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Where every learner thrives

Our vision is for every student to be the best that they can be.

Our mission is to inspire creativity and nurture global citizens and leaders of the future.

Our shared purpose is to create a joyful and inclusive learning community where every learner can thrive.

 

Discover Our Vision

Where every learner thrives

Our vision is for every student to be the best that they can be.

Our mission is to inspire creativity and nurture global citizens and leaders of the future.

Our shared purpose is to create a joyful and inclusive learning community where every learner can thrive.

 

Discover Our Vision

What can Hillside offer your family?

  • SIS offers icon-6

    ESF Network

    As part of the English Schools Foundation(ESF), our students are supported by the largest English-medium international school organisation in Hong Kong, providing them the resources and opportunities not found outside of ESF Schools.

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  • World-class Education

    World-Class Curriculum

    Our kindergarten offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, providing a global perspective and preparing children for success.

    Find out more
  • Real-world Experience

    Inclusive Community

    We celebrate diversity and create a welcoming environment where every child feels valued and supported.

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  • Well-rounded Education

    Exciting Learning Adventures

    Our engaging approach sparks curiosity, fosters creativity, and ignites a lifelong love for learning.

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  • Comprehensive Student Support

    Expert and Caring Educators

    Our passionate educators bring expertise and warmth, nurturing each child's individual strengths and fostering a love for exploration.

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  • Strong School-Family Connection

    Strong Collaborative Partnerships

    We believe in strong collaboration with parents, working together to ensure your child's growth and happiness every step of the way.

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Academics

At Hillside, children learn through play-based inquiry, fostering curiosity and relevance. We empower independent learners and critical thinkers, encouraging action and making a difference. Discover a typical day at Hillside and the power of play in supporting learning.

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Our PYP curriculum integrates subject knowledge and concepts through a comprehensive Programme of Inquiry (POI). Students explore transdisciplinary themes and subject areas, developing global perspectives and balanced learning. Holistic assessment and strong home-school partnerships ensure continuous growth and communication.

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At Hillside, we create a vibrant learning community that values inclusion, well-being, and language proficiency. Positive relationships, leadership opportunities, and intentional learning environments support agency and inquiry-based learning. Language skills are nurtured through multiliteracies, fostering academic excellence and a strong home-school partnership.

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School Activities

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Immerse in the World of Stories

Dive into an enchanting world of books in our library. Children listen to captivating stories and conduct research for their projects, fostering a love for reading and expanding their knowledge.

Find out more
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Unleash Creativity in our Outdoor Playground

Our outdoor playground, garden, and mud kitchen provide endless opportunities for children to play, explore, and build. From imaginative structures to messy fun, children channel their creativity and develop essential skills while enjoying the great outdoors.

Find out more
hillsidek_esf_6140

Bring Learning to Life through Role Play

Step into the world of make-believe as children engage in role play. Acting out scenarios and situations, they develop a sense of the real world and gain meaningful and relevant learning experiences that enhance their understanding and empathy.

Find out more
hillsidek_esf_6175

Explore the Wonders of Transdisciplinary Learning

Science, art, sensory activities, and mathematics come together in our transdisciplinary experiences. Children engage in hands-on experiments, unleash their artistic talents, and develop critical thinking skills, fostering a holistic approach to learning across various subjects.

Find out more
hillsidek_esf_6467

Immerse in the World of Stories

Dive into an enchanting world of books in our library. Children listen to captivating stories and conduct research for their projects, fostering a love for reading and expanding their knowledge.

Find out more
IMG_1612

Unleash Creativity in our Outdoor Playground

Our outdoor playground, garden, and mud kitchen provide endless opportunities for children to play, explore, and build. From imaginative structures to messy fun, children channel their creativity and develop essential skills while enjoying the great outdoors.

Find out more
hillsidek_esf_6140

Bring Learning to Life through Role Play

Step into the world of make-believe as children engage in role play. Acting out scenarios and situations, they develop a sense of the real world and gain meaningful and relevant learning experiences that enhance their understanding and empathy.

Find out more
hillsidek_esf_6175

Explore the Wonders of Transdisciplinary Learning

Science, art, sensory activities, and mathematics come together in our transdisciplinary experiences. Children engage in hands-on experiments, unleash their artistic talents, and develop critical thinking skills, fostering a holistic approach to learning across various subjects.

Find out more
hillsidek_esf_6467

Immerse in the World of Stories

Dive into an enchanting world of books in our library. Children listen to captivating stories and conduct research for their projects, fostering a love for reading and expanding their knowledge.

Find out more
IMG_1612

Unleash Creativity in our Outdoor Playground

Our outdoor playground, garden, and mud kitchen provide endless opportunities for children to play, explore, and build. From imaginative structures to messy fun, children channel their creativity and develop essential skills while enjoying the great outdoors.

Find out more
hillsidek_esf_6140

Bring Learning to Life through Role Play

Step into the world of make-believe as children engage in role play. Acting out scenarios and situations, they develop a sense of the real world and gain meaningful and relevant learning experiences that enhance their understanding and empathy.

