Squirrels Leap Play School has carefully created a learning environment that stimulates learning and independence.
A large part of our teaching choices and principles are Montessori based, this leads to a system of education which is both a philosophy of child development and a motivation for guiding such growth. It is based on two important developmental needs of children:
- The need for freedom within limits.
- A carefully prepared environment which guarantees exposure to materials and experiences.
This system of education is designed to take full advantage of the child’s desire to learn and use his or her unique ability to develop their own capabilities. Our learning environment will help the child to develop physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally. Children choose their activities from open shelves with self-correcting materials and work in distinct work areas – on tables or on rugs on the floor. The practical life exercises enhance the development of task organization and cognitive order through care of self, care of the environment, exercises of grace and courtesy, and refinement of physical movement. The sensorial materials enable the child to order, classify and describe sensory impressions in relation, length, width, temperature, mass and colour.
The Montessori maths materials, through concrete manipulative lessons, allow the child to grasp the concepts of numbers, symbols, sequence, operations and memorizing basic facts.
The language work includes oral language development, written expression, reading, and the study of grammar, creative dramatics and children’s literature. Basic skills in writing and reading are developed through the use of sandpaper letters (loose alphabet letters) and various presentations, allowing children to effortlessly link sounds and symbols and to express their thoughts in writing and drawing.
School day and ages
Squirrels Leap Play School welcomes children from 2 to 5 years of age, slightly younger children will be considered after a trial period. Our school day starts at 8.30am and ends at 12.30pm, you are welcome to start dropping off from 8.15am. We run our school terms as per the Western Cape School Calendar.
Something special
For parents who require an extra hour until 1.30pm, we offer a “holding” facility at a small extra charge.
Because Squirrels Leap Play School and Simply Swimming swim school share the same property we are delighted to offer your child a weekly swimming lesson, the cost of which is included in your school fees. Regrettably this offer is only available to children 3yrs and older,this is purely for safety reasons. Swimming will start at the beginning of February and finish at the end of November.
During the July and December school holidays we offer special holiday programs, details are made available before the end of each term.
Holiday Clubs
At Squirrels Leap Play School we offer exciting and stimulating holiday clubs during the mid-year and end of year school holidays.Typically the club is a week long, but we are happy for your child to join us on any of the days during that week and you will be able to pay for the days you come.
We welcome all children from 20 months to 5 years of age or even a little bit older with prior arrangement. Siblings,friends or even children who don’t come to our school can join us and get involved, making, baking and creating awesome works of art in the kitchen, classroom and outside.
At no extra charge we have a medical and permanent disability insurance policy covering every child in the event of an accident.
