We strongly believe that Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is more than preparation and getting ready, for primary school. Unfortunately, it is a common misunderstanding that Early Childhood Education is only about learning letters and numbers.  In reality, ECEC aims at the holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive spiritual and physical needs in order to build a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing.

 

Research shows that play helps to develop imagination and give a child a sense of adventure. Through play, children learn essential skills such as problem solving, collaborating with others, sharing imagination, dexterity and physical, cognitive and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development.  In turn, this helps them to develop the ability to focus.  It is through play that children between the age of 0 and 7 years engage and interact with the world around them.

 

For this reason, we offer support to state schools in Malta and Gozo as well as to Church and Independent Schools on request. With the introduction of the Learning Outcomes Framework, we embarked on supporting Kindergarten Educators and teachers of Year 1 through CoPE sessions about the emergent curriculum and the Project Approach.