After school care until 18:30 - Open Days coming up on 10th Feb, 3rd and 17th March 2018
In December 2016, a new Montessori school called the "Secret of Childhood" opened in Nyon (see our previous article here on the school). The school, catering for 3-6-year-olds, has recently recruited two new teachers and will open a second large classroom to accommodate more children. The Montessori method of teaching will be taught in both classrooms.
Conveniently situated
The Secret of Childhood school is in the Petit Prairie area of Nyon which has a variety of restaurants and shops, a gym, and the Portes de Nyon shopping area opposite.
Since the Montessori school opened last year, building has almost finished on the “Reposoir” nearby. This will house a new primary school and a sports complex, with a park and a man-made lake.
Children at the Secret of Childhood school will be able to play in the park area and have picnics outside in the warm weather.
Encouraging independence, discovering the world at a young age.
Director of the school Guadalupe Torrevillas told Living in Nyon:
"In the school, we like to teach independence in children, from tying their own shoelaces to preparing them for later school life. We do some collective teaching in the classroom but as each child is unique, we let them choose an activity that they are interested in and allow them to work on it as long as they like. Children learn while playing. We encourage the children to dress for all weathers, and we take on them on little trips around the town, including on public transport to encourage them to discover the world outside the classroom".
Photo above - the bright, modern new classroom.
Sensorial bells in the new classroom - Learning materials at the Secret of Childhood school
We have a calendar of events for the entire year, so the children and parents know what activity is coming up. On Wednesday afternoons we explore the surrounding area and interact with members of the public. Recent trips have been to the château or to the supermarket to learn how things work. We also have a field trip twice a year - last autumn we went to the Arboretum in Aubonne and this year we will go to Papiliorama.
We are living in an international community here in canton Vaud and we encourage diversity in the school - we have children from all over the world.
As we are a small school we can also solve any problems that might arrive very quickly. If a child is sick, all the parent has to do is send me an SMS, they don’t have to go via a school secretary.
Classes in English and French
The school offers half-day and full-day programmes from Monday to Friday throughout the school year and follows the holiday dates of the Canton of Vaud. Classes are taught in both English and French. Lunches are provided and the school has obtained the "Fourchette Verte” label. Children can also bring in their own lunches.
Great for working parents
The school itself is in a pedestrianised car-free zone (parking for parents nearby) and is ideally situated for parents to drop children off at school and then be on the A1 motorway within a few minutes. It is also next to a bus stop, with buses connecting to and from Nyon railway station on a regular basis. The school is open until 18:30.
Modern classroom with a lovely old clock!
Ready and waiting for the new children.