International Eridan School
Our school – The Aims of the School – An Interactive Approach – Home-School links – Holiday Clubs – The Timetable
Our School
Eridan International School was created in 1996 by an educational team and parents of pupils , as a non-profit making venture.
Eridan International School firmly believes in the importance of creativity, mutual respect in a positive, supportive environment where children feel able to learn to the best of their capacity while not being afraid of making mistakes – an important part of the learning process.
ACHIEVE – BELIEVE – COMMUNITY
The school welcomes children of all nationalities from the age of two in the Nursery all the way up to early secondary school level. The school offers lessons in four languages : French, English, Spanish, with the addition of Chinese as an option.
Where did the Name ‘Eridan’ Come from ?
Eridan is the name of one of the most extensive constellations seen from Earth . These bright stars are like the sparkling eyes of children as they discover life through their experiences. The constellation was first discovered in the early part of the 19th century by an Anglo-German astrologer, fascinated by humanist ideas, a professor of music and a mathematician. The constellation was named ‘Eridan’, a name also given to the King of Italian Rivers .
Our school aims to place the children at the centre of their own learning, being given the freedom to explore, take risks in learning, make mistakes and learn from them . The school as a learning environment is such an important part of the children’s “universe”. The professionals of the school are there to accompany them on their learning journey, enabling, encouraging and providing the contexts for quality learning for children both as individuals and corporately.
The children follow the National programmes for French and mathematics in the Primary and Secondary departments, allowing for easy integration into and from other establishments.
Alongside this, a big emphasis is placed on discovering the world and universe around us through a cross-curricular approach, combining foundational subjects like science, history, geography, art, music, drama, dance and so on in inspiring ways. This is done through the medium of the English language and the anglophone culture, with the addition of Spanish classes throughout the school.
Quality learning happens when children feel able to experiment for themselves through their senses, discovering their full potential. This takes place in an environment where children learn to respect one another, recognising and celebrating differences and growing in confidence as a valued member of the school community.
The Aims of the School
To accompany each child as a citizen of today’s and tomorrow’s world on their learning journey as together, they acquire knowledge, discover and develop new skills.
• To stimulate motivation and an apetite for learning in fun and engaging ways.
• To learn foreign languages and develop awareness of other cultures
• To allow children to broaden their knowledge and develop skills across a rich curriculum
• To enable children to see learning as a practical and life-long process.
• To develop collaborative skills through team-building exercises
• To build and develop a creative teaching team.
As an integral part of the school’s programme, Eridan International School provides swimming lessons, music, choir, art and design technology, drama and information technology, to name a few.
Set in attractive grounds, the school provides the opportunity for gardening sessions, outdoor table tennis, table football and a variety of sports.
An Interactive Approach
Our priorities
• Learning in a fun, interactive way
• Use of a variety of teaching and learning methods
• Making obvious the links between theory and practice
This is achieved and enriched through educational visits and residential educational trips, for example the ski week, a forest camping trip, and a week in England with a host family.
Class sizes are small, favouring learning and the ability to respond to the children’s particular needs. Children’s progress is carefully monitored and evaluated through tests and assignments. The teaching team meet regularly to discuss progress and opportunity is given for feedback to children and parents – there are also regular parent-teacher consultations throughout the year.
Languages : a priority
French, English and Spanish are the three most widely spoken European languages in the world. This is why a big emphasis is placed on the learning of these modern languages at Eridan School.
Here are some of our foundational principles :
• We believe language is learnt best from an early age. Children are a lot more receptive to learning languages early on, giving them an ability to master them much more easily.
• Language learning is known to boost intellectual capacity – for example in memorising, abstract thinking, analytical skills etc. Studies show higher results for bilingual children not only in their mother-tongue but also in mathematics.
• The development of good communication skills is a priority for the future of our children, both socially and professionally.
In Pre-school (Kindergarten), the children are immersed in an English speaking environment, with the addition of a Spanish workshop.
