學生和家長 參觀校園

讓所有學習者

茁壯成長

我們的願景是讓所有學生充分發揮潛能，達至最高成就。

我們的使命是啟發創造力，培育未來世界公民及領袖。

我們的共同目標是創造愉快和共融的學習社群，讓每一位學習者茁壯成長。

 

了解我們的願景

讓所有學習者茁壯成長

我們的願景是讓所有學生充分發揮潛能，達至最高成就。

我們的使命是啟發創造力，培育未來世界公民及領袖。

我們的共同目標是創造愉快和共融的學習社群，讓每一位學習者茁壯成長。

 

了解我們的願景

為何要報讀英基曉新國際幼稚園？

  • SIS offers icon-6

    英基學校網絡

    曉新國際幼稚園作為英基學校協會（下稱英基）的一部分，隸屬香港最大規模的英語國際教育組織，享有比一般學校更豐富的資源和機遇。

    查看更多
  • World-class Education

    國際頂尖課程

    我們的幼稚園提供享負盛名的國際文憑小學課程，為兒童提供環球視野，為他們的成功做好準備。

    查看更多
  • Real-world Experience

    包容的社群

    我們慶祝多元性，創造一個讓每個孩子都感到被重視和支持的歡迎環境。

    查看更多
  • Well-rounded Education

    精彩的學習冒險

    我們富吸引力的教學方式能激發好奇心，培養創造力，並點燃終身學習的熱愛。

    查看更多
  • Comprehensive Student Support

    專業和關愛的教育工作者

    我們熱心的教育工作者帶來專業知識和溫暖，培育每個孩子的個人優勢，培養他們探索的熱愛。

    查看更多
  • Strong School-Family Connection

    家校合作夥伴關係

    我們相信與家長緊密合作，可以共同確保你的孩子在每個階段都能成長和快樂。

    查看更多
Copy of hillsidek_esf_6471

學術

在曉新國際幼稚園，兒童可以通過遊戲式探究學習，培養好奇心和相關性。我們培養獨立學習者和批判性思考者，鼓勵行動和帶來改變。探索在曉新國際幼稚園典型的一天，以及遊戲在支援學習方面的力量。

了解更多

我們的PYP課程通過全面的探究課程（POI）整合學科知識和概念。學生探索跨學科主題和學科領域，發展環球視野和均衡學習。全面的評估和強大的家校夥伴關係能確保持續成長和溝通。

了解更多

在曉新國際幼稚園，我們創造一個重視共融、身心福祉和語言能力的活力學習社群。積極的關係、領導機會和有目的的學習環境祇能支持主動性和探究式學習。通過多元識讀能力培養語言技能，能促進學術卓越和強大的家校夥伴關係。

