The NIS Early Years Exhibition is a very special time for our youngest students and their families – a joyful celebration of learning, growth, and the creativity that unfolds when young children are given the space and tools to explore. It’s also a living example of our NIS Strategy in action: Student Voice and Student Choice and Burst the Bubble shine through inquiry-driven projects that stretch across disciplines and imaginations.

The results of our inquiry-based IB Primary Years Programme and Reggio Emilia approach highlight the core skills that our Early Years develops in children from 3 to 6: critical thinking, creativity, competence, and collaboration. This year’s exhibition featured an impressive range of student-led projects – from storytelling and reading to design, natural science, performing arts, and more. Each project reflected the individual curiosity of the learner and showcased real-world skills being built from the earliest stages of education.

The exhibition reflected our deep belief in student-centered learning, where children are not only heard but treated as active partners in the educational process. Teachers acted as researchers, closely observing and listening – not only to spoken words but also to what students communicate through action, expression, and exploration.

“We plan in collaboration with children by watching them and by talking to them and by hearing their ideas,” said Ms. Jacqui Patrick, Primary Principal in an address to parents. “Today we will see not just the final product but the process of learning.”

Families saw firsthand how our youngest learners are already developing essential Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills. Children as young as three demonstrated foundational thinking, communication, and inquiry – a love of learning just beginning to take root. Meanwhile, our oldest Early Years students, some already six, displayed more advanced thinking, reflection, and self-management, showing readiness for the exciting challenges of Primary School and beyond.

From using a variety of materials to exploring different spaces and collaborating with peers and teachers, students were given the time, tools, and trust to make sense of their world. More than just an event, the exhibition stood as a powerful reminder of the incredible growth that takes place in the Early Years and the strong foundation it creates for lifelong learning.

“If we give Early Years students space to be curious and the time to show us how they’re capable, they’ll do some amazing things,” said Ms. Patrick.