Find out more
hillsidek_esf_6175

Explore the Wonders of Transdisciplinary Learning

Science, art, sensory activities, and mathematics come together in our transdisciplinary experiences. Children engage in hands-on experiments, unleash their artistic talents, and develop critical thinking skills, fostering a holistic approach to learning across various subjects.

Find out more

Testimonials

1 / 4

We are so grateful for the supportive and nurturing environment at Hillside and our daughter has had such a positive experience from the very first day at K1, thanks in no small part to the culture of inclusivity and belonging which you all live and demonstrate by example.

We are so grateful for the supportive and nurturing environment at Hillside and our daughter has had such a positive experience from the very first day at K1, thanks in no small part to the culture of inclusivity and belonging which you all live and demonstrate by example.

Parent, 2021-2023

2 / 4

Your school is truly one of the best I have experienced. Just warms my heart to see how my girls are discovering and appreciating their individuality, stretching their inquisitive minds, and just being so happy. Big thank you to you and your team for everything!

Your school is truly one of the best I have experienced. Just warms my heart to see how my girls are discovering and appreciating their individuality, stretching their inquisitive minds, and just being so happy. Big thank you to you and your team for everything!

Parent, 2019-2023

3 / 4

A belated vote of thanks to Hillside for the well run Sports Day, last week. Just the kids’ reaction, from screams of delight to spontaneous laughter was great to see. I think we parents enjoyed it more though…reminded me when alma mater QBS also held its sports day at the Football Club.

A belated vote of thanks to Hillside for the well run Sports Day, last week. Just the kids’ reaction, from screams of delight to spontaneous laughter was great to see. I think we parents enjoyed it more though…reminded me when alma mater QBS also held its sports day at the Football Club.

Parent, 2017-2019

4 / 4

Our children have both loved their time at Hillside and they both learnt so much, whilst having lots of fun in the process. We feel that all of the teachers are great and we would particularly like to mention our son’s teacher, as she really has gone above and beyond the call of duty with him.

Our children have both loved their time at Hillside and they both learnt so much, whilst having lots of fun in the process. We feel that all of the teachers are great and we would particularly like to mention our son’s teacher, as she really has gone above and beyond the call of duty with him.

Parent, 2013-2017

1 / 4

I just wanted to congratulate you and your team on the wonderful children and parents that we have been interviewing this week from Hillside. The inquisitive and joyful learners that you are producing, is a credit to you and the parents that I have interviewed reflect this in my conversations with them.

I just wanted to congratulate you and your team on the wonderful children and parents that we have been interviewing this week from Hillside. The inquisitive and joyful learners that you are producing, is a credit to you and the parents that I have interviewed reflect this in my conversations with them.

John Brewster, Principal, Kennedy School, 2016

Quarry Bay-Sue Yee(1000x1000)
2 / 4

Thank you for hosting us, it was great to see all the children in your lovely environment. We could not stop talking about the next steps for the children and it was full of takeaways and ideas.

Thank you for hosting us, it was great to see all the children in your lovely environment. We could not stop talking about the next steps for the children and it was full of takeaways and ideas.

Sue Yee, Principal, Quarry Bay School

3 / 4

We all thoroughly enjoyed the process and were extremely impressed by the professionalism of the Hillside staff. It was great to hear so many positive comments about the ‘Instructional Rounds’ process and the learning that came from it. Well done to all!

We all thoroughly enjoyed the process and were extremely impressed by the professionalism of the Hillside staff. It was great to hear so many positive comments about the ‘Instructional Rounds’ process and the learning that came from it. Well done to all!

Rebecca Clements, ESF Senior School Development Officer, 2016

4 / 4

Thank you for letting three of our teachers come and visit Hillside today. The teachers found it very informative and it gave them a great example of inquiry based curriculum delivery. Thank you also for sharing the sample planning documents and explaining how they are implemented. It was a wonderful professional development opportunity.

Thank you for letting three of our teachers come and visit Hillside today. The teachers found it very informative and it gave them a great example of inquiry based curriculum delivery. Thank you also for sharing the sample planning documents and explaining how they are implemented. It was a wonderful professional development opportunity.

Susan Ward, Director, Catiline Kindergarten Group, 2017

What's New at Hillside?

📚 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤‑𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬‑𝐔𝐩 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞

Our classrooms were filled with familiar characters as we celebrated our Book‑Inspired Dress‑Up Day. Children came dressed as a character from a favourite story and brought their books to share with their classmates.

This special day fosters a love of r𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 in a meaningful and engaging way. By stepping into a character’s role, children deepen their connection to stories, language, and imagination.

It was a joy to see the children confidently sharing their stories and celebrating their love of books together. 💛

#ESFHillside #ReadingForJoy #Storytelling #EarlyYearsLiteracy

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🎨𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 ✨

The ESF Communications Team has created a beautiful stop‑motion video capturing a very special experience at Hillside — our guest mural artist @theinktrail working alongside the children to create a brand new mural in our playground.

