Overview
At ICCC children start at the age of 2 years and leave at the end of the school year when they turn 6 years old, or earlier depending on their next school choice. Children are divided into four age groups:
ICCC helps your child learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and study skills that they will use throughout their school and life.
Learning happens all the time at school – when children play together or by themselves, and when they get involved in activities prepared by the teachers. Many opportunities are provided to encourage creativity and imagination through art, music and dance. Sport, outdoor play and time in nature feature daily in the program of all age groups
Sparking and directing your child’s curiosity to learn
IEYC approach and learning units
IEYC approach is a research-based curriculum recognizing global best practice in early childhood education and the developmental needs of children 2-5 years old. It supports key areas of learning through holistic enquiry and play-based approaches that cover all curriculum areas including personal, social and emotional development.
IEYC Personal Goals
Developing the following personal qualities and skills is an essential part of our learning. Adaptability - We are okay with change; Communication - We share and let others share; Inquiry - We ask questions to learn new things; Integrity & Compassion - We are honest, do our best, and help others even when no one is looking; Resilience - We try again, even when it’s hard; Respect - We treat others the way we want to be treated; Thoughtfulness - We think about what we say and do; Cooperation - We work together.
Music and art activities
The arts invite children to imagine, solve problems, express ides and emotions, and make sense of their experience. At ICCC all children are invited to experience and explore different forms of music and art. This happens in free play as well sessions like music, dance, art and craft time.
Literacy and Mathematics
Children are exposed daily to phonics and early math from the youngest age. With children aged 4+ we use Jolly Phonics, a synthetic phonics program for teaching literacy, reading and writing and specialized math resources like Abacus Evolve..
Science classes
Children are encouraged to develop their curiosity about the world around them and to make observations. They are introduced to science through IEYC Learning Units and with special classes from the age of 4 years where they have hands-on science activities on a variety of topics.
Physical Education
Children develop gross motor skills, which involve whole body movement, and fine motor skills, which involve the coordination of small muscle movements, with different sport activities like Fun Gymnastics and Yoga, Karate and Dance classes. ICCC offers optional activities like Ski School, Green School, and Ballet classes.
Frequently Asked Questions
We strongly recommend a visit prior to applying to see the facilities, meet staff and discuss your expectations. To book a place, you need to email us a completed application form (link to APPLY ONLINE FORM) ). All applications submitted before March for the following school year will be reviewed prior to 15 April. If space is available we will ask you to pay the joining fee to guarantee your place. If we cannot offer a space you automatically join the waiting list for 30 days. In the event there are no vacancies during the initial 30 days, you need to reconfirm by email your interest in order to stay on the waiting list. Applications submitted for the current school year will be reviewed within two weeks.
ICCC charges an annual membership fee for the school year (September – June), paid in three installments. The Summer program is optional and is paid extra. We also charge a one off joining fee upon registration. Fee information can be obtained here (link to FEES menu).
ICCC has a small bus equipped with age appropriate child safety seats and accompanied by supervising member of staff. Pick up is from your address or an agreed location along the bus route. If we are unable to offer bus service to your location we can recommend reliable family taxi service. (link to Fees Page)
In certain circumstances we can refund fees paid in advance with 30 days’ notice. After 31 March we do not accept cancellation notice for the current school year.
We serve healthy morning snack – a variety of fruits, and afternoon snack – cheese sandwiches or full-grain crackers with veggies; muesli; fruit muffins; pancake, etc.
Hot lunch is provided daily by our catering at extra cost of 6.70 BGN per day. Parents can bring their own lunch for children who have special dietary requirements.
For children aged 2 and 3 we offer a choice of half or full day attendance. If you opt for the half day attendance plan you can choose to come three full days instead for the same price. Children aged 4 or 5 years can attend full time only.
Although we have native speaking children at ICCC, the majority of children speak different languages and come to us with no English. Children are fully immersed in the English language while at school and soon they begin to understand and communicate in the new language. We limit the number of Bulgarian speaking children to guarantee that English will be both the language of instruction and play at school. This also guarantees a vibrant multicultural community which helps children develop international mindedness.
In 2015 we introduced the UK International Primary Curriculum for children aged 3-5, which in 2016 was developed into a full early years curriculum for children 2 to 5 years with the name the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC). It is used in a large number of schools both worldwide and in the UK. The IEYC is based on the latest research on how young children learn. Its underlying principles are child centered, active learning which fosters the child’s natural curiosity towards the world. Children are supported to grow an open mindset and international mindedness. We use programs like Jolly Phonics and a variety of math resources to supplement the IEYC (link to Program page)
We help children understand what is acceptable and unacceptable by modeling good behavior for them, using simple tools and techniques to steer them away from aggression, showing them how to resolve conflict situations and use their words to express how they feel and what they want. In extreme situations children are removed from the conflict until they are calm. Through the International Early Years Curriculum with the help of stories, special characters and good examples from our everyday interactions we teach children values like cooperation, respect for each other, good communication and morality. In the course of the program children begin to form an understanding of these concepts and act accordingly.
We understand that young children get sick when they first start school, and they build their immunity through exposure to different viruses and bacteria when they are in contact with other children and adults. The range of reactions could vary from a runny nose, sneezing, mild cough to fever, persistent coughing, drop in energy and appetite, moodiness or symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, etc.. Parents are best positioned to judge when the child doesn’t need to change their daily routine, or they should rest at home to help them get over the sickness and also to protect other children from the exposure. Therefore we ask parents to cooperate and make the best decision for everyone’s sake.
If our school nurse or staff members see during morning drop off that a child exhibits clear symptoms of sickness we will ask parents to take the child home or to a doctor and return only after confirmation from the doctor that the child is healthy. If a child becomes unwell during school hours we will expect parents to pick them up ASAP. Staff members are not allowed to give medication. If a child has been sick we ask parents to keep them at home for 24 hours after the last fever, vomiting, diarrhea.
With COVID-19 we take extra care to ensure that all children and staff who are at school are in good health and have no symptoms of sickness. We follow strictly all Bulgarian government requirements and special measures for preschools. Read our Health and Sickness Policy and our COVID-19 policy for more details. (Link to Documents and Policies page)
The ICCC Board of Parents consists of usually five elected members, who are parents of children currently attending ICCC. Board members are elected at the Annual General meeting each October. They work closely with ICCC Director and staff, and are ultimately responsible for the policy and decision making at ICCC.