Parent handbook

Early Years Parent Inquiry Handbook

Session 2026/2027 · KG 1 · KG 2 · Nursery 1 · Nursery 2 · A premium guide for parents exploring the ROIS Early Years experience.

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Righteous Oaks International School

Welcome to ROIS

Rooted in Faith • Open to Learn • Inspired to Lead • Success Is Bound.
Motto: Godly Mindset; Right Attitude.

Dear Parent,

Choosing a school is choosing an environment in which a child will grow. This handbook gives you a clear picture of what your child will experience and develop at Righteous Oaks International School (ROIS).

Our Early Years programme brings together the Nigerian/NAPPS context, British curriculum progression and Montessori-inspired principles of hands-on learning, independence, practical life and purposeful exploration.

We are ambitious for children, but our ambition is developmentally appropriate. A two-year-old is not expected to perform like a five-year-old. Each class has its own learning destination.

Our promise

What you can expect

Our promise to your child

  • A safe, nurturing and purposeful environment.
  • Strong foundations in literacy, numeracy and knowledge of the world.
  • Independence, confidence, communication and responsibility.
  • Continuous observation and evidence-informed next steps.
  • Character, curiosity and a positive attitude to learning.

Our promise to parents

  • Clear expectations for each age and class.
  • Regular communication about progress and development.
  • Partnership between home and school.
  • Respect for individual differences and developmental pace.
  • Honest strengths, next steps and support needs.

Educational philosophy

The ROIS learning cycle

ROIS develops children who are grounded in values, curious about their world, confident enough to express ideas, responsible enough to manage themselves and prepared to make a positive contribution.

Experience

Children encounter ideas through meaningful experiences.

Explore

They explore materials, questions and the world around them.

Think

They think about what they notice and build understanding.

Apply

They apply learning in practical contexts.

Four parent-visible pillars

READ · OWN · ORATE · THRIVE

PillarMeaningWhat you may see
READKnowledge, understanding and making meaningStories, phonics, vocabulary, numeracy, discovery
OWNIndependence and responsibilitySelf-care, routines, materials, completing tasks
ORATECommunication and expressionSpeaking, listening, questioning, explaining
THRIVEConfidence, creativity and growthCuriosity, persistence, problem-solving, cooperation

Age-appropriate progression

Expectations rise with age

We assess children against developmentally appropriate outcomes and consider individual readiness.

ClassAgeCognitive destinationCore question
KG 12EXPLORECan I participate, communicate and explore?
KG 23NOTICE & CONNECTCan I notice relationships and make connections?
Nursery 14UNDERSTAND & APPLYCan I understand and use what I know?
Nursery 25APPLY & EXPLAINCan I use my learning and explain my thinking?

These are destinations, not labels. A child may be secure in some areas and still developing in others; our response is to identify and support the next appropriate step.

KG 1 · Age 2

I can explore

The KG 1 child is supported to feel safe, loved, curious and ready to participate.

Numeracy

  • Rote count 1–10, progressing towards 1–20 through songs and routines.
  • Recognise some numbers, especially 1–5, progressing towards 1–10.
  • Match small quantities to numerals; explore more/less.
  • Sort by colour, size or type; recognise basic shapes and simple patterns.

Literacy & language

  • Listen to short stories and enjoy books.
  • Identify familiar pictures and objects.
  • Join songs and rhymes.
  • Respond to simple questions and develop vocabulary.
  • Recognise own name and make purposeful marks.
  • Match objects to initial sounds.

Colour & environment

  • Identify primary colours: red, yellow and blue.
  • Match colours and relate them to familiar objects.

Body awareness & function

  • Identify head, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hands, fingers, legs and feet.
  • Begin to connect body parts with simple functions.

OWN · Independence

  • Carry belongings.
  • Help pack away materials.
  • Follow simple routines.
  • Attempt self-care with support.
  • Communicate needs and ask for help.

