Visiting children can now experience a day in the life of a truly South African Village Eco-preschool
Situated at Old Nick Village, off the N2s eastern entrance to Plett, a quaint little cottage set in the tranquil village garden serves as an ideal venue for The Village Eco-preschool, which offers a unique, small-group preschool programme in a beautiful and homely environment.
The school practises the principle of non-discrimination – including discrimination based on race, sex, disability, religion, and cultural or social origin -thereby striving towards a multicultural and multiracial society.
As such, children from out of town or foreigners visiting Plett during the summer season are welcome to join in the fun. Visitors are invited to enrol their children for a day, a week, or a month while 011 holidays in the beautiful seaside town.
Owned and managed by teachers Inge Bassett and May Donegan, the school incorporates educational principles of the Montes-sori Methodology and creative aspects of the Waldorf Philosophy while maintaining a determined focus on the integration of environmental education and the natural world.
The school has only two classes, allow ing teachers to nurture each child in a quiet and gentle setting. The toddler class has a maximum of 15 children aged 18 months to three years. The pre-school class has a maximum of 20 children aged three to six years.
Each class has a trained teacher, a teaching assistant, and a facilitator to assist those children in need of extra guidance.
Early childhood education plays a vital role in developing a child’s identity in a manner that enables them to connect with and contribute to their environment. A carefully structured in/outdoor environment at the eco-school has the added advantage of bringing hands-on environmental education into the preschool experience.
The learning programme keeps children in touch with nature through active ecological education within the surrounding natural environment. Plettenberg Bay, with seven unique ecosystems and Robberg and Keurbooms Nature Reserves right on its doorstep, provides the ideal outside environment to facilitate educational excursions that promote the importance of nature conservation.
Afternoon activities such as yoga, art, drama, sports, and the Nature Club are offered to all children aged four to nine years.
Contact the school on 072 605 8573 to enquire about rates and to book a space, or visit www.thevillage-ecopreschool.co.za and see the advert on this page to find out more about the school.