Early Childhood Centre
Preschool and Kindergarten
ISB Early Childhood Centre (ECC) encompasses Preschool groups 1&2, 3&4 and Kindergarten and make up the first five years of ISB's Lower School. A high staff to student ratio is maintained for this age group of 1- to 5-year olds. We provide an inclusive, safe and inspiring learning and play environment, through organizing our students in small groups where the individual child has a voice. We currently have 45 students in the ECC.
The ECC is authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate. We also work in line with the Norwegian Kindergarten Act and the Norwegian Framework plan for Kindergartens, in addition to ECC's Regulations.
Our language of instruction is English.
ECC fees: 35530 NOK per annum from Preschool 1&2 to Kindergarten. Fees are aligned with all Preschools supported by Bergen Kommune. ECC's opening hours are 7:30 - 16:30.
“Within early education we focus on learning through play, where we aim to provide an inclusive, safe and inspiring learning and play environment for our students,”
– Ingebjørg Rensvik, ECC Principal
The PYP curriculum
The PYP curriculum has an international perspective that recognizes and welcomes the diversity of student experiences and backgrounds. We strive to develop internationally minded students who demonstrate the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.
We use an inquiry-based approach, using teaching methods which build upon individual understandings, knowledge and interests. In developing critical thinking skills, students inquire into how to learn and how to delve deeper.
The units of inquiry make up the Programme of Inquiry. These units are developed under the IB’s Transdisciplinary Themes, making learning for understanding more effective.
Each unit of inquiry allows the students to explore key concepts, including:
- Form: ‘What is it like?’
- Function: ‘How does it work?’
- Reflection: ‘How do we know?’
The PYP also encompasses the development of transdisciplinary skills which transcend the individual subject areas. These include thinking, communication, social, research and self-management skills. More details in our ECC Comprehensive Guide.
Outdoor learning and play
The outdoor classroom also makes up an important part of our learning and play environment in the ECC. All our students from the age of 1-5 go for weekly walks in the local community, in addition to daily outdoor play time in our spacious playgrounds, which includes a forest area, bike paths, several slides, swing sets, sandboxes and designated spaces to climb and practise balancing skills. Outdoor play also contributes greatly to our students' social and emotional learning.
The Norwegian Framework plan for Kindergartens
The Norwegian Framework plan for Kindergartens - contents and tasks makes up one out of two management tools in the ECC, and ensures that we work in line with the Norwegian Kindergarten Act, when aiming for a high quality learning and play environment for our students. The Norwegian Framework plan is also offered as the main curriculum to our youngest students in Preschool 1&2. The PYP and International Baccalaureate is offered from the age of 3, and from there both curricula make up the framework for our learning and play environment.