional classroom for their ELP.
We believe regardless of the child’s educational background, what’s most important is to be flexible in meeting the needs of that child.
4. What does Little Elly symbolize?
Elly is a cute little pink elephant you will ever see!
It symbolizes the first step towards Independence. It acts as a mascot, who will be a learning companion for the child at every stage. Elly will help his friend to be cheerful, successful and independent - able to function in the real world, a demanding place.
5. I find your fees higher compared to other schools, why is it so?
The fee we charge is less when compared to some other preschools. For one year, we charge Rs 30,000 - 35000, and this includes all the curriculum and study material. There are also field trips arranged during the sessions.
6. What is the ratio between teacher and the child?
Little Elly maintain a low teacher-student ratio to ensure each child receives the personal care and attention he/she needs. The child and teacher ratio is normally 15:3 (2 teachers and an Assistant).
7. Can we come and see the school functioning?
Parents or guardians cannot visit the premises/classroom on a working day without prior permission of supervisor or principal. However, they can attend the open day regularly or can also come on Saturday with prior appointment to meet the counselor or principal.
8. What is your school policy on religion? Do you impose any prayer time?
LE is completely nonsectarian institution. However we celebrate all the social and religious festival at school (like Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Christmas and Eid) as a part of LE's cultural curriculum. All faith and belief systems are respected, and children are welcome to share traditions and observe religious holidays as they choose.
9. Do you offer after school extended childcare?
Yes, after school childcare is available at select Little Elly centers.
10. Are all Little Elly schools owned by the company?
Little Elly Schools are both company run as well as on Franchise basis. We provide all necessary setup and training under our guidance, and maintain consistent contact in the day to day activities with visits and frequent communication. This helps us maintain a consistent high quality of care and education in all our schools.
11. What training do your teachers receive?
Extensive Training is provided to equip mentors to provide the best for your child. Please refer Initial Teachers Training section for more details.
12. How does Little Elly partner with parents for a child’s development?
A Little Elly teacher maintains constant communication with parents through daily assessments and interactions for children less than 2 years. For children older than 2 years, teachers welcome parent meetings on any working day with prior appointment. In addition, ongoing communication is maintained for each child with the parents on their individual development progress.
13. Does the school provide transport facility?
LE doesn't provide any transport facilities, but some centers have outsourced the facility to LE kids through transport agents.
14. What kind of gaps exists in the prevailing pattern of pre-schooling in India?
- Lack of professionally managed pre-schools with backing / support from a large / strong corporate body
- Children stressed out due to emphasis on academics only and the rush to admit kids in a branded school
- Ignorance of other major skills to be taught with equal emphasis by the teacher/school
- Lack of trained and committed pre-school teachers
- Lack of knowledge of the developmental milestones of children and what to expect from each age group
- No clarity on sequence of subject matter to be taught as a result major gaps are noticed in teaching/learning skills
Therefore, there is a pressing need for a good pre-school training center, which offers quality content along with a sound philosophy and methodology and, has a regulatory and monitoring body to check implementation. |