At Primary and Secondary levels, the following subjects are taught in French : French language and literature, mathematics, physical education. Schooling is in English for all the other subjects (English language and literature, science, history, geography, sport, art and design technology, and other related subjects). Additionally children have weekly Spanish lessons.
The school puts a high emphasis on the employment of native-speaking teachers for these subjects, so that children are given exposure not only to authentic accents but also the culture of other countries.
Making the link…
Making links is essential in life in general, and is what characterises learning. Whether these links are between children and adults, children with each other, inside, outside, at home, at school, the past, the present and the future, making good links is imperative. We are here to help children make connections wherever possible, to enable and equip children for life.
Home-School links
Since a child’s foremost desire is to be loved and valued by his or her parents, we believe that parents should be fully involved in the school life of their child. To this end, we especially welcome parents at the heart of the school and encourage good communication between the school and home.
Children have a “communication book”, a useful tool for liasing between home and school. This can be used by parents/carers as well as the school team for communicating particular information concerning the pupils.
On the first day of school for new arrivals, we invite parents and children to meet the teachers and other professionals of the school and become familiar with the school. The Headteacher is also available at all times by appointment.
Every trimester there is a parent-teacher meeting allowing parents to discuss school-life in general or ask particular questions and to give opportunity for feedback and discussion about the parents’ own child or children.
The beginning of the day : Morning Work
A full range of activities
Children learn and explore through their senses. They learn about the world around them and also about themselves as individuals – their feelings, their strengths and their preferences. A full range of activities at the school therefore aid the children discover and develop their skills intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially.
Swimming Children from nursery age up to CE2 (age 8-9) benefit from weekly swimming lessons with the school.
The library Over the years, we are steadily adding more and more excellent reading resources of all types to the library for the children to benefit from both inside and out of school.
Painting, art and craft activities
Music – through exposure to different styles and musical works, learning songs, rhythms and the recorder.
Cooking, gardening, drama, computing, table tennis, reading…
The Secondary Department
The secondary department integrates fully with the activities and life of the school at this important stage between childhood and adulthood. The importance of learning modern languages is reinforced and for children who have difficulties in English, there is provision of booster English classes within the school timetable.
Further benefits of the School
Extras :
Wednesday afternoons – fun and learning in English
Every Wednesday afternoon, the children are given the extra opportunity of practising their English in practical activities like art and craft, dance, swimming or sport for example. These afternoons work in conjunction with the routines of the normal school week (e.g. lesson times, the canteen, after-school care etc…).
Holiday Clubs
For half of each school holiday (except in the Christmas break), the children have the opportunity to enrol in recreational activities in the school. This again takes place through the medium of the English language and follows the style of the Wednesday afternoons : learning English through practical and fun activities.
Homework club
Each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon from 4 : 45 pm to 5 :45 pm, the children are able to attend the homework club. During these times, the children are able to work with Francophone and Anglophone teachers of the school on homework activities.
Booster Classes : French as a foreign language classes during school time.
After school clubs
Children are given the option of enrolling in a range of after-school clubs. These may include Chinese, Yoga, Hip-hop, Gymnastics, multi-sports, Computing, Art and Craft…
The Team
Each member of the school team is committed to the children’s learning and well being, to guide them on their learning journeys. The team of teaching professionals consists of not only teachers but also assistants in the Pre-school department.
The Timetable
Pre-school Times and activities
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday > 9 : 00 – 12 : 00 and 1 : 30 pm – 4 : 15 pm
Wednesday morning > 9 : 00 – 12 : 00
Primary and Secondary Level Lessons:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday > 9 : 00 – 12 : 15 and 1 : 30 pm – 4 : 30 pm
Wednesday morning 9 : 00 – 12 : 15
After-school care
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7 : 45 – 9 : 00 and 4 : 30 pm – 6 : 30 pm
Wednesday 7 : 45 – 9 : 00 and 4 : 30pm – 6 : 00 pm
Homework Club
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 4 : 45 pm – 5 : 45 pm
Ecole Internationale Eridan :
Respect, Achievement, Motivation to learn.