Foundations & Early Years at ISS
Our Early Childhood provision offers a nurturing environment for children aged 1 to 5, not only in the classroom but also in the world outside.
Play and learning are not separate – play is a child’s way of learning. Our young learners spend as much time as possible outdoors and learn through play, tapping into their natural curiosity and joyfully making sense of the world around them.
Our dedicated Foundations and Early Years setting includes outdoor play spaces, comfortable zones for afternoon naps, and a communal dining area. Most learning sessions are guided by homeroom teachers, but students also engage with specialist teachers in areas such as STEAM, art, music, Portuguese and physical education, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience.
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Developing the whole child
Through play and inquiry-based activities, our students have the opportunity to explore their curiosity and deepen their understanding of learning. Play provides students with opportunities to develop their social skills, problem-solving abilities and physical development as well as laying the foundations for academic success.
Involving families
We involve parents or carers in shared learning experiences in Early Years, as this connection is especially valuable for younger children. When parents participate in learning alongside their child, it creates a meaningful emotional connection that supports deeper engagement. Teachers are always available to discuss questions or concerns about a child’s progress.
Forest school
ISS Lisbon is fortunate to have spacious woodland areas, which allow us to offer a forest school programme which focuses on outdoor, nature-based learning experiences. In Foundations and Early Years, children have access to their own dedicated forest area, located near their learning spaces, allowing them to regularly explore and engage with the natural environment.
Weekly highlights
From Foundation through to PYP 5, the school shares weekly highlights to keep parents connected to their child’s learning. Throughout the week, teachers capture photos and document key learning experiences and activities. These are then compiled into a short update, which is shared with parents each Friday via the ManageBac platform. The update includes a summary of the week along with selected photos, giving families a snapshot of classroom life and the learning that has taken place.
Foundations: ages 1-3
The Foundations curriculum is designed to help our youngest children feel safe and secure as they begin to explore the world around them. We are ready to support little learners as important milestones are reached, such as learning to walk, talk and wave hello!
At ISS Lisbon, the Foundations curriculum has been designed according to IB principles, where children learn through real-world concepts, social interactions, play, and new experiences.
Our approach is highly play-based, keeping the children engaged with dynamic tasks while still meeting required goals. Activities are designed with a strong sense of flow, where learning is not just about delivering knowledge but about collaboration and working together. Interaction, cooperation, curiosity, empathy, care and enjoyment are the key elements of learning at this stage.
In Foundations 1&2, all children nap after lunch, waking up for an afternoon snack and playtime before returning home.
Our classrooms
The Foundation classrooms have dedicated areas for baby and toddler care with a focus on creating a sense of security, belonging and comfort. The environment is designed to provide opportunities for play and exploration alongside comfortable spaces for naps.
In our Foundations classes, we foster early development by providing sensory-rich experiences with textures, colours, sounds, and movement alongside supporting early development in literacy, language, motor skills, and socialisation. Through these methods, we help our youngest learners develop into autonomous, secure, curious children.
Ana Filipa Cruz, FOUNDATIONS COORDINATOR
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Early Years: ages 3-6
Our Early Years programme follows the IB curriculum recommendations. The IB is designed to put the student at the centre of the learning process through an inquiry-based teaching approach. It offers a framework that meets children’s needs – academic, social, physical, emotional and cultural.
Specialist teachers also play an important role by integrating themes across different subject areas. For example, when students explore the concept of communities, it is reinforced in multiple contexts – through physical education, STEAM, the arts and music – allowing them to develop a deeper, more holistic understanding. This cross-curricular approach helps students see the bigger picture and connect their learning in meaningful ways.
As our young learners progress through the different stages, they go through a developmentally appropriate transition from a nursery setting to a more structured school environment. From EY, 5 children begin to participate in school House events and assemblies with PYP 1 and PYP2 to help prepare them for Primary School.
The importance of inquiry
In the Early Years Programme, inquiry is part of our students’ everyday life. Inquiry is based on children’s natural curiosity and the desire to know more about the world. Students are motivated to question and seek different answers and possibilities throughout their learning journeys.
Inquiry has a real significance in moving students to a new and deeper level of knowledge and understanding, as it is based on existing knowledge, leading to responsible action initiated by the student.
At ISS Lisbon, we believe learning is most effective when it is joyful, active, and child-centred. Through carefully crafted learning experiences and play, we provide a safe and nurturing environment, helping each learner to develop socially, emotionally, and intellectually.
Isabel Costa Pereira, EARLY YEARS PROGRAMME COORDINATOR