了解更多

學校活動

hillsidek_esf_6467

沉浸故事世界

在我們的圖書館投入迷人的書籍世界。孩子們聆聽引人入勝的故事，並為他們的專題研習進行研究，培養閱讀的熱愛並擴展知識。

了解更多
IMG_1612

在戶外遊樂場釋放創意

我們的戶外遊樂場、花園和泥土廚房為兒童提供無限機會去玩耍、探索和建構。從富想像力的結構到混亂的樂趣，兒童在享受戶外活動的同時更可發揮創意並發展必要技能。

了解更多
hillsidek_esf_6140

通過角色扮演讓學習變得生動

讓兒童通過角色扮演步入想像世界。通過演繹不同場景和情境，他們建立對現實世界的認識，獲得有意義和相關的學習經驗，增進理解和同理心。

了解更多
hillsidek_esf_6175

探索跨學科學習的奇妙

科學、藝術、感官活動和數學在我們的跨學科經驗中融為一體。兒童參與動手實驗，釋放藝術才能，發展批判性思考技能，培養跨學科的全面學習方法。

了解更多
hillsidek_esf_6467

沉浸故事世界

在我們的圖書館投入迷人的書籍世界。孩子們聆聽引人入勝的故事，並為他們的專題研習進行研究，培養閱讀的熱愛並擴展知識。

了解更多
IMG_1612

在戶外遊樂場釋放創意

我們的戶外遊樂場、花園和泥土廚房為兒童提供無限機會去玩耍、探索和建構。從富想像力的結構到混亂的樂趣，兒童在享受戶外活動的同時更可發揮創意並發展必要技能。

了解更多
hillsidek_esf_6140

通過角色扮演讓學習變得生動

讓兒童通過角色扮演步入想像世界。通過演繹不同場景和情境，他們建立對現實世界的認識，獲得有意義和相關的學習經驗，增進理解和同理心。

了解更多
hillsidek_esf_6175

探索跨學科學習的奇妙

科學、藝術、感官活動和數學在我們的跨學科經驗中融為一體。兒童參與動手實驗，釋放藝術才能，發展批判性思考技能，培養跨學科的全面學習方法。

了解更多
hillsidek_esf_6467

沉浸故事世界

在我們的圖書館投入迷人的書籍世界。孩子們聆聽引人入勝的故事，並為他們的專題研習進行研究，培養閱讀的熱愛並擴展知識。

了解更多
IMG_1612

在戶外遊樂場釋放創意

我們的戶外遊樂場、花園和泥土廚房為兒童提供無限機會去玩耍、探索和建構。從富想像力的結構到混亂的樂趣，兒童在享受戶外活動的同時更可發揮創意並發展必要技能。

了解更多
hillsidek_esf_6140

通過角色扮演讓學習變得生動

讓兒童通過角色扮演步入想像世界。通過演繹不同場景和情境，他們建立對現實世界的認識，獲得有意義和相關的學習經驗，增進理解和同理心。

了解更多
hillsidek_esf_6175

探索跨學科學習的奇妙

科學、藝術、感官活動和數學在我們的跨學科經驗中融為一體。兒童參與動手實驗，釋放藝術才能，發展批判性思考技能，培養跨學科的全面學習方法。

了解更多

感言

1 / 4

我們非常感激曉新國際幼稚園提供支持和培育的環境，我們的女兒從K1第一天開始就有非常正面的體驗，這在很大程度上要歸功於你們所有人以身作則展現的包容和歸屬文化。

我們非常感激曉新國際幼稚園提供支持和培育的環境，我們的女兒從K1第一天開始就有非常正面的體驗，這在很大程度上要歸功於你們所有人以身作則展現的包容和歸屬文化。

家長， 2021-2023

2 / 4

你們的學校確實是我見過最好的學校之一。看到我的女兒們如何發掘和欣賞她們自己的個性，發揮她們好奇的思維，而且如此快樂，真的讓我感到很溫暖。非常感謝你和你的團隊所做的一切！

你們的學校確實是我見過最好的學校之一。看到我的女兒們如何發掘和欣賞她們自己的個性，發揮她們好奇的思維，而且如此快樂，真的讓我感到很溫暖。非常感謝你和你的團隊所做的一切！

家長， 2019-2023

3 / 4

遲來的感謝，感謝曉新國際幼稚園上週舉辦的運動會。看到孩子們的反應，從歡呼到自發的笑聲，真的很棒。我想我們做家長的可能更享受……讓我想起母校英基鰂魚涌小學也曾在足球會舉辦運動會。

遲來的感謝，感謝曉新國際幼稚園上週舉辦的運動會。看到孩子們的反應，從歡呼到自發的笑聲，真的很棒。我想我們做家長的可能更享受……讓我想起母校英基鰂魚涌小學也曾在足球會舉辦運動會。

家長， 2017-2019

4 / 4

我們的孩子都很喜歡在曉新國際幼稚園的時光，他們在學習過程中學到了很多，同時也玩得很開心。我們覺得所有老師都很棒，我們特別要提到兒子的老師，因為她真的為他付出了超出職責所需的努力。

我們的孩子都很喜歡在曉新國際幼稚園的時光，他們在學習過程中學到了很多，同時也玩得很開心。我們覺得所有老師都很棒，我們特別要提到兒子的老師，因為她真的為他付出了超出職責所需的努力。

家長， 2013-2017

1 / 4

我想祝賀你和你的團隊，這週我們面試的曉新國際幼稚園的孩子和家長都表現出色。你們培養出富有探究精神和快樂的學習者，這是你們的功勞，而參與面試的家長在與我們交談時也反映了這一點。

我想祝賀你和你的團隊，這週我們面試的曉新國際幼稚園的孩子和家長都表現出色。你們培養出富有探究精神和快樂的學習者，這是你們的功勞，而參與面試的家長在與我們交談時也反映了這一點。

John Brewster，英基堅尼地小學時任校長，2016 年

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

感謝你們的接待，很高興看到所有孩子在你們美好的環境中。我們一直在討論孩子們的下一步發展，收穫了很多想法和靈感。

感謝你們的接待，很高興看到所有孩子在你們美好的環境中。我們一直在討論孩子們的下一步發展，收穫了很多想法和靈感。

Sue Yee，英基鰂魚涌小學校長

3 / 4

我們都非常享受這個過程，並對曉新國際幼稚園員工的專業精神印象深刻。聽到這麼多關於「教學巡視」過程的正面評價以及從中獲得的學習，真是太好了。做得好！

我們都非常享受這個過程，並對曉新國際幼稚園員工的專業精神印象深刻。聽到這麼多關於「教學巡視」過程的正面評價以及從中獲得的學習，真是太好了。做得好！

Rebecca Clements，英基高級學校發展主任，2016 年

4 / 4

感謝你們讓我們的三位老師今天來參觀曉新國際幼稚園。老師們覺得很有啟發，為他們提供了探究式課程實施的絕佳範例。也感謝你們分享示範計劃文件並解釋如何實施。這是一個很好的專業發展機會。

