PYP Health & Wellness

Focus on the well-being of the whole child

In the Primary Years Programme (PYP) at Meadowridge School, we focus on the well-being of the whole child. As well as outstanding academic opportunities, social, emotional and physical wellness are incorporated into the daily learning engagements and activities.

Play is Integral to the Health of Children

Our curricular program is play and inquiry based. In the Early Learning Centre at Meadowridge School, play-based learning influences our pedagogy and educational practices, and provides a variety of learning for children. “Play is the chief vehicle for the development of imagination and intelligence, language, social skills, and perceptual motor abilities in infants and young children (Frost, 1992)”.

Play is a child’s job and is a very important part of daily life. It is one of the most important ways that children ask about the world around them. Through play, children learn socialization skills, problem-solving, language and creativity. Importantly, structured and guided play allows for the building of the early foundations in literacy, numeracy and scientific thinking. Additionally, young children try out new experiences and master many fine and gross motor skills when playing.

Daily physical activity is part of the curriculum. Teacher schedule time for students to walk in the forest, care for the gardens or simply run/walk/skip on campus.

Outside Play

We believe children are durable and need to be outside. Because of that, children are required to have gumboots and “muddy-buddies” so that they can play outside rain or shine.

Students in the PYP have a full lunch and two recess breaks each day where outside play in our playgrounds is encouraged. Our playgrounds are purpose built because we know that interaction with living landscapes promotes drives imaginative play, spurs learning and supports emotional and physical health.

Daily physical activity is part of the curriculum. Teacher schedule time for students to walk in the forest, care for the gardens or simply run/walk/skip on campus.

Screen time is limited for our increasing distracted and overstimulated digital generation. We don’t have iPads or laptops below Grade 4 because we believe students learn through multi-sensory approaches. While computers are used for educational purposes and classes are equipped with the most contemporary equipment, we believe there is value in disconnecting from screens in order to connect to the world around us.

Flexible Learning Spaces

What is a flexible learning space? Flexible learning spaces are different to traditional classrooms in that they create differentiated work spaces that meet the needs of any kinds of learners using the space. Students have the opportunity to choose from a variety of work spaces where they are comfortable. They also have the option to use different spaces for different activities. Students are not restricted to a desk space.