The journey has begun for children at newly opened Harrow Little Lions Kindergarten in Kowloon East; we check in with the Head, NIKKI STREET, and get a glimpse inside the classroom.
Tell us a bit about the child-centred approach at the new Harrow kindergarten and what that means.
We understand that no two children are the same, and we celebrate this! Each of our pupils will grow, develop and learn at their own pace and in their own way. The experienced classroom teams get to know each child as an individual to provide a personalised learning journey; we discover their likes and dislikes, what sparks their curiosity and identify where they are with their learning and development in line with our Little Lions Curriculum.
How does that look in the classroom?
Children are encouraged to explore and take part in learning opportunities independently in all our learning spaces. Classroom teams take time to identify the next steps for each child and support these through the planned learning opportunities presented and the conversations they have.
For example, a teacher may identify that a child who needs to learn to write their name has no interest in writing but loves spending time in the construction area. This child would be encouraged to label their new “spaceship” with their name at the end of a session to make sure that it doesn’t get moved and so that everyone knows it belongs to them.
Our Nursery children have been using the story of The Gingerbread Man in recent weeks to support their learning. Children have developed storytelling skills in different ways, based on their own strengths and interests – some using puppets and toys to retell the story, others using the story to explain why they need to bake their own gingerbread men. The priority is making learning relevant and fun for the children.
Why is wellbeing important at this kindergarten in Kowloon?
A child who feels safe, secure, valued and fulfilled is a child who is ready to take academic risks, collaborate with others, and persevere when they find things tricky. By prioritising the development of strong positive relationships (with adults and other children) and our Little Lions’ ability to understand their own feelings and those of others, we equip them with the confidence and social skills they need to thrive both inside and outside of the classroom.
What are a couple of things your students enjoy most about their day?
They love exploring time! During extended periods of uninterrupted play, children can choose learning opportunities that link to their interests or something their teacher has introduced during a whole class “carpet time”. Whether it’s creating a Wanted poster to locate the “Evil Pea”, measuring the house they’ve just built to make sure it’s big enough for all three Little Pigs to hide from the Big Bad Wolf, or making a birthday cake (including the right number of candles!) for their friend or teacher, exploring time lets them apply their skills and knowledge independently.
What are some key features of the Harrow kindergarten campus in Kowloon?
We’re very lucky to have a brand-new campus with facilities designed to ensure our pupils are cared for both physically and emotionally. Features include child-height handrails, hygiene stations in each classroom and a healthcare centre staffed by qualified nurses.
A consistent aesthetic is the use of calm, neutral tones in all spaces, which the children can fill with colour and life through evidence of their learning such as artwork, junk modelling and photos.
Our indoor and outdoor shared spaces enable learning to continue outside of the classroom with large-scale construction opportunities to develop gross motor skills and a library to support every child to develop a true love of reading for pleasure.
Harrow Little Lions Kindergarten
55 Kwun Tong Road, Kowloon East
3152 4700 | harrowhongkong.hk/hll
This article first appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of Expat Living magazine. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