This collaborative project has been a wonderful opportunity for children to see creativity in action and to be part of the artistic process. The mural is not only a vibrant addition to our space, but also a reflection of our community, creativity, and shared experiences.

Thank you to our guest artist and the ESFC team for bringing this moment to life so thoughtfully. We’re excited for our community to enjoy this new space together. 💛

#esf #ESFHillside #CreativeLearning

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🎭✨ 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞

Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome 𝐅𝐚𝐢 𝐅𝐚𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 to Hillside for a special incursion.

This experience supports our children as they begin their final Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬.” Through the performance, children explored how stories and ideas can be shared in different ways.

Puppetry offered a rich and engaging way for children to experience 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠. It also inspires them to think about how they can express their own ideas, feelings, and imagination.

We look forward to seeing how this experience sparks creativity and expression as the children continue their learning journey. 💛

#ESFHillside #HowWeExpressOurselves #CulturalConnections #Storytelling #CreativeLearning JoyfulLearning

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🎉 Welcome Back, Hillside!

It’s been wonderful to welcome everyone back after the Spring Break — and we’ve jumped straight back into our learning and routines! 💛

We’re excited to share a glimpse of what K2 P.E. @esfbradburyschool looks like. These sessions are a fantastic opportunity for our children to build confidence, develop coordination, and enjoy being active in a larger school environment.

It’s also a special way for our children to become familiar with Bradbury, strengthening the connection within our ESF community.

We’re looking forward to a joyful and engaging term ahead! 🌟

#ESFHillside #ActiveLearning #PE #ESFCommunity

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🌈 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 🐰

What a joyful way to end the term! Our children came to school dressed in their 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬, filling Hillside with energy, laughter, and a beautiful rainbow of individuality.

This simple idea carries an important message — 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞. Each child brings their own strengths, personality, and way of thinking. Together, these differences make our community stronger, richer, and more vibrant. 💛

Throughout the day, the children also enjoyed lots of Easter fun — from face painting and Easter egg hunts to making bunny rabbits and playing games with their friends. It was a day full of smiles, creativity, and connection.

At Hillside, we celebrate the unique strengths of every learner and the joy of being part of a diverse and inclusive community.

Wishing all our families a 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤. We look forward to seeing you next term! 🌷✨

#ESFHillside #EveryChildShines #Inclusion #JoyfulLearning #Community

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🌿✨ 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝟐! ✨🌿

Our K2 children had a wonderful excursion to 𝐓𝐚𝐢 𝐓𝐚𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤, where learning came alive in the great outdoors. With clipboards and nets in hand, they practiced their research skills by 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 the treasures of nature around them.

From ticking off plants and animals along the hiking trail to fishing for natural elements in the stream, curiosity was everywhere. Along the way, children shared discoveries with each other—like realizing that some “branches” stuck in the ground were actually 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬, and wondering whether big holes in the earth might be the work of a 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰.
This adventure wasn’t just about exploring; it was about 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 🌱💡🐾

#IBPYP #InquiryBasedLearning #OutdoorLearning #SharingthePlanet

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📚𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲✨

During our recent Parent-Teacher Conferences, we received thoughtful questions about how children develop phonics and early reading and writing skills in a play-based environment.

In more traditional approaches, children may practise phonics sounds in isolation or read from structured texts. While these methods can build knowledge, they do not always feel meaningful to young learners.

In a play‑based classroom, literacy is woven into authentic, purposeful experiences. Children might:
✏️ Create menus in a pretend restaurant�🏥 Write patient information in a hospital role‑play�🏷️ Label models they have built�📖 Act out stories using puppets and props�📝 Write signs, lists, or messages during their play

Through storytelling and role‑play, children experiment with vocabulary, sentence structure, sound knowledge, and narrative skills in ways that feel relevant and engaging. They begin to understand that reading and writing have a real purpose.

At Hillside, play is not separate from learning — it is the vehicle for deep, meaningful literacy development. When children are motivated and emotionally engaged, their learning becomes more powerful and lasting.

#ESFHillside #PlayBasedLearning #EarlyYears #LiteracyThroughPlay #NumeracyThroughPlay Inquiry

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✨ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 – 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟‑𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ✨

At Hillside, you may notice children pouring water, stretching dough, exploring slime, or investigating different textures. While this may look like “just play”, these sensory experiences are a very important part of learning.

We have been intentionally strengthening children’s ability to recognise and manage their feelings, energy levels, and reactions in healthy ways. Children need to feel calm and safe before they can fully engage in learning.

Sensory play provides a natural and developmentally appropriate way to practise these skills. Through sensory experiences, children are:
- Building focus and sustaining attention
- Managing frustration when things do not go as expected
- Regulating their bodies through repetitive, rhythmic movements
- Calming themselves through tactile exploration

These moments strengthen the brain–body connection and help children tune in to how they are feeling. Sensory play also supports language development, fine motor control (important for later writing), collaboration, and social problem‑solving.

