Our Programme

The programme of Blossom preschool is based on 5 main pillars. These are: Art, English, Physical Activity, Contact with Nature, and Organic Food. We work in small project groups of 6-8 kids, where work in collaboration with children striving to be mindful of their, trying to understand their true interests, and to find out what questions they might have and what they would like to explore.  We believe that within this approach we intensify their experiences, encourage their natural curiosity, and strengthen their motivation to learn.

We combine and innovative approach to working with children – Reggio Emilia philosophy – with elements of a more formal education. We introduce Jolly Phonics at the age of 4  – a very effective phonemic programme implemented to teach children to read and write in English. We also introduce elements from the Reception level and  in the last grade Key stage 1, year 1. We also follow the Polish “0” grade curicullum within the framework of our own teaching programme.

Art

The arts education programme is a central pillar of our activity. Children love to do art. At our preschool, art projects are part of everyday activities. Children work with various materials: paints, pastels, chalk, charcoal, markers, pens, clay, sand and many other natural materials stimulating the senses. Through play, we also share knowledge of art, artists, art movements and history. Children work in a laid-back setting; what counts is the creative process and the joy it brings, rather than the final result. Children’s works are displayed around the preschool and on our Facebook profile. Ms. Gabriela Prokop, an artist, an alumni of the Academy of Fine Arts Experience has weekly art workshops with kids introducing different techniques and media. Experiencing art also means musical encounters – in any form. We sing, we drum, we engage in music therapy, play instruments, dance etc. We introduce basic concepts of music theory. We expand children’s awareness of sounds and music through our folk music classes. We organize entertaining workshops with interesting people – Warsaw-based artists – musicians, painters, graphic artists, and writers. We organize field trips to theatres, museums, and art studios – sometimes they even come to visit us.

Language

Blossom is an English-speaking preschool, which means that we use English immersion as our means of communication.  At the beginning of their journey children naturally learn the basic vocabulary they need in their daily life. In each group all teachers are fluent in English – one of them is always a full-time native speaker of English.  Children soak up language like a sponge, so everyday exposure allows them to learn the language in a natural, spontaneous way. They acquire the language in the same way they learned their mother tongue. We strive to progressively expand their vocabulary through fun and games, but the whole process is quite natural. At the age of 4 we introduce Jolly Phonics – a very effective phonemic method of teaching English. We continue teaching Jolly Phonics until the last grade at preschool. In the next year we implement the Reception and Key stage 1, year 1  of the British curriculum  – focusing on the reading and writing skills, as well as mathematics. We do observe that not all kids are keen to learn in a more formal setting so we are mindful of this an carefully curate the teaching scope and paste, leaving enough space for our interdisciplinary, child-led projects.

The Polish curriculum is a daily session that is aimed at preparing children for the Polish schools, including grade “0” at the age of 6.

Nature

In the contemporary world, dominated by technology, we spend less and less time in contact with nature, forgetful of how much we need it. Children learn about the world through nature. During our Nature Lovers’ Club we reveal nature to them day by day – talking about the life cycles of animals and plants, seasons of the year, the greenhouse effect and how they can help look after the natural environment. Our villa is surrounded by a large garden with a playground and a sports field, so children, weather permitting, can spend a lot of time outdoors. The Jordan Garden, Szczesliwicki Park, and Pole Mokotowskie are also nearby, so we go for walks there, too. We make sure that children spend no less than 60 minutes outdoor every day.

Physical Activity

For preschoolers physical activity is as important as social and emotional development. Children need to move, especially outdoors, to stay healthy and happy. That is why at our preschool they have at least 1 hour of physical activity per day, outdoor or indoor in our gym depending on the weather. Activities are varied and include eurhythmics, judo, organized outdoor activities as well as free play in our playground, outdoor sports field and indoor gym. We also make sure to alternate sedentary time and active play during the day.

Organic Food

Blossom preschool has its own organic kitchen. Our Chef Wojciech Gurtiaków prepares healthy meals, with organic, certified products delivered by hand-picked certified suppliers. He is responsible for making sure that the children’s diet is well-balanced. Children are served superfoods, but also home-made pie. We do not add sugar. Children get a days worth of fully balanced meals: breakfast, soup, lunch, and an afternoon mean and a small snack.
If anyone is peckish, fruit and other healthy snacks are always on hand. Drinking water and herbal or fruit tea are provided in every room.