A Prague school is bringing British-style early-years education to children in Czechia

Strong English capabilities are a key to success in many areas of modern working life. As a result, an increasing number of parents are choosing a British-style education for their kids to prepare them for adult life in a multicultural environment.

Meridian International School brings an authentic British educational experience to Czechia, following the Cambridge Education model from early years up to A Levels, which are the equivalent of the Czech maturita or the International Baccalaureate given at other international schools.

To start children on this educational journey, the school offers formative education in Reception and Year One classes. More space for these young children has been created with the opening of a new kindergarten building at the school’s premises in Kobylisy.

The new kindergarten at Meridian School is open for the first time this academic year, providing a harmonious space for Reception and Year One pupils aged 2 to 5.

The building has multiple classrooms and provides a modern learning environment incorporating smart touchscreen technologies. Taught by native English teachers, kindergarten pupils learn educational fundamentals with a heavy dose of fun included. The new building features playgrounds and play areas for kids to enjoy all year round, as well as its own exercise area and lunch room.

The kindergarten prepares children for primary school, with learning targets assessed at the end of each school year to ensure that youngsters are ready to progress to the next stage of their educational journey.

The earlier children start learning a new language, the better. The kindergarten at Meridian International School provides an opportunity for pupils to gain a head start by using English during their formative years.

“All teaching in the Early Years Department is in English, and students are encouraged to use English when speaking to their teachers and peers,” explains Radka Žáková, Early Years Head at Meridian International School.

“Considering how language is acquired at this young age, constant exposure to English puts these young learners a step ahead by building a strong foundation of English language skills,” Radka adds.

Kindergarten pupils are taught by native English speakers to give them the best possible grounding in the language, while also being supported by Czech-speaking assistants. While helping Czech children who account for roughly half of all pupils at Meridian, this also helps ease communication with parents.

With around 500 students from 50 different nationalities, Meridian focuses on creating an inclusive, welcoming environment. In kindergarten, this means encouraging communication between children of different nationalities while ensuring a healthy mix of learning and fun.

“Social development and, of course, healthy social interaction, are integral parts of the school’s learning program,” says Radka Žáková. “All activities are geared towards promoting positive social development for students.”

“Teachers and staff are here to promote and facilitate this learning process with patience, kindness, support and understanding. Students are always supervised and there is a zero-tolerance approach to bullying. Children are taught to treat everyone with kindness.”

The kindergarten’s food options are also designed to be inclusive, including a vegan and vegetarian range, options for children with food allergies, and flexibility to accommodate children with religion-based eating requirements.

As one of the few schools in Prague offering a Cambridge Education, Meridian stands apart from other international schools with an International Baccalaureate focus. Fees are, meanwhile, more affordable than at many comparable schools in the city. The school offers a high-quality education for mid-level prices.

Children who start in Reception and Year One have a wide vista of options open to them for later studies. While the path up to A Level is chosen by most, Meridian has also opened a Czech-language section providing education to Czech maturita level.

This degree of flexibility allows children to choose the path that accords with their own preferences and strengths. In so doing, Meridian can help students forge their own path towards success in applying for university or in picking a career after finishing school.

“When considering the current and future job market, and your child’s future career opportunities, studying in English is immensely beneficial. At Meridian International School, students study in English, meet fellow students from around the world, and gain the opportunity to broaden their horizons. They learn about different cultures and make lifelong friends in an international setting, right here in Prague,” says Radka Žáková.

Space is still available for the new school year at Meridian International School’s kindergarten for children aged 2 to 5. Parents are invited to visit the new building and find out for themselves how an early-years education in English sets educational journeys off on the right foot for children of all nationalities.