Curriculum

International Primary Curriculum

The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is a specially designed curriculum for international primary schools. The teachers use this programme to develop pupils' knowledge, skills and understanding across a wide variety of subjects. Personal development and international understanding are at the heart of the curriculum. 
IPC lays out a clear process of learning and specific goals for every subject. Every unit starts with an “Entry Point”. The entry point is an activity for children that begins each unit of work and provides an exciting introduction to the work that is to follow. At the end of every unit the children celebrate their learning in the “Exit Point”. 

IPC aims to develop international mindedness and encourages personal learning through the development of eight personal goals: enquiry, resilience, morality, communication, thoughtfulness, cooperation, respect and adaptability. IPC personal goals are built into the learning tasks within each unit with the aim that, through the development of these qualities, children grow more comfortable in the ever changing context of life.

The IPC provides an impressive support system for its schools to allow the teachers to create the best possible learning environment for the pupils.

For more information please check the IPC website.

Maths

In September 2020 we began using the mathematics scheme ‘Maths No Problem’. The scheme is based on the world-renowned Singapore approach to Maths and was the first scheme to be recognised by the Department of Education in England. The scheme ensures that there is a strong conceptual understanding of maths as opposed to rote learning of facts. Maths No Problem utilises research from educational psychologists Jerome Bruner and Richard Skemp. Learning begins with concrete resources such as place value discs and Cuisenaire rods, then, after plentiful hands-on experience moves to pictorial representations such as a diagram of a problem and finally to abstract representations, for example, 3 + 4 = 7. This is called the CPA approach.

You can watch some videos of Dr. Yeap explaining some of the methods and strategies of Maths No Problem here.

English

English is taught based on the English national curriculum. The children are taught reading through small guided reading sessions using Oxford Reading Tree levelled reading books. Spelling and grammar are taught weekly and these components are then applied during writing sessions. The curriculum takes into account each individual child and their level of learning with teachers differentiating to ensure that all children are assigned work that is suited to them. The children also have access to our library at least once a week where they can take home two books that interest them. 
 

English as Another Language (EAL)

Our EAL teachers work with non-English speaking children from groups 2-8 to support their learning of English as Another Language. The children are supported by the EAL teachers in small groups and in the classroom to help them acquire the English language skills necessary to access the full curriculum.

Dutch as Another Language (DAL)

Dutch language and culture is taught in groups 2-8 to pupils who have a sufficient command of the English language. Our pupils are given as many opportunities as possible to learn as much as possible about the Dutch language and culture through trips and visits outside of school.

Learning Support Profile

Harbour International School has considerable experience and expertise in the following areas:

• Providing pupils with a safe learning environment.
• Teaching English to non-native speakers.
• Teaching multilingual pupils.
• Differentiating the curriculum to meet our pupils' needs.

We cannot cater for children:

• Who have complex special educational needs.
• Who need materials, equipment and/or specialised help that are not readily available.