Hiba Academy Shanghai has enjoyed an excellent first term since opening its doors following the move to its new build. It has been a term full of laughter, learning and deepening relationships between the pupils, parents and staff members. To look back on this special time at the nursery, we asked two of our teachers, Joanne Parrish and Luke Jones, to share their thoughts and experiences since arriving here. What made you want to come and work at Hiba Academy Shanghai? Luke Jones: I came to teach in China in 2010 and I’ve been fortunate enough to work in some exceptional schools in various parts of the world. However, the Wellington group of schools has always enjoyed a fantastic reputation, so I was very excited to get involved in setting up this particular nursery. I wanted to be amongst other people who really care about teaching to strive to make an amazing teaching community, which is exactly what we’re trying to do here. Joanne Parrish: I’ve been in Shanghai for seven years already with another international school and when the physical play job came up this year at the nursery, I knew it would be a hugely exciting opportunity. I think it’s really great that the nursery created this role, because it is so important for pupils at this young age to be developing skills of this nature – throwing, catching, exploring their physical abilities in a safe yet fun and engaging play environment. These skills get them ready for more formal PE lessons once they’re older, so it’s a key part of the preparatory education we offer here.
What was it like early on when the nursery opened and you began teaching?
JP: I remember settling into things very quickly and easily. There is a great sense of collaboration between the Chinese and international staff members and I’m lucky in that I work with almost every one of the teachers, as well as teaching every child in the nursery. This means I get a nice cross section of what’s going on across the nursery and it’s all been extremely positive so far.
LJ: Everyone gets on so well. There’s a great mix of teachers, some who’ve just left the UK, some who have been in China for a while. Everyone is great at sharing their ideas and coming together to make the nursery the best it can be. The parents are really supportive too, they understand that we’re trying to do something different and they have embraced it totally. The children are all extremely eager to learn and are happy to be here. I think this attitude goes for everyone here.
Do you feel that the nursery is well resourced?
LJ: The state of resources when we arrived was fantastic and clearly very carefully thought out, from the classrooms to the indoor and outdoor play areas, staff areas, everything. We also have an accommodating budget which allows us to procure anything we need as the nursery grows and develops. Recently we’ve enjoyed integrating a lot of new educational software, like the Education City software package. Access to educational technology is generally excellent too, as we have interactive whiteboards, access to SharePoint, all sorts of great tools. Ultimately, it comes down to your personal ambitions as a teacher: if you want to achieve something, the nursery will help you find the right resources for it. This makes a hugely positive impact on the way we can teach.
JP: Absolutely, I have everything I need. Since this is the first time my role as physical play teacher has been introduced, I’m developing the physical play curriculum and I can requisition whatever I need to fit my vision for the programme.
How has communication with the Hiba parents developed since the nursery opened?
LJ: We’re very fortunate in that the parents here are extremely supportive and willing to engage with our vision for their children’s education. Communication started strong and I think it has continued to improve as we get used to one another and keep up contact up via email as well as the collection/drop off times. What’s important is that we are all able to talk about how things are going with the children’s progress, both the positives as well as any challenges or issues that need to be resolved.
JP: It’s slightly different for me as I’m not a classroom teacher but there’s still a chance for me to see parents at the collection/drop off times, and it’s been great to develop very open and honest working relationships with them.
Looking to the future, what are you excited about developing here at the nursery?
JP: I have absolutely loved evolving the physical play curriculum; making adjustments when necessary and reflecting on what we’ve achieved while preparing new things for the next term. Later this year, we want to put on the nursery’s first Sports Day, which is really exciting. I’m working closely with Toby Sumerfield from Hiba Academy Shanghai and his team and our plans are progressing very well. It’s great to have that link to the school, as we are already laying groundwork for a good, comfortable transition for the EY4 children to grade 1.
LJ: One very exciting element we have brought into the nursery is Story Talk – an interactive book reading programme used as a reading strategy intended to promote the development of language and literacy skills in young children. As the first term has progressed, the teachers and pupils have really enjoyed working with the programme and I’m personally excited to assess its effectiveness and explore it more deeply.
What would be your fondest memory of your time at Hiba Nursery so far? LJ: Two months into the term, one particular pupil who has been very shy spoke her first words to me! It might not sound that significant, but it was fantastic to make that personal connection. It has been great to see all of the pupils settle into the school, their lessons, routines, to see them feeling happy and secure. JP: There are too many moments to list! There is a lot of love in the building in general. Everyone seems genuinely happy to be here, there are lots of smiles and kind words to each other every day between pupils, parents and staff. There is a real community feeling that has developed very early on in the nursery’s operation. I think that this is due partly to the educational philosophy we have here but also because of the people working here who bring that philosophy to life.