Most importantly, it brings joy. When children feel emotionally secure and regulated, they are more confident to explore, take risks, and learn. 💛

#ESFHillside #SelfRegulation #SensoryPlay #EarlyYears #JoyfulLearning

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🎙️ 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 – 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 🎙️

Last year, ESF launched 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 — a video podcast series where leaders explore and discuss the future of education. You can find House Captains on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and on the ESF YouTube channel.

We’re proud to share that 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞’𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐘𝐏 Coordinator, 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐘𝐮𝐞𝐧, features in the latest episode. 💛

From the question, “𝘞𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺?” to exploring what truly works in early years education, Brenda shares thoughtful insights on:

* The power of play‑based learning
* The importance of strong, trusting relationships
* Developing self‑regulation and social‑emotional skills

In a profession that never stands still, Brenda reflects on the shared values and trusting culture that allow both children and staff to thrive.

We’re incredibly proud to see Hillside’s voice contributing to important conversations across the ESF community.

#ESFHillside #ESFHouseCaptains #EarlyYearsEducation #PlayBasedLearning #EducationalLeadership

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🐎✨ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚 ✨🐎

Today, 𝟐𝟎 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 took part in a performance at the 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚. We were the youngest group among performers from primary and secondary schools — and we could not be more proud of our children!

They showed such confidence, enthusiasm, and teamwork on stage. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to be part of a larger ESF community celebration and to experience the joy of performing. 💛

As we celebrate together, we would like to wish all our families a very happy and prosperous 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞.

🎊 新年快樂 (Happy New Year)
 🐴 馬年大吉 (Good luck in the Year of the Horse)
 🧧 身體健康 (Good health)
💪 龍馬精神 (Wishing you strength and vitality)

Thank you to our staff and families for your support — and well done to our amazing young performers!

#ESFHillside #ESFCommunity #LunarNewYear #YearOfTheHorse #ProudMoments

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📚 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤‑𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬‑𝐔𝐩 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞

Our classrooms were filled with familiar characters as we celebrated our Book‑Inspired Dress‑Up Day. Children came dressed as a character from a favourite story and brought their books to share with their classmates.

This special day fosters a love of r𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 in a meaningful and engaging way. By stepping into a character’s role, children deepen their connection to stories, language, and imagination.

It was a joy to see the children confidently sharing their stories and celebrating their love of books together. 💛

#ESFHillside #ReadingForJoy #Storytelling #EarlyYearsLiteracy

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🎨𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 ✨

The ESF Communications Team has created a beautiful stop‑motion video capturing a very special experience at Hillside — our guest mural artist @theinktrail working alongside the children to create a brand new mural in our playground.

This collaborative project has been a wonderful opportunity for children to see creativity in action and to be part of the artistic process. The mural is not only a vibrant addition to our space, but also a reflection of our community, creativity, and shared experiences.

Thank you to our guest artist and the ESFC team for bringing this moment to life so thoughtfully. We’re excited for our community to enjoy this new space together. 💛

#esf #ESFHillside #CreativeLearning

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🎭✨ 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞

Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome 𝐅𝐚𝐢 𝐅𝐚𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 to Hillside for a special incursion.

This experience supports our children as they begin their final Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬.” Through the performance, children explored how stories and ideas can be shared in different ways.

Puppetry offered a rich and engaging way for children to experience 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠. It also inspires them to think about how they can express their own ideas, feelings, and imagination.

We look forward to seeing how this experience sparks creativity and expression as the children continue their learning journey. 💛

#ESFHillside #HowWeExpressOurselves #CulturalConnections #Storytelling #CreativeLearning JoyfulLearning

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🎉 Welcome Back, Hillside!

It’s been wonderful to welcome everyone back after the Spring Break — and we’ve jumped straight back into our learning and routines! 💛

We’re excited to share a glimpse of what K2 P.E. @esfbradburyschool looks like. These sessions are a fantastic opportunity for our children to build confidence, develop coordination, and enjoy being active in a larger school environment.

It’s also a special way for our children to become familiar with Bradbury, strengthening the connection within our ESF community.

We’re looking forward to a joyful and engaging term ahead! 🌟

#ESFHillside #ActiveLearning #PE #ESFCommunity

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🌈 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 🐰

What a joyful way to end the term! Our children came to school dressed in their 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬, filling Hillside with energy, laughter, and a beautiful rainbow of individuality.

This simple idea carries an important message — 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞. Each child brings their own strengths, personality, and way of thinking. Together, these differences make our community stronger, richer, and more vibrant. 💛

Throughout the day, the children also enjoyed lots of Easter fun — from face painting and Easter egg hunts to making bunny rabbits and playing games with their friends. It was a day full of smiles, creativity, and connection.

At Hillside, we celebrate the unique strengths of every learner and the joy of being part of a diverse and inclusive community.

