OUR MISSION
Our Mission at 'The Porridge Years' is to offer a unique, child centered, academically enriched programme in a safe and nurturing environment, while placing emphasis on the holistic development of the child.

'WHAT WE OFFER'
'The Porridge Years' is a playschool where an exciting learning environment is created by implementing creative and innovative teaching concepts. We enroll students for Playgroup and Nursery classes. We strive to meet the needs of preschool children by providing them with an environment, which is child-centered, warm, and nurturing. We also offer developmentally appropriate challenges to children while inspiring a joy of learning. Because growth and development are unique to each child, our program builds independent thinkers,
cooperative learners, and most importantly, a thoughtful, caring classroom community.

Learning through Play, Learning by Doing:
I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand!
Confucious

We recognize that the natural way that children learn is through play. Play is a child's way of saying "hello" to the world and to the people and things in the world. Since children live in a world where play is their method of living, then it is through play that children learn in 'The Porridge Years'. What we offer children is something unique. Our programme is developed keeping in mind the interests and abilities of students.

Creative Play:
Creative play helps children grow. Every child is born with creative potential. Creativity shows one's uniqueness. Creativity is the ability to see things in a new and unusual light, to see problems that no one else may even realize exist, and then come up with new, unusual, and effective solutions to these problems. Isn't this what we want for our children? We plan to nurture and stimulate creativity in our students through our Art and Craft Activities.

Dramatic Play
Fantasies are real in the minds of children who are engaged in dramatic play. Children can switch roles -- from animate to inanimate objects -- with a blink of an eye. 'The Porridge Years' engages children in carefree, creative dramatic play, which promotes cognitive development and help children learn how to share, communicate and cooperate with each other.

Sand and Water Play
Playtime both free and directed, is a time for children to explore their world and their own creative imagination, while developing important skills. We offer Sand Play which enables students to explore and develop fine muscles. Water Play facilitates proper blood circulation and enhances both fine and gross muscles besides promoting water familiarization. Children's explorations with sand and water help build various skills. By sifting sand and pouring water,
children improve their physical dexterity.

Music & Movement
Music and dancing are inside each child. All we will do is let them out. We shall encourage, not "teach" music and movement. With drums, keyboard and tambourine as accompaniments, our children will enjoy the true rhythm of music.

Motor Development
Motor skills are the physical abilities children develop that help them control the movements of their bodies. These skills allow them to discover the world via their perceptual systems--the sensations of smell, touch, sound, and sight. Our activities are designed to enable students to develop large motor small motor skills along with eye-hand coordination.

Number World:
Mathematics at the preschool level is introduction to numbers. Children learn at different rates and need a varying amount of practice in Mathematics. They need to revise concrete material before they are ready for abstract concepts. Our concrete mathematics materials and equipment allow the children to begin their mathematical journey from concrete to abstract through manipulation experimentation. While gaining mastery of numbers and relating them to their written symbol, they are laying a foundation for higher math in later years

Language Development
What could be more exciting than to hear our children talk, from a first word into a sentence and later into conversation? It would be like watching a miracle: the miracle of language development. When adults take time to listen, talk, read, sing, and play games with children, we help teach important language skills that last a lifetime. Through poetry and rhymes, picture talk, story telling and theme teaching, we would enhance the language development of our students. Besides this, our specially designed phonic drill, phonograms and grammar games would enable students to pick up language in a better way.

Sensory Awareness:
Children perceive the world through their senses. Sensory awareness activities strengthen the imaginative powers and increases abilities to experience life with greater meaning. Our equipment and activities will enable children explore different aspects of movement. The kinesthetic sense increases as children literally feel the shapes and actions that their bodies are making. Visually, children respond to the images they see as well as the images they create. The auditory sense is stimulated as children respond to sounds (and music) they make or hear. Tactile experiences include running with bare feet, performing specific floor movements, or touching different textured objects. These sensory experiences help our children appreciate the beauty in nature, art, literature and everyday living.

Social Development:
The critical skills necessary for purposeful and self-directed living often are rooted in learning to: realize one's own uniqueness, recognize and appreciate the uniqueness of others, express personal feelings, cooperate within a social structure, and ultimately define and create one's self. We teach our children social skills that enable them to become more aware of themselves, sensitive to others, and actively conscious of the world they share.

The World of Science
We give students a chance to become little scientists. Kids learn the importance of plants, the concept of living and non-living through activities in growing plants and examine nature in both indoor and outdoor activities. At the same time, they enhance their cognitive skills as they explore why certain objects sink in water and others float.
Kids in the Kitchen: For many parents, "kids in the kitchen" conjures up images of children wielding sharp knives or bending over boiling pots, but it doesn't have to be that way. In addition to being fun, the kitchen is also one of the most valuable classrooms in the school. Colors shapes and numbers are all there waiting to challenge children, each step of the way. Our children learn various recipes in their eagerness to act like their mothers. Cooking experience not only teaches them to mix, mash, sort and clean but also enhances fine muscles while they do these activities.

Computer Training
As we deal with daily changes in technology, especially with computers, we see new and exciting uses. Today, computers are a big part of the school system and now have managed there way into pre-school institutions, as well. More and more children between the ages of 3-5 years of age have become extremely familiar with the operation of a computer. Through this new technology we would be able to enhance the thinking skills and thought process of our children.

Personality development:
Children of our school are given adequate opportunities to develop a holistic personality. Their innate talents and potentials are identified and developed. They are assisted in time of crisis to handle their own individual and group problems.

Spiritual Training
We want each child to know that she/he was made by God and is a special part of His plan. Through meditation, bhajans, hymns and chanting of 'shlokas' we try to help children experience joy and love in their relation to God and His word.

Field Trips
Field trips can provide wonderful learning experiences for children of all ages. In order to make the most of this experience, we plan our trips to places where children acquire knowledge and also have freedom of movement

Special Features:

• Regular health check-up by a General Physician
• Curriculum prepared by a well-known academician
• Speech exercises designed by a Speech Therapist.
• Situational and need based counseling is provided by a leading Psychologist.
• Nutritious snacks at Tiffin Break.
• An ample dose of music, recreation, dance, picnics etc is given.
• Eminent citizens on the Board.
• Regular group meetings and discussions with parents enable them to be involved in smooth running of the school.
• A website for feedback and interaction with parents. Separate sections of the website for parents and children.
• A set of qualified and experienced teachers, who play the role of the care givers.
• Special camps during vacations.