Located in a recently constructed building within the "Monsignor F. Tomadini campus, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER comprises four sections:

PRE-NURSERY                          (2 to 3 year-olds)
NURSERY 3                               (3 to 4 year-olds)
NURSERY 4                               (4 to 5 year-olds)
KINDERGARTEN                    for children 5 to 6 years of age

The program is carried out entirely in the English language. The early childhood years are among the most formative for a child’s education and therefore ideal for easy and enjoyable English language acquisition. Children who attend THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER acquire a solid and secure background in all areas of the Early Childhood programs and are prepared to continue Elementary (Grades 1-5) and Junior High School (Grades 6-8). Admission to the ECC does not require previous knowledge of the English Language.

PRINCIPAL AIMS

THE UDINE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER strives to provide children with a “home away from home”. We want each child to enjoy and benefit from his/her years at our school. Our aim is to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding as well as to be attentive and sensitive to the needs of every child.

A positive and supportive environment helps the child develop a sense of self-esteem and correct social behaviour. Highly qualified teachers (each section has a teacher and teacher’s assistant), a pleasant and colourful learning environment and state-of-the-art teaching materials allow each child to grow and mature as both an individual and as a member of a group.

Limits are set to provide guidelines within which the child can experiment and learn. These limits, which provide the child with a sense of security, are consistent throughout the Early Childhood years and vary according to the child’s age.

CURRICULUM

THE UDINE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL curriculum provides individual and distinct programs in the four classes. Within each of the four classes, programs are outlined according to the age, maturity and the different stages of growth of the students.

PRE-NURSERY (2 to 3 year-olds)

The program is very unstructured and informal and throughout the school year focuses on the introduction and reinforcement of English vocabulary, the development of social (the child’s relationship with adults and with other children) as well as cognitive, creative, verbal and motor skills.

The child is introduced to new objects and materials through manipulation, the discovery of self and body co-ordination, the discovery of his/her surroundings. Curriculum areas include Pre-Writing (manipulation and co-ordination), an initial approach to Mathematics (counting, colours, object classification), Art (free expression through drawing, painting and collage) and Music (sounds and singing).

NURSERY 3 (3 to 4 year-olds)

The program concentrates on the development of the child’s physical, social, cognitive, verbal and motor skills. It also stresses basic skills such as the gradual acquisition of independence, settling-in and interaction with classmates through play and sharing, group cooperation and participation, personal hygiene (washing, dressing, etc.) and following basic instructions.

The weekly timetable includes Language and Listening skills as well as an introduction to books, Pre-Writing (co-ordination, manipulation and copying), Mathematics (basic shapes and sizes, weight and volume, numbers and counting), Science (the development of explorative and observation skills, introduction to living things such as plants and animals as well as their habitat, the concept of time and weather conditions), Health (the parts of the body, personal hygiene, the five senses), Social Studies (the awareness of self, the family and the community), Art (painting and collage, manipulation of materials, textures and colours), Music (the development of the ability of listening to sounds and understanding rhythm, singing of songs), Motor Skills (gross and small motor skills through individual and group activities and games).   In Science and Social Studies topics may change from year to year.

NURSERY 4 (4 to 5 year-olds)

The program aims at helping each child to experience intellectual growth, educational stimulation, to become emotionally sound, to acquire physical well-being, and to become socially well-adjusted.

The Nursery 4 program consists of activities relating to Language development (the ability to follow and tell a story and to ask questions), Pre-Reading (books and reading corner), Pre-Writing (co-ordination, pencil holding, copying, writing of letters), Mathematics (object classification, shapes, size and volume, numbers, the concept of time), Science (plants and animals and their habitats, the five senses used to identify objects, weather conditions, the seasons), Health (health and the importance of eating correctly, personal hygiene, safety), Social Studies (more awareness of self, the body and its functions, the concept of growth, feelings, the members of the family, the home and the community), Art (painting, drawing, collage and the construction of various forms and objects, colour mixing), Music (singing, rhythm, music listening skills), Computer Studies (introduction to the use of the computer) and Motor Skills (gross and small motor skills through individual and group activities and games).   In Science and Social Studies topics may change from year to year.

KINDERGARTEN (5 to 6 year-olds)

The program is based on the principle that a five-year-old child is enthusiastic, curious and ready for a learning experience within a school setting. 

The objective of the curriculum is that of consolidating personal, social and working abilities as well as further development of growth, interaction, cognitive skills and independence.

The subjects include: Language Arts (the development of written and oral language, listening skills as well as the ability to follow instructions, comprehension, reading and listening to different types of stories, the development of the ability to retell episodes and stories clearly and by using complete sentences, the ability to interpret and make comparisons, vocabulary expansion, spelling skills), Handwriting (eye-hand co-ordination, the correct holding of a pencil, the letters of the alphabet, copying correctly), Spelling (learning to spell his/her own name, letter identification, brief dictations), Mathematics (logical thinking, object classification, identification and writing of numbers up to thirty, measurement, size, clock reading, ordinal numbers, introduction to addition and subtraction), Social Studies (the development of one’s own body and feelings, the discovery of how one learns, meets challenges and makes mistakes, appreciation of the uniqueness of each individual, how family members work, basic needs), Science (the identification and use of the five senses, matter, colour classification, animals and plants and their habitats, the environment, the weather and the seasons), Health (basic needs and health, safety, the parts of the body, materials), Art (understanding of shape and size, lines, colour, drawing, the awareness of art and aesthetics and the development of personal interpretation, the use of art materials), Music (singing, different types of songs, rhythm and tone), Computer Studies (use of the computer during lessons), Motor Skills (gross and small motor skills through individual and group activities and games).   In Science and Social Studies topics may change from year to year.