Wishing all our families a 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤. We look forward to seeing you next term! 🌷✨

#ESFHillside #EveryChildShines #Inclusion #JoyfulLearning #Community

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🌿✨ 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝟐! ✨🌿

Our K2 children had a wonderful excursion to 𝐓𝐚𝐢 𝐓𝐚𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤, where learning came alive in the great outdoors. With clipboards and nets in hand, they practiced their research skills by 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 the treasures of nature around them.

From ticking off plants and animals along the hiking trail to fishing for natural elements in the stream, curiosity was everywhere. Along the way, children shared discoveries with each other—like realizing that some “branches” stuck in the ground were actually 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬, and wondering whether big holes in the earth might be the work of a 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰.
This adventure wasn’t just about exploring; it was about 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 🌱💡🐾

#IBPYP #InquiryBasedLearning #OutdoorLearning #SharingthePlanet

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📚𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲✨

During our recent Parent-Teacher Conferences, we received thoughtful questions about how children develop phonics and early reading and writing skills in a play-based environment.

In more traditional approaches, children may practise phonics sounds in isolation or read from structured texts. While these methods can build knowledge, they do not always feel meaningful to young learners.

In a play‑based classroom, literacy is woven into authentic, purposeful experiences. Children might:
✏️ Create menus in a pretend restaurant�🏥 Write patient information in a hospital role‑play�🏷️ Label models they have built�📖 Act out stories using puppets and props�📝 Write signs, lists, or messages during their play

Through storytelling and role‑play, children experiment with vocabulary, sentence structure, sound knowledge, and narrative skills in ways that feel relevant and engaging. They begin to understand that reading and writing have a real purpose.

At Hillside, play is not separate from learning — it is the vehicle for deep, meaningful literacy development. When children are motivated and emotionally engaged, their learning becomes more powerful and lasting.

#ESFHillside #PlayBasedLearning #EarlyYears #LiteracyThroughPlay #NumeracyThroughPlay Inquiry

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✨ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 – 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟‑𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ✨

At Hillside, you may notice children pouring water, stretching dough, exploring slime, or investigating different textures. While this may look like “just play”, these sensory experiences are a very important part of learning.

We have been intentionally strengthening children’s ability to recognise and manage their feelings, energy levels, and reactions in healthy ways. Children need to feel calm and safe before they can fully engage in learning.

Sensory play provides a natural and developmentally appropriate way to practise these skills. Through sensory experiences, children are:
- Building focus and sustaining attention
- Managing frustration when things do not go as expected
- Regulating their bodies through repetitive, rhythmic movements
- Calming themselves through tactile exploration

These moments strengthen the brain–body connection and help children tune in to how they are feeling. Sensory play also supports language development, fine motor control (important for later writing), collaboration, and social problem‑solving.

Most importantly, it brings joy. When children feel emotionally secure and regulated, they are more confident to explore, take risks, and learn. 💛

#ESFHillside #SelfRegulation #SensoryPlay #EarlyYears #JoyfulLearning

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🎙️ 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 – 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 🎙️

Last year, ESF launched 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 — a video podcast series where leaders explore and discuss the future of education. You can find House Captains on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and on the ESF YouTube channel.

We’re proud to share that 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞’𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐘𝐏 Coordinator, 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐘𝐮𝐞𝐧, features in the latest episode. 💛

From the question, “𝘞𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺?” to exploring what truly works in early years education, Brenda shares thoughtful insights on:

* The power of play‑based learning
* The importance of strong, trusting relationships
* Developing self‑regulation and social‑emotional skills

In a profession that never stands still, Brenda reflects on the shared values and trusting culture that allow both children and staff to thrive.

We’re incredibly proud to see Hillside’s voice contributing to important conversations across the ESF community.

#ESFHillside #ESFHouseCaptains #EarlyYearsEducation #PlayBasedLearning #EducationalLeadership

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🐎✨ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚 ✨🐎

Today, 𝟐𝟎 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 took part in a performance at the 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚. We were the youngest group among performers from primary and secondary schools — and we could not be more proud of our children!

They showed such confidence, enthusiasm, and teamwork on stage. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to be part of a larger ESF community celebration and to experience the joy of performing. 💛

As we celebrate together, we would like to wish all our families a very happy and prosperous 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞.

🎊 新年快樂 (Happy New Year)
 🐴 馬年大吉 (Good luck in the Year of the Horse)
 🧧 身體健康 (Good health)
💪 龍馬精神 (Wishing you strength and vitality)

Thank you to our staff and families for your support — and well done to our amazing young performers!

#ESFHillside #ESFCommunity #LunarNewYear #YearOfTheHorse #ProudMoments

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📚 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤‑𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬‑𝐔𝐩 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞

Our classrooms were filled with familiar characters as we celebrated our Book‑Inspired Dress‑Up Day. Children came dressed as a character from a favourite story and brought their books to share with their classmates.

This special day fosters a love of r𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 in a meaningful and engaging way. By stepping into a character’s role, children deepen their connection to stories, language, and imagination.

