At Clarence our vision is to shape confident, imaginative and curious learners primed with a foundation of academic excellence. We achieve this through personalised, play-based learning experiences designed with a focus on the arts and grounded in the British EYFS curriculum.
The Arts at Clarence
Our children experience a rich and varied arts programme. In our weekly music lessons, children are supported by specialist music teachers, while visual art lessons introduce children to a range of disciplines including sculpture, printmaking and ceramics.
Play-based learning
The benefits of learning through play have been widely acknowledged. At Clarence, children are given opportunities to explore and play independently, helping them to develop social and communication skills as well as important learning dispositions that will support them throughout their lives.
A Love of Language
Our children learn English through exposure to a rich variety of high quality texts. From traditional tales to Romantic poetry and even a sprinkling of Shakespeare, Clarence children experience the very best that the English language has to offer!
Classes
Tiny Stars
18 Months to 2 years old
Teacher: Pupil Ratio of 1:4~6
Minimum 2 days/week
Half-day and Full-day programmes available
Little Star
2-3 years old
Teacher: Pupil Ratio of 1:3~4
Minimum 2 days/week
Half-day and Full-day programmes available
Blue Sky
3-4 years old
Teacher: Pupil Ratio of 1:8
Minimum 5 days/week
Full-day programme only
Rainbow
4-5 years old
Teacher: Pupil Ratio of 1:8
Minimum 5 days/week
Full-day programme only
Sunshine
5-6 years old
Teacher: Pupil Ratio of 1:8
Minimum 5 days/week
Full-day programme only
Tiny Stars
18 Months to 2 years old
Teacher: Pupil Ratio of 1:4~6
Minimum 2 days/week
Half-day and Full-day programmes available
It is here in Little Star Class that the smallest members of our family, our Tiny Stars, begin to twinkle! We devote our attention to nurturing their emotional development, honing their motor skills and encouraging them to communicate and work together happily and confidently.
Little Star
2-3 years old
Teacher: Pupil Ratio of 1:3~4
Minimum 2 days/week
Half-day and Full-day programmes available
For most of the children we welcome into our Little Star class, this is the first time they leave their parents. We aim to make this transition into school life as smooth as possible by ensuring our classes are friendly and fun – full of songs, dance, games, and laughter.
For this age group, we focus on the development of personal, social and emotional skills, physical development, and communication and language abilities – all through a fun and expansive arts-based curriculum.
Each day is an adventure for our Little Star class. The children explore our unique themes, play and interact with their peers and teachers, and learn early life skills.
Blue Sky
3-4 years old
Teacher: Pupil Ratio of 1:8
Minimum 5 days/week
Full-day programme only
As children grow and develop confidence and independence, we build upon the skills developed in Little Star by achieving a deeper explorationof language, senses, and appreciation for the world around them.
Our arts-based activities also become more sophisticated, children have opportunities to experience rhythm, colours, textures, construction and imaginative role-play. We also focus on the development of literacy and numeracy both through artistic exploration, and through structured pedagogy, with a focus on developing their understanding of number, shapes, space, and comparison of objects.
Rainbow
4-5 years old
Teacher: Pupil Ratio of 1:8
Minimum 5 days/week
Full-day programme only
Our Rainbow class builds upon the foundations of previous learning and encourages children to develop their own passions and interests. Through an academically challenging curriculum, we endeavour to give all pupils the fundamental tools needed to succeed at Key Stage 1 level of the English National Curriculum (or equivalent) at the age of five. Our daily phonics lessons help children to become masters of the alphabetic code while our Talk-4-Writing programme supports their growing vocabulary and understanding of texts.
We believe in developing well-rounded children. In Rainbow, our pupils are introduced to a deeper exploration of both Physical and Human Geography. Their technological skills are developed in a more structured way, by introducing typing, Lego coding and SCRATCH with increased interaction with purpose-built applications on the iPad, as well as robotics.
Furthermore, to ensure the development of artistic dimensions in both their perspectives and personalities, each child has the opportunity to experiment with new forms of expression through music and visual arts.
This encompasses playing and improvising with the mini-piano, introduction to the recognition and reading of musical notation, as well as developing artistic skills in a range of mediums.
Sunshine
5-6 years old
Teacher: Pupil Ratio of 1:8
Minimum 5 days/week
Full-day programme only
Sunshine aptly describes this stage of development! In this class our children really are confident learners, sparkle with positivity and throw light upon problems with rays of creativity!
At this age the children have moved on from the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and are following the British Key Stage One curriculum. Learning becomes more abstract and the learning experiences are designed to encourage much more problem solving and exercise critical thinking.
Science and technology plays a larger role in the Sunshine curriculum and children have plenty of opportunities to hone their analytical and evaluation skills. They are encouraged to discuss, try, test, reflect and evaluate.
Complementing the ‘rational’ growth of the child is of course our highly valued arts programme. Children in Sunshine class create exciting, mature artworks employing the large range of skills they acquired through school. As the children embark on their second year of piano tuition they become more adept at playing, get a feel for conducting others and develop their composition skills to create their own pieces.
By the time children come to leave Clarence International School and the sun sets on their days here with us, we feel that they have not only laid a very strong academic foundation but that they have had the bountiful realm of the arts unlocked to them and they have been given the confidence and creativity to explore them on their future journey.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Clarence International School follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, a statutory framework from England which supports children from birth to five in seven areas of learning.
Developing a positive sense of self, forming relationships and developing respect for others; developing social skills and learning how to manage feelings; understanding appropriate behaviour in groups; and developing self-confidence.
Physical Development
Developing control of the body in space as well as fine and gross motor skills. Understanding and practising appropriate self care.
Communication and Language
Experiencing a text-rich language environment to develop confidence and skills in self-expression, speaking and listening.
Literacy
Learning to use phonics effectively to read and write. Being exposed to a wide range of reading material (fiction, non-fiction, poetry and picture books) to inspire and ignite a love of literature.
Mathematics
Develop and improve skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple problems; describing shapes, spaces, and measures.
Understanding the World
Growing an understanding of the world around us through exciting activities designed to introduce early concepts in science, history, geography and social studies.
Expressive Arts and Design
Exploring and playing with a wide range of media. Sharing thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in Art, Poetry, Music, Movement, Dance, Role Play, and Design Technology.
Outdoor Learning
From daily visits to our local parks to exploring the wider Tokyo area, we make sure that our children have plenty of opportunities to explore the natural world. Regular visits to our local “Muddy Parks” are a highlight for our children. Who doesn’t love putting on a pair of wellies and jumping in huge muddy puddles?
Our Physical Education (P.E.) lessons ensure that our children get plenty of exercise to help them to grow-up healthily.
Term Dates and Calendar
2024-25 Academic Year
Autumn Term 2nd September 2024 – 5th December 2024
Winter Term 7th January 2025 – 28th March 2025
Spring Term 14th April 2025 – 3rd July 2025
2024-25 Calendar
School Transport
Clarence International School is able to offer families a convenient school bus option to assist children in getting to and from school each day. Our service offers pick up and drop off options from points along our school bus route and has two operations per day.