Welcome to the Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong (Kowloon) official Q and A page. Here we ask the questions, and the school answers directly. It is its chance to have its say on specific areas you have told us you want to know about. If you think there are additional questions we should be asking you may contact us here.

Does your school have a waiting list? In which years?

There is a waiting pool, however there are still limited seats available.

What are qualities and characteristics that define your school and its students?

We at Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong recognise the importance of the Early Years for laying a firm foundation for future learning and success. We have made it our vision to create a world-leading educational programme that is aimed at developing the potential in every child through a stimulating and developmental Early Years programme.

Drawing on 150 years of heritage from Malvern College, we envisage our youngest children developing their individual strengths and employing a personalised approach of active, play-based learning. Our College Ethos and Core Values are focused on developing life-long learning and encouraging each child’s curiosity, kindness, resilience, self-awareness, open-mindedness, collaboration, risk-taking, independence, integrity, and humility. We provide a secure, organised and innovative environment for children to engage in a balanced and holistic programme that includes a focus on creative, academic, sports and outdoor activities with our world leading ‘Forest School’ programme.

We do all this in the belief that your child will be more than ready for a smooth transition into full-time primary education. Our Early Years staff are experienced, caring and passionate. Early Years practitioners will provide a supportive and stimulating learning environment where children feel safe and happy, providing the optimal opportunity to thrive and learn. We believe that every child is precious and unique, ready to shine and achieve his or her dreams. Here at Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong, we believe that each child is greatness waiting to happen!

Are there high proportions of a particular nationality?

MCPS is building an internationally diverse pupil population and we see this as a key focus of our mission. We aim to build a vibrant and diverse learning community, cultivating in each young person an openness to cultural diversity and a keenness to learn from alternative world-views and identities. We will ensure that there will not be one dominate nationality in the pupils body.

What is the teacher: student ratio in your school?

Roughly 3:20 teacher-student for Pre-Nursery, and 2:20 for Kindergarten 1 and 2

Describe your school's approach to education and teaching?

At Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong, young children develop and learn through both a structured and free play programme that focuses on inquiry, developmental and hands-on learning. Emphasis is placed on active, play-based learning with a balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities, which research has proven develops skills, knowledge, concepts and confidence that is not possible in a more formal classroom setting.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework

At Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong, the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Framework (EYFS) provides a focus point for our planning, resourcing, teaching and assessment. Our curriculum is addressed through focus ‘Themes’ or ‘Topics’ which last for several weeks and allow for seasonal and calendar events. Throughout the EYFS, children work towards achieving the Early Learning Goals.

We work hard to ensure that the children love the range of activities on offer to support their learning in the EYFS. Much of the learning is linked. For instance, mathematical development might be planned through an activity based on cooking - where there are opportunities for measuring liquids and weight. There are always opportunities to write and the children always have a choice of activities.

Our teaching staff are sensitive to the individual development of each child to ensure that the activities they undertake are suitable for the stage that they have reached. We recognise that children have to be challenged, but not pushed beyond their capabilities, so that they can continue to enjoy learning.

We use the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework to ensure that our Pre-School provides maximum opportunity for every child in our care to achieve the five, ‘Every Child Matters’ outcomes of Staying Safe, Enjoying and Achieving, Being Healthy, Making a Positive Contribution, and Achieving Economic Well-Being. We aim to achieve this by implementing the EYFS four themed principles. Each of the principles has four commitments which describe how the principles can be put into practice.

Reggio Emilia Philosophy

At Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong, we are inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, named after the Italian town where it originated. Loris Malaguzzi was the educationist who developed the style and he in turn was inspired by Early Childhood theorists, including Piaget, Vygotsky, Froebel, and Montessori. The Reggio Emilia Approach is underpinned by several fundamental, guiding principles.

How does your school promote healthy lifestyles?

Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong recognise the importance of a healthy lifestyle. We have incorporated a Physical Education (PE) Area in the campus to facilitate the pupil's weekly PE time. The PE area is used to develop children’s gross motor skills, coordination, balance and hand-eye coordination. The PE programme encompasses dance, gymnastics, ball skills, games, movement and yoga etc

To take a further step in ensuring our pupil will cultivate a healthy lifestyle, we've have incorporated the Forest School programme. Malvern will be the first school in Hong Kong to run the Forest School programme with FSA-certified Forest School leaders. Access to an outdoor environment is as important to children’s wellbeing and education as a conventional kindergarten space. Scandinavian countries have long practised outdoor learning, and the UK’s Forest School Association formalised such a programme, with growing world-wide attention and expansion. Our sister school The Downs Malvern in the United Kingdom also runs a Forest School for their Early Years students, achieving exceptional progress.

Providing a Forest School learning opportunity was clearly not easy in the densely-populated neighbourhoods of Hong Kong, thus we took the unprecedented step of commissioning land in the great outdoors that is designated to become an integral part of Malvern’s educational philosophy. Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong children will therefore have regular access to this cutting-edge, bold opportunity to extend their education beyond the confines of the classroom walls, and truly have exposure to a myriad of exciting, challenging and essential opportunities to enhance and complement their everyday suburban life, and “round-off” their education in an enjoyable and fun way.

How do you promote healthy eating?

Children enrolled in the half-day programmes need to bring a healthy morning/afternoon snack in a named lunch box and a named water bottle. Please send these in your child’s Pre-School bag. We recommend using insulated lunch bags with an additional ice pack or children’s thermoses that keep food either cool or hot. Please note that we cannot heat up food at the school, however the pre-packed thermos works very well to keep food hot for your child until lunch time. We actively encourage the children to develop healthy eating habits.

Please note that, owing to the risks to children who may have a severe allergy to peanuts or other forms of nuts, nut-based products (e.g., peanut butter, Nutella) are NOT permitted within the Pre-School. The Pre-School is a nut-free zone.

Carbonated drinks, lollies, sweets, chocolates, crisps and chewing gum are not allowed at Pre-School. However, special days and events might be an exception for some treats.

What is the starting and finishing time of your school day?

For morning session it's 8:30 - 11:30am and afternoon session is 1:00 - 4:00pm

Is there a school uniform?

Yes. All Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong pupils enrolled in Pre-Nursery, Kindergarten 1 and Kindergarten 2 are required to wear the prescribed summer and winter school uniform. This may be purchased through the school. Each child’s uniform should be clearly named.

How do you feedback progress and attainment to students and parents?

At Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong, we value and promote home-school partnerships with families and recognise that parents are a child’s first teacher. Malvern believes the importance of parents mirroring some of the practices at home in order to best support the education we provide to the children. Parents are welcomed to visit classes and join our practitioners in their activities, with advanced coordination with the school. Parent volunteers will have opportunities to accompany children on class outings, come into school to read stories, share their expertise or help with cooking sessions. In addition, Malvern’s Principal and teachers will hold monthly sessions to offer insights to our parents.

At Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong, we value and promote open communication. Parents are kept informed what their child is learning and how they can help at home through a variety of modes. Each child will have a Daily Communication Book (diary) that is brought from home to school each day. This is used for daily messages and also as a home reader/ library log for our Kindergarten 1 and 2 classes. Regular newsletters from the Pre-School provide information on what is happening in the center, plans for the upcoming week or month, and other information that may interest parents. In addition, class teachers may send class newsletters and emails with information specific to their class.

How often is the more formal feedback such as reports and parent/teacher meetings?

All Pre-School children receive a Progress Report at the end of Term 1 and an End of Year Report at the end of Term 3. The information within the Report will be supplemented by the rich data collected within the digital Learning Journal-Portfolio. The report will be discussed along with the digital portfolio at the following Parent-Teacher Conference.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are held formally twice a year after the Pre-School Report has been distributed. This is a good opportunity for teachers and caregivers to sit and meet to discuss progress to date and next steps. Parents are welcome to request an appointment to discuss progress at other times during the Pre-School year but are asked to do so directly with the teacher in advance, so that appointments can be made strategically to minimize disruption of the teaching and learning time.

Do you offer specific activities, events or information sessions for those parents new to the school and/or area?

We invite prospective parents to find out more about our school and admissions process by joining one of our ‘Pre-School Malvern Meets’, where parents can speak with the senior management of the school. Space is limited and places are allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Please follow the link below to make a registration. We will send you an email if your request is confirmed.

https://fs23.formsite.com/mchk/mcps_event/index.html