It was a joy to see the children confidently sharing their stories and celebrating their love of books together. 💛

#ESFHillside #ReadingForJoy #Storytelling #EarlyYearsLiteracy

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🎨𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 ✨

The ESF Communications Team has created a beautiful stop‑motion video capturing a very special experience at Hillside — our guest mural artist @theinktrail working alongside the children to create a brand new mural in our playground.

This collaborative project has been a wonderful opportunity for children to see creativity in action and to be part of the artistic process. The mural is not only a vibrant addition to our space, but also a reflection of our community, creativity, and shared experiences.

Thank you to our guest artist and the ESFC team for bringing this moment to life so thoughtfully. We’re excited for our community to enjoy this new space together. 💛

#esf #ESFHillside #CreativeLearning

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🎭✨ 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞

Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome 𝐅𝐚𝐢 𝐅𝐚𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 to Hillside for a special incursion.

This experience supports our children as they begin their final Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬.” Through the performance, children explored how stories and ideas can be shared in different ways.

Puppetry offered a rich and engaging way for children to experience 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠. It also inspires them to think about how they can express their own ideas, feelings, and imagination.

We look forward to seeing how this experience sparks creativity and expression as the children continue their learning journey. 💛

#ESFHillside #HowWeExpressOurselves #CulturalConnections #Storytelling #CreativeLearning JoyfulLearning

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🎉 Welcome Back, Hillside!

It’s been wonderful to welcome everyone back after the Spring Break — and we’ve jumped straight back into our learning and routines! 💛

We’re excited to share a glimpse of what K2 P.E. @esfbradburyschool looks like. These sessions are a fantastic opportunity for our children to build confidence, develop coordination, and enjoy being active in a larger school environment.

It’s also a special way for our children to become familiar with Bradbury, strengthening the connection within our ESF community.

We’re looking forward to a joyful and engaging term ahead! 🌟

#ESFHillside #ActiveLearning #PE #ESFCommunity

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🌈 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 🐰

What a joyful way to end the term! Our children came to school dressed in their 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬, filling Hillside with energy, laughter, and a beautiful rainbow of individuality.

This simple idea carries an important message — 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞. Each child brings their own strengths, personality, and way of thinking. Together, these differences make our community stronger, richer, and more vibrant. 💛

Throughout the day, the children also enjoyed lots of Easter fun — from face painting and Easter egg hunts to making bunny rabbits and playing games with their friends. It was a day full of smiles, creativity, and connection.

At Hillside, we celebrate the unique strengths of every learner and the joy of being part of a diverse and inclusive community.

Wishing all our families a 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤. We look forward to seeing you next term! 🌷✨

#ESFHillside #EveryChildShines #Inclusion #JoyfulLearning #Community

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🌿✨ 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝟐! ✨🌿

Our K2 children had a wonderful excursion to 𝐓𝐚𝐢 𝐓𝐚𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤, where learning came alive in the great outdoors. With clipboards and nets in hand, they practiced their research skills by 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 the treasures of nature around them.

From ticking off plants and animals along the hiking trail to fishing for natural elements in the stream, curiosity was everywhere. Along the way, children shared discoveries with each other—like realizing that some “branches” stuck in the ground were actually 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬, and wondering whether big holes in the earth might be the work of a 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰.
This adventure wasn’t just about exploring; it was about 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 🌱💡🐾

#IBPYP #InquiryBasedLearning #OutdoorLearning #SharingthePlanet

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📚𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲✨

During our recent Parent-Teacher Conferences, we received thoughtful questions about how children develop phonics and early reading and writing skills in a play-based environment.

In more traditional approaches, children may practise phonics sounds in isolation or read from structured texts. While these methods can build knowledge, they do not always feel meaningful to young learners.

In a play‑based classroom, literacy is woven into authentic, purposeful experiences. Children might:
✏️ Create menus in a pretend restaurant�🏥 Write patient information in a hospital role‑play�🏷️ Label models they have built�📖 Act out stories using puppets and props�📝 Write signs, lists, or messages during their play

Through storytelling and role‑play, children experiment with vocabulary, sentence structure, sound knowledge, and narrative skills in ways that feel relevant and engaging. They begin to understand that reading and writing have a real purpose.

At Hillside, play is not separate from learning — it is the vehicle for deep, meaningful literacy development. When children are motivated and emotionally engaged, their learning becomes more powerful and lasting.

#ESFHillside #PlayBasedLearning #EarlyYears #LiteracyThroughPlay #NumeracyThroughPlay Inquiry

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✨ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 – 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟‑𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ✨

At Hillside, you may notice children pouring water, stretching dough, exploring slime, or investigating different textures. While this may look like “just play”, these sensory experiences are a very important part of learning.

We have been intentionally strengthening children’s ability to recognise and manage their feelings, energy levels, and reactions in healthy ways. Children need to feel calm and safe before they can fully engage in learning.

