Stamford American Opens World's First Early Learning Village

SINGAPORE, Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Stamford American International School (Stamford American), a well-established international school in Singapore within the Cognita Schools Group, today celebrated the grand opening of their world-class Early Learning Village that is 100% educational by design entirely for children aged 18 months to six years old – a world first of this scale for early years education.  

The Village is a compelling proposition for Singapore as it makes a ground-breaking addition to the nation's existing world-class education landscape, which according to independent reports from The Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), has the highest achieving students in international education. While Singapore not only offers an enviable safe lifestyle, the education is world-class at both the local level and international level. For families considering Singapore as a destination of choice, it's through leading international schools like Stamford American, that children of all ages are provided with incredible opportunities to broaden their horizons culturally as well as academically. Stamford American is proudly an IB World School and caters to a community of over 70 nations across two bespoke campuses.

The incredible Early Learning Village is their newest campus addition for the Brand which signals their unwavering desire to innovate and stay at the forefront of education for the children in their care.

During the opening ceremony, Michael Drake, CEO of Cognita Asia said, "The Early Learning Village is the product of an exciting collaboration with educational experts. We are proud to offer an unparalleled Early Learning Village that reflects our modern and innovative approach, inspired by Reggio Emilia principles, at a scale unlike anywhere else in the world for children in their vital pre-school years."

The world-famous Reggio Emilia philosophy incorporates the environment as a third teacher¹ in its architecture, interior design and curriculum, so the Village represents a revolutionary step in early childhood education where this age group is the first and only thought. The Village is designed by award-winning Bogle Architects in collaboration with Gary Moore, Professor of Environmental Behavioural studies at Sydney University in NSW Australia, and Rosie Long, a Reggio Emilia Early Years Education specialist from the UK, to include specific architectural and design elements that elevate the early learning experience.

Among the facilities in the Village are various multifunctional spaces thoughtfully designed with young children in mind, such as a covered swimming pool which adapts to the competencies of the little swimmers – 10 short horizontal lanes for beginners, and four longer lanes lengthwise for more confident swimmers, and a large indoor, air-conditioned gymnasium for their acclaimed SMART Steps and Perceptual Motor Program specialist physical education classes, plus stunning specialist classrooms with large child-height round windows, allowing natural light to come in. In addition, there are 6 tailored sensorial outdoor playgrounds with UV cover, which allows the children to spark imagination and play at every corner of the play area, rain or shine.

"We understand the importance of early years education and have created inspired spaces for the benefit of our young students and also to complement the school's distinct curriculum and character," Drake added. 

The early learning curriculum at the Village is grounded in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) integrated with new units of inquiry incorporating STEAMInn - Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Innovation. We believe that children learn best through hands on experiences and with this in mind, we developed an education model which combines all 6 subject investigations where every day moments are aligned to essential discovery learning. This is in addition to the well-established specialist programs of daily Mandarin or Spanish and Bilingual English/Mandarin Program and weekly lessons of the world-renowned Suzuki violin.

Each corner of the Village caters to the growing and developing child, with tailored discovery spaces attached to every classroom which empower young learners to extend their self-directed learning. Their learning and fun also reaches beyond the classroom where they can choose from specialty Co-Curricular Activities such as gymnastics, ballet, swimming, sports, drama and language-learning, amongst many others.

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For media queries, please contact:

Andrea Romero
Ogilvy Public Relations
Public Relations for The Early Learning Village
T: 212 880 5389  / 917 679 5826
Email: [email protected]

About Stamford American International School
With an ethos for educating children to achieve more than they believe they can, Stamford American International School has established itself as the first and only school in Singapore to offer both the International Baccalaureate^® (IB) and American curriculums for children aged 18 months to 18 years. 

As one of the leading US-based schools following the Northern Hemisphere academic calendar, Stamford American integrates the rigorous American Education Reaches Out (AERO) standards with the PYP, MYP and DP courses within the IB framework. Students enjoy the unparalleled opportunity of obtaining Advanced Placement credits from Grade 10 which provides them with the option to graduate in Grade 12 with the IB Diploma, or High School Diploma with Advanced Placement credits, or both, preparing students for acceptance to leading universities worldwide.

For additional information about the Stamford American International School:
T: (65) 6653 7907
Website: www.sais.edu.sg

¹ Reggio Emilia principles identify three teachers of children: adults, their peers and their physical environment.

SOURCE Stamford American International School

Related Links

https://www.sais.edu.sg