ORATE · Communication

  • Respond to name.
  • Use age-appropriate words/short phrases.
  • Name familiar people and objects.
  • Join songs and simple conversations.

THRIVE

  • Show curiosity and willingness to explore.
  • Begin positive peer interaction.
  • Develop confidence in unfamiliar activities.
  • Begin managing emotions with adult support.

KG 2 · Age 3

I can notice & connect

The KG 2 child moves from simple exploration toward recognising relationships, making connections and participating purposefully.

Numeracy

  • Rote count 1–100.
  • Recognise numbers 1–50 or above, according to individual development.
  • Begin writing numerals 1–50 and above according to readiness.
  • Match numerals to quantities and understand the value of numbers 1–20.
  • Count objects meaningfully; identify more/less; sort and classify.
  • Recognise basic shapes and continue simple patterns.

Literacy & language

  • Recognise some letters and develop sound awareness.
  • Hear rhyming sounds and identify some initial sounds.
  • Listen to and discuss stories; retell simple events.
  • Develop vocabulary, mark-making and early writing.
  • Identify sounds a–z and associate them with objects.

Colour & environment

  • Identify red, yellow and blue and additional familiar colours.
  • Match colours and relate them to objects in the environment.

Body awareness & function

  • Identify major body parts and explain simple functions.
  • Connect body awareness with basic hygiene and self-care.

OWN · Independence

  • Follow routines.
  • Put materials away and care for belongings.
  • Attempt self-care.
  • Wait for turns and complete short activities.
  • Follow two-step instructions.

ORATE · Communication

  • Speak in short sentences.
  • Answer simple who/what/where questions.
  • Describe familiar objects and experiences.
  • Express wants, feelings and ideas.

THRIVE

  • Play cooperatively with support.
  • Attempt new activities.
  • Begin solving practical problems.
  • Develop persistence and confidence.

Nursery 1 · Age 4

I can understand & apply

The Nursery 1 child develops stronger conceptual understanding and begins applying knowledge with increasing independence.

Numeracy

  • Rote count 1–200 and beyond.
  • Recognise numbers 1–200 or above.
  • Write numerals 1–200 and above according to readiness.
  • Recognise and write number names up to one hundred and beyond progressively.
  • Understand the value of numbers confidently.
  • Compare more/less/equal; combine and separate small quantities.
  • Explore simple addition/subtraction with concrete materials, patterns, shapes and measurement.
  • Understand and read the clock confidently.

Literacy & language

  • Recognise letters and common sounds.
  • Identify beginning sounds and rhyming patterns.
  • Blend simple sounds where developmentally ready.
  • Listen, sequence and retell stories.
  • Recognise own name and attempt simple words and writing.
  • Blend and read phonemic words.

Colour & environment

  • Identify primary and common additional colours.
  • Sort, match and describe objects by colour.
  • Identify colours in the classroom and environment.

Body awareness & function

  • Identify major body parts and explain basic functions.
  • Demonstrate basic hygiene and body-care routines.
  • Recognise healthy habits and simple safety practices.

OWN · Independence

  • Organise personal materials.
  • Follow routines independently.
  • Complete simple tasks and return resources.
  • Care for belongings.
  • Attempt challenges before asking for help.

ORATE · Communication

  • Speak clearly and answer questions.
  • Describe experiences and explain simple ideas.
  • Retell a story.
  • Participate in group discussion and ask questions.

THRIVE

  • Demonstrate curiosity, creativity, cooperation and persistence.
  • Begin solving problems independently.
  • Develop emotional regulation and confidence.

Nursery 2 · Age 5

I can apply & explain

Nursery 2 is our school-readiness stage. The child is expected to demonstrate strong foundations in literacy, numeracy, communication, independence and learning habits.

Numeracy

  • Rote count 1–500 confidently and beyond.
  • Identify numerals 1–500 and above.
  • Write numbers 1–900 and above in figures, according to readiness.
  • Write number names up to nine hundred and beyond progressively.
  • Understand that a numeral represents a quantity.
  • Count objects accurately and match numerals with quantities.
  • Compare more/less/equal; combine and separate quantities.
  • Solve simple addition and subtraction; explore multiplication as grouping and division as sharing.
  • Recognise patterns and shapes; explore measurement, time and money practically.