Sensory play provides a natural and developmentally appropriate way to practise these skills. Through sensory experiences, children are:
- Building focus and sustaining attention
- Managing frustration when things do not go as expected
- Regulating their bodies through repetitive, rhythmic movements
- Calming themselves through tactile exploration

These moments strengthen the brain–body connection and help children tune in to how they are feeling. Sensory play also supports language development, fine motor control (important for later writing), collaboration, and social problem‑solving.

Most importantly, it brings joy. When children feel emotionally secure and regulated, they are more confident to explore, take risks, and learn. 💛

#ESFHillside #SelfRegulation #SensoryPlay #EarlyYears #JoyfulLearning

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🎙️ 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 – 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 🎙️

Last year, ESF launched 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 — a video podcast series where leaders explore and discuss the future of education. You can find House Captains on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and on the ESF YouTube channel.

We’re proud to share that 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞’𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐘𝐏 Coordinator, 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐘𝐮𝐞𝐧, features in the latest episode. 💛

From the question, “𝘞𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺?” to exploring what truly works in early years education, Brenda shares thoughtful insights on:

* The power of play‑based learning
* The importance of strong, trusting relationships
* Developing self‑regulation and social‑emotional skills

In a profession that never stands still, Brenda reflects on the shared values and trusting culture that allow both children and staff to thrive.

We’re incredibly proud to see Hillside’s voice contributing to important conversations across the ESF community.

#ESFHillside #ESFHouseCaptains #EarlyYearsEducation #PlayBasedLearning #EducationalLeadership

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🐎✨ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚 ✨🐎

Today, 𝟐𝟎 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 took part in a performance at the 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚. We were the youngest group among performers from primary and secondary schools — and we could not be more proud of our children!

They showed such confidence, enthusiasm, and teamwork on stage. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to be part of a larger ESF community celebration and to experience the joy of performing. 💛

As we celebrate together, we would like to wish all our families a very happy and prosperous 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞.

🎊 新年快樂 (Happy New Year)
 🐴 馬年大吉 (Good luck in the Year of the Horse)
 🧧 身體健康 (Good health)
💪 龍馬精神 (Wishing you strength and vitality)

Thank you to our staff and families for your support — and well done to our amazing young performers!

#ESFHillside #ESFCommunity #LunarNewYear #YearOfTheHorse #ProudMoments

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📚 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤‑𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬‑𝐔𝐩 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞

Our classrooms were filled with familiar characters as we celebrated our Book‑Inspired Dress‑Up Day. Children came dressed as a character from a favourite story and brought their books to share with their classmates.

This special day fosters a love of r𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 in a meaningful and engaging way. By stepping into a character’s role, children deepen their connection to stories, language, and imagination.

It was a joy to see the children confidently sharing their stories and celebrating their love of books together. 💛

#ESFHillside #ReadingForJoy #Storytelling #EarlyYearsLiteracy

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🎨𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 ✨

The ESF Communications Team has created a beautiful stop‑motion video capturing a very special experience at Hillside — our guest mural artist @theinktrail working alongside the children to create a brand new mural in our playground.

This collaborative project has been a wonderful opportunity for children to see creativity in action and to be part of the artistic process. The mural is not only a vibrant addition to our space, but also a reflection of our community, creativity, and shared experiences.

Thank you to our guest artist and the ESFC team for bringing this moment to life so thoughtfully. We’re excited for our community to enjoy this new space together. 💛

#esf #ESFHillside #CreativeLearning

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🎭✨ 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞

Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome 𝐅𝐚𝐢 𝐅𝐚𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 to Hillside for a special incursion.

This experience supports our children as they begin their final Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬.” Through the performance, children explored how stories and ideas can be shared in different ways.

Puppetry offered a rich and engaging way for children to experience 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠. It also inspires them to think about how they can express their own ideas, feelings, and imagination.

We look forward to seeing how this experience sparks creativity and expression as the children continue their learning journey. 💛

#ESFHillside #HowWeExpressOurselves #CulturalConnections #Storytelling #CreativeLearning JoyfulLearning

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🎉 Welcome Back, Hillside!

It’s been wonderful to welcome everyone back after the Spring Break — and we’ve jumped straight back into our learning and routines! 💛

We’re excited to share a glimpse of what K2 P.E. @esfbradburyschool looks like. These sessions are a fantastic opportunity for our children to build confidence, develop coordination, and enjoy being active in a larger school environment.

It’s also a special way for our children to become familiar with Bradbury, strengthening the connection within our ESF community.

We’re looking forward to a joyful and engaging term ahead! 🌟

#ESFHillside #ActiveLearning #PE #ESFCommunity

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🌈 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 🐰

What a joyful way to end the term! Our children came to school dressed in their 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬, filling Hillside with energy, laughter, and a beautiful rainbow of individuality.

This simple idea carries an important message — 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞. Each child brings their own strengths, personality, and way of thinking. Together, these differences make our community stronger, richer, and more vibrant. 💛

Throughout the day, the children also enjoyed lots of Easter fun — from face painting and Easter egg hunts to making bunny rabbits and playing games with their friends. It was a day full of smiles, creativity, and connection.

