Infant School
At ARKS Infant School, every child is cherished, encouraged, and supported to thrive. We provide a nurturing environment that sparks curiosity, joy, and a lifelong love of learning. Guided by our school values, we help children grow with kindness, respect, and a strong sense of belonging, ensuring they feel safe, happy, and valued throughout their learning journey.
As our school continues to grow, I look forward to seeing our students develop not only academically but also as confident, compassionate individuals ready to make a positive impact in their community. Together, with the support of our dedicated staff and engaged parents, we will continue to create a safe, inspiring, and nurturing environment where children flourish and the opportunities for growth are endless.
Mrs. Katrina Mclernon
Deputy Head of Infants School
Early Years & Key Stage 1 – Nursery, Reception, and Year 1 Curriculum
At ARKS, our educational pathway begins by nurturing our youngest learners in a safe, stimulating environment that prioritises student wellbeing and early development.
The Oxford International Curriculum introduces our infants to a future-facing framework where learning is an adventure. At this foundational stage, the curriculum focuses on sparking curiosity and cultivating a genuine joy of learning through exploration and play.
Early Pillars & Foundations:
The Wellbeing Framework: Explicitly woven into the weekly timetable, giving infants the emotional scaffolding they need to develop self-regulation, confidence, and positive relationships.
Early Language & Communication: A rich, immersive environment focused on building strong English language proficiency. Through the structured Floppy’s Phonics program, our infants develop essential reading, spelling, and decoding skills from the very beginning, laying a rigorous and joyful groundwork for all future academic success.
Early Science Exploration: Designed to spark curiosity, our infants begin questioning the world around them, exploring nature, materials, and basic scientific concepts with a sense of excitement and wonder.
Introduction to Global Skills: Young learners begin exploring the world around them through simple, interdisciplinary projects that foster early critical thinking, sharing, and problem-solving.
Cultural & Language Roots: Infants are introduced early to Arabic Language & Islamic Studies to build a strong foundation in native culture and values, alongside an early introduction to Mandarin.