KINDERGARTEN, MATERNELLE, EARLY YEARS - ARE THEY ALL THE SAME THING?

Feb 203 min read

I love Belgium. I have lived here for many years now and I have learnt that it is a country of many facets. One of the most intriguing things about Belgium is the number of languages that you will hear here. Added into this melting pot is that schools often call their early years facilities something different and it can be challenging to know what you are buying into when you are looking for a school for your child, let alone comparing like for like.

Do you want your child to learn French or Flemish or English? Do you want your child to attend Kindergarten or maternelle or an English speaking school that continues right through to 19? So many questions you must ask yourself.

ACE START is a registered Cambridge Early Years facility. Our children learn in English and they have French as part of their curriculum.

So how do you find the perfect school for your child?

The easiest way to find a good school for your 3 - 4 year old is to pay the school a visit. You will get a feel for the place as soon as you walk through the door. Are you greeted with a warm smile? Are the toys and resources easily accessible? Are the teachers interacting with the children? Are the toilets clean? These are all things that are important but it is the feel of the school that is crucial.

ACE START is our early years facility - our kindergarten or maternelle, if you will. The warmth of our amazing ACE START team, the caring approach from which all our children benefit and the fun lessons that our children love, all go towards giving ACE START the feel that you want for your child.

As with all parts of ACE, flexibility is our strength. We accept children into our school all through the year from all over the world. The children join us us at a variety of stages in their development and we adapt to them, not the other way around. That aside, all children grow at different rates in all areas and we make sure that the activities that we provide are developmentally appropriate and play centred. Playdough is always a popular activity for everyone which creates a golden opportunity to learn about sharing - as long as I can join in! It's not just the texture of playdough, it's the delicious smell too!

My favourite part of the day is when I pop into ACE START and the children begin to enthusiastically share news of their latest discovery from the sand pit with me, or we sit on the sofa together with Bonkers and listen while someone reads us a story. There are always so many exciting activities going on in ACE START and I never know with which one to join in first!

I think one of my favourite conversations that I had with a child went something like this. As I remember, the little girl was 3 and a bit years old.

Child - How old are you Mrs Daire?
Me - How old do you think I am?
Long, thoughtful pause.
Child - I think you are 19!
Me (very proud that I am looking so young) - Oh thank you, that is so sweet of you.
Child - Yes, it was the biggest number that I could think of!!!!