At Hillside, we celebrate the unique strengths of every learner and the joy of being part of a diverse and inclusive community.

Wishing all our families a 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤. We look forward to seeing you next term! 🌷✨

#ESFHillside #EveryChildShines #Inclusion #JoyfulLearning #Community

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🌿✨ 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝟐! ✨🌿

Our K2 children had a wonderful excursion to 𝐓𝐚𝐢 𝐓𝐚𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤, where learning came alive in the great outdoors. With clipboards and nets in hand, they practiced their research skills by 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 the treasures of nature around them.

From ticking off plants and animals along the hiking trail to fishing for natural elements in the stream, curiosity was everywhere. Along the way, children shared discoveries with each other—like realizing that some “branches” stuck in the ground were actually 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬, and wondering whether big holes in the earth might be the work of a 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰.
This adventure wasn’t just about exploring; it was about 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 🌱💡🐾

#IBPYP #InquiryBasedLearning #OutdoorLearning #SharingthePlanet

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📚𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲✨

During our recent Parent-Teacher Conferences, we received thoughtful questions about how children develop phonics and early reading and writing skills in a play-based environment.

In more traditional approaches, children may practise phonics sounds in isolation or read from structured texts. While these methods can build knowledge, they do not always feel meaningful to young learners.

In a play‑based classroom, literacy is woven into authentic, purposeful experiences. Children might:
✏️ Create menus in a pretend restaurant�🏥 Write patient information in a hospital role‑play�🏷️ Label models they have built�📖 Act out stories using puppets and props�📝 Write signs, lists, or messages during their play

Through storytelling and role‑play, children experiment with vocabulary, sentence structure, sound knowledge, and narrative skills in ways that feel relevant and engaging. They begin to understand that reading and writing have a real purpose.

At Hillside, play is not separate from learning — it is the vehicle for deep, meaningful literacy development. When children are motivated and emotionally engaged, their learning becomes more powerful and lasting.

#ESFHillside #PlayBasedLearning #EarlyYears #LiteracyThroughPlay #NumeracyThroughPlay Inquiry

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✨ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 – 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟‑𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ✨

At Hillside, you may notice children pouring water, stretching dough, exploring slime, or investigating different textures. While this may look like “just play”, these sensory experiences are a very important part of learning.

We have been intentionally strengthening children’s ability to recognise and manage their feelings, energy levels, and reactions in healthy ways. Children need to feel calm and safe before they can fully engage in learning.

Sensory play provides a natural and developmentally appropriate way to practise these skills. Through sensory experiences, children are:
- Building focus and sustaining attention
- Managing frustration when things do not go as expected
- Regulating their bodies through repetitive, rhythmic movements
- Calming themselves through tactile exploration

These moments strengthen the brain–body connection and help children tune in to how they are feeling. Sensory play also supports language development, fine motor control (important for later writing), collaboration, and social problem‑solving.

Most importantly, it brings joy. When children feel emotionally secure and regulated, they are more confident to explore, take risks, and learn. 💛

#ESFHillside #SelfRegulation #SensoryPlay #EarlyYears #JoyfulLearning

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🎙️ 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 – 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 🎙️

Last year, ESF launched 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 — a video podcast series where leaders explore and discuss the future of education. You can find House Captains on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and on the ESF YouTube channel.

We’re proud to share that 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞’𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐘𝐏 Coordinator, 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐘𝐮𝐞𝐧, features in the latest episode. 💛

From the question, “𝘞𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺?” to exploring what truly works in early years education, Brenda shares thoughtful insights on:

* The power of play‑based learning
* The importance of strong, trusting relationships
* Developing self‑regulation and social‑emotional skills

In a profession that never stands still, Brenda reflects on the shared values and trusting culture that allow both children and staff to thrive.

We’re incredibly proud to see Hillside’s voice contributing to important conversations across the ESF community.

#ESFHillside #ESFHouseCaptains #EarlyYearsEducation #PlayBasedLearning #EducationalLeadership

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🐎✨ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚 ✨🐎

Today, 𝟐𝟎 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 took part in a performance at the 𝐄𝐒𝐅 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚. We were the youngest group among performers from primary and secondary schools — and we could not be more proud of our children!

They showed such confidence, enthusiasm, and teamwork on stage. It was a wonderful opportunity for them to be part of a larger ESF community celebration and to experience the joy of performing. 💛

As we celebrate together, we would like to wish all our families a very happy and prosperous 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞.

🎊 新年快樂 (Happy New Year)
 🐴 馬年大吉 (Good luck in the Year of the Horse)
 🧧 身體健康 (Good health)
💪 龍馬精神 (Wishing you strength and vitality)

Thank you to our staff and families for your support — and well done to our amazing young performers!

#ESFHillside #ESFCommunity #LunarNewYear #YearOfTheHorse #ProudMoments

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