Literacy & language

  • Recognise letters and produce common sounds.
  • Blend and segment simple words.
  • Read simple words and sentences with growing fluency.
  • Demonstrate basic comprehension, answer questions, sequence and retell.
  • Write own name, familiar words and simple sentences with developing punctuation.

Colour & environment

  • Identify primary colours confidently and a wider range of colours.
  • Sort, match and describe objects by colour.
  • Relate colours to objects in nature and the classroom.
  • Use colour knowledge as part of observation and classification.

Body awareness & function

  • Identify major body parts including neck, shoulders, chest, stomach, knees.
  • Explain basic functions.
  • Connect body knowledge to hygiene, nutrition, exercise, safety and personal care.

OWN · Independence

  • Organise materials and belongings.
  • Complete tasks and follow routines with increasing independence.
  • Return resources appropriately.
  • Attempt challenges before seeking help.
  • Recognise and correct simple mistakes.
  • Ask for help appropriately.

ORATE · Communication

  • Speak clearly and listen attentively.
  • Answer and ask questions.
  • Explain an idea and retell an experience.
  • Describe objects and events.
  • Speak to a small group and express an opinion respectfully.

THRIVE

  • Demonstrate confidence, curiosity, creativity and persistence.
  • Cooperate with others.
  • Solve simple problems.
  • Show increasing emotional regulation.
  • Take appropriate responsibility and demonstrate emerging leadership.

Parent inquiry

Questions worth asking

  • What are the end-of-session expectations for my child’s exact age and class?
  • How do you assess Early Years children without turning learning into an examination?
  • How do teachers track individual progress?
  • How do Montessori principles appear in the classroom?
  • How are British and Nigerian curriculum expectations balanced?
  • How are literacy and numeracy taught through practical experiences?
  • How will my child develop independence and responsibility?
  • How will parents receive feedback about progress and next steps?
  • How do you support children who are ahead or still developing a skill?

Assessment

How ROIS assesses progress

Assessment is continuous, purposeful and developmentally appropriate. Teachers observe children during lessons, practical-life activities, play, conversations, stories, numeracy work, projects and routines.

Progress languageMeaning
EMERGINGBeginning to develop the skill.
DEVELOPINGCan demonstrate the skill with support or inconsistency.
SECUREDemonstrates the expected skill independently and consistently.
ADVANCEDDemonstrates the skill confidently beyond the expected level.

What parents can expect:

  • Evidence from real classroom experiences rather than a single test.
  • Clear strengths and areas for growth.
  • Practical examples of what your child can do.
  • Age-appropriate next steps.
  • Communication when additional support or enrichment may be helpful.

Home–school partnership

The ROIS home–school partnership

Children thrive when home and school send consistent messages. Parents can reinforce learning naturally through conversation, reading, play, everyday counting, practical responsibilities, observation and questions.

At home, you can

  • Read and talk together every day.
  • Count real objects, not only recite numbers.
  • Ask “What do you notice?” and “How do you know?”
  • Allow age-appropriate independence.
  • Give simple responsibilities such as tidying toys and caring for belongings.
  • Connect learning to colours, body care, nature, shopping and everyday experiences.
  • Praise effort, persistence, kindness and responsibility—not only correct answers.

Our Early Years destination

  • KG 1 · Explore
  • KG 2 · Notice & connect
  • Nursery 1 · Understand & apply
  • Nursery 2 · Apply & explain

We want a child who is not only beginning to read and count, but is increasingly able to think, communicate, take responsibility, solve problems, relate positively to others and approach learning with confidence.

Rooted in Faith

Open to Learn. Inspired to Lead. Success Is Bound.

ROIS — Godly Mindset; Right Attitude.