感謝你們讓我們的三位老師今天來參觀曉新國際幼稚園。老師們覺得很有啟發，為他們提供了探究式課程實施的絕佳範例。也感謝你們分享示範計劃文件並解釋如何實施。這是一個很好的專業發展機會。

Susan Ward, Catiline Kindergarten Group（嘉德麗）總監, 2017

最新動向

🎨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬” 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 ✨

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. 💛

#ESFHillside #HowWeExpressOurselves #ArtInEarlyYears #InquiryBasedLearning

699772868_830013193066311_5545328477638927058_n

📚 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

673881583_988874840484463_241403805539219448_n

🎨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

671817965_1674323440275430_7480953021177973904_n

🎭✨ 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

670961784_2069773743568202_2764375424326748813_n

🎉 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

670117762_1532009748517444_6168386300331283465_n

🌈 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

657701391_2091431028304374_2229028190432267009_n

🌿✨ 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

655052394_899308929588451_5197511586662412855_n

📚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

649241390_1640438883834573_434430514118058333_n

✨ 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

641216413_925390293688666_4711720960528983436_n

🎙️ 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

638901394_844812585279766_7513579632178701730_n

🎨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬” 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 ✨

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. 💛

#ESFHillside #HowWeExpressOurselves #ArtInEarlyYears #InquiryBasedLearning

699772868_830013193066311_5545328477638927058_n

📚 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

673881583_988874840484463_241403805539219448_n

🎨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

671817965_1674323440275430_7480953021177973904_n

🎭✨ 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

670961784_2069773743568202_2764375424326748813_n

🎉 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

670117762_1532009748517444_6168386300331283465_n

🌈 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

657701391_2091431028304374_2229028190432267009_n

🌿✨ 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

655052394_899308929588451_5197511586662412855_n

📚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

649241390_1640438883834573_434430514118058333_n

✨ 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

641216413_925390293688666_4711720960528983436_n

🎙️ 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

638901394_844812585279766_7513579632178701730_n

🎨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬” 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 ✨

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. 💛

#ESFHillside #HowWeExpressOurselves #ArtInEarlyYears #InquiryBasedLearning

699772868_830013193066311_5545328477638927058_n

📚 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

673881583_988874840484463_241403805539219448_n

🎨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

671817965_1674323440275430_7480953021177973904_n

🎭✨ 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

670961784_2069773743568202_2764375424326748813_n

🎉 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

670117762_1532009748517444_6168386300331283465_n

🌈 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

657701391_2091431028304374_2229028190432267009_n

🌿✨ 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

655052394_899308929588451_5197511586662412855_n

📚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

649241390_1640438883834573_434430514118058333_n

✨ 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

641216413_925390293688666_4711720960528983436_n

🎙️ 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

638901394_844812585279766_7513579632178701730_n

🎨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 “𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬” 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 ✨

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. 💛

#ESFHillside #HowWeExpressOurselves #ArtInEarlyYears #InquiryBasedLearning

699772868_830013193066311_5545328477638927058_n
Comment

📚 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

673881583_988874840484463_241403805539219448_n
Comment

🎨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

671817965_1674323440275430_7480953021177973904_n
Comment

🎭✨ 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

670961784_2069773743568202_2764375424326748813_n
Comment

🎉 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

670117762_1532009748517444_6168386300331283465_n
Comment

🌈 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

657701391_2091431028304374_2229028190432267009_n
Comment

🌿✨ 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

655052394_899308929588451_5197511586662412855_n
Comment

📚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

649241390_1640438883834573_434430514118058333_n
Comment

✨ 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

641216413_925390293688666_4711720960528983436_n
Comment

🎙️ 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

638901394_844812585279766_7513579632178701730_n
Comment
申請 致電 查詢

歡迎你，請注意英基使用Cookies。通過訪問ESF、ESL或PTA網站及其他ESF在線服務（如ESF的應用程式），用戶同意英基可以存儲和訪問Cookies、IP地址，並使用其他方法收集網站使用數據，以改善用戶的線上體驗。繼續訪問本網站即表示用戶同意使用Cookies，這將根據英基數據隱私政策處理。通過Cookies收集的信息將根據英基個人數據處理政策及其相關的個人信息收集聲明（“PICS”）進行處理。PICS的副本可在英基網站上找到。