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.
Our kindergarten offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, providing a global perspective and preparing children for success.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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?
✨ 𝐊𝟐 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 – 𝐒𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐤 ✨
Our 𝐊𝟐 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 have been working hard in preparation for their upcoming 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠.
Here’s a little behind‑the‑scenes glimpse of their creativity, teamwork, and excitement as they get ready for this special event. From practising, creating, and sharing ideas, the children have been fully engaged in the process.
We are so proud of their efforts and can’t wait to see them shine. We look forward to welcoming our families soon to celebrate this special moment together. 💛
#ESFHillside #CelebrationOfLearning #EarlyYears
🎶𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥✨
A big thank you to the Bradbury School performance teacher and students for welcoming us into their performance arts room and sharing such a wonderful musical experience.
The children had an amazing time listening to a range of instruments, including the piano, violin, electric guitar, and percussion drums. It was a rich and engaging way to bring our Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬,” to life.
The children were so inspired that they even enjoyed a little dance, expressing themselves through movement as well as music. 💃🕺
Through this experience, children explored how music can be used to express ideas and emotions, sparking their curiosity and creativity.
Thank you to our Bradbury community for inspiring our young learners once again. 💛
Our children have been fully immersed in their learning as they explore our Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬”
Through a wide range of art experiences, they are discovering different ways to share their ideas, feelings, and creativity. From painting inspired by artists such as Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock, to creating sculptures influenced by Ugo Rondinone, the children are experimenting with colour, form, and technique.
They have also been expressing themselves through puppetry and storytelling, making their own puppets and creating original storybooks.
These experiences support children in developing confidence, imagination, and a deeper understanding that there are many ways to communicate meaning.
We’re so proud of the creativity and individuality our young learners are showing. 💛
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. 💛
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
🎭✨ 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. 💛
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
🌈 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! 🌷✨
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. 🌱💡🐾
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.
Our 𝐊𝟐 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 have been working hard in preparation for their upcoming 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠.
Here’s a little behind‑the‑scenes glimpse of their creativity, teamwork, and excitement as they get ready for this special event. From practising, creating, and sharing ideas, the children have been fully engaged in the process.
We are so proud of their efforts and can’t wait to see them shine. We look forward to welcoming our families soon to celebrate this special moment together. 💛
#ESFHillside #CelebrationOfLearning #EarlyYears
🎶𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥✨
A big thank you to the Bradbury School performance teacher and students for welcoming us into their performance arts room and sharing such a wonderful musical experience.
The children had an amazing time listening to a range of instruments, including the piano, violin, electric guitar, and percussion drums. It was a rich and engaging way to bring our Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬,” to life.
The children were so inspired that they even enjoyed a little dance, expressing themselves through movement as well as music. 💃🕺
Through this experience, children explored how music can be used to express ideas and emotions, sparking their curiosity and creativity.
Thank you to our Bradbury community for inspiring our young learners once again. 💛
Our children have been fully immersed in their learning as they explore our Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬”
Through a wide range of art experiences, they are discovering different ways to share their ideas, feelings, and creativity. From painting inspired by artists such as Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock, to creating sculptures influenced by Ugo Rondinone, the children are experimenting with colour, form, and technique.
They have also been expressing themselves through puppetry and storytelling, making their own puppets and creating original storybooks.
These experiences support children in developing confidence, imagination, and a deeper understanding that there are many ways to communicate meaning.
We’re so proud of the creativity and individuality our young learners are showing. 💛
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. 💛
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
🎭✨ 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. 💛
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
🌈 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! 🌷✨
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. 🌱💡🐾
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.
Our 𝐊𝟐 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 have been working hard in preparation for their upcoming 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠.
Here’s a little behind‑the‑scenes glimpse of their creativity, teamwork, and excitement as they get ready for this special event. From practising, creating, and sharing ideas, the children have been fully engaged in the process.
We are so proud of their efforts and can’t wait to see them shine. We look forward to welcoming our families soon to celebrate this special moment together. 💛
#ESFHillside #CelebrationOfLearning #EarlyYears
🎶𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥✨
A big thank you to the Bradbury School performance teacher and students for welcoming us into their performance arts room and sharing such a wonderful musical experience.
The children had an amazing time listening to a range of instruments, including the piano, violin, electric guitar, and percussion drums. It was a rich and engaging way to bring our Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬,” to life.
The children were so inspired that they even enjoyed a little dance, expressing themselves through movement as well as music. 💃🕺
Through this experience, children explored how music can be used to express ideas and emotions, sparking their curiosity and creativity.
Thank you to our Bradbury community for inspiring our young learners once again. 💛
Our children have been fully immersed in their learning as they explore our Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬”
Through a wide range of art experiences, they are discovering different ways to share their ideas, feelings, and creativity. From painting inspired by artists such as Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock, to creating sculptures influenced by Ugo Rondinone, the children are experimenting with colour, form, and technique.
They have also been expressing themselves through puppetry and storytelling, making their own puppets and creating original storybooks.
These experiences support children in developing confidence, imagination, and a deeper understanding that there are many ways to communicate meaning.
We’re so proud of the creativity and individuality our young learners are showing. 💛
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. 💛
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
🎭✨ 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. 💛
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
🌈 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! 🌷✨
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. 🌱💡🐾
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.
Our 𝐊𝟐 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 have been working hard in preparation for their upcoming 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠.
Here’s a little behind‑the‑scenes glimpse of their creativity, teamwork, and excitement as they get ready for this special event. From practising, creating, and sharing ideas, the children have been fully engaged in the process.
We are so proud of their efforts and can’t wait to see them shine. We look forward to welcoming our families soon to celebrate this special moment together. 💛
A big thank you to the Bradbury School performance teacher and students for welcoming us into their performance arts room and sharing such a wonderful musical experience.
The children had an amazing time listening to a range of instruments, including the piano, violin, electric guitar, and percussion drums. It was a rich and engaging way to bring our Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬,” to life.
The children were so inspired that they even enjoyed a little dance, expressing themselves through movement as well as music. 💃🕺
Through this experience, children explored how music can be used to express ideas and emotions, sparking their curiosity and creativity.
Thank you to our Bradbury community for inspiring our young learners once again. 💛
Our children have been fully immersed in their learning as they explore our Unit of Inquiry, “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬”
Through a wide range of art experiences, they are discovering different ways to share their ideas, feelings, and creativity. From painting inspired by artists such as Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock, to creating sculptures influenced by Ugo Rondinone, the children are experimenting with colour, form, and technique.
They have also been expressing themselves through puppetry and storytelling, making their own puppets and creating original storybooks.
These experiences support children in developing confidence, imagination, and a deeper understanding that there are many ways to communicate meaning.
We’re so proud of the creativity and individuality our young learners are showing. 💛
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. 💛
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. 💛
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. 💛
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! 🌟
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! 🌷✨
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. 🌱💡🐾
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.
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