AIS Primary Department

The Primary Department of AIS is located in the Dr. Aletta Jacobs School, a Dutch state primary school, comprising a Dutch Department and the International Department.

The Primary Department welcomes children of all nationalities into its safe and friendly environment.

As part of a Dutch school community the children have direct contact with Dutch culture and customs, while still being educated in English.

Close cooperation with parents and teachers results in individually adapted programmes to foster the best educational development of each child.
The International Department has eight groups with an average class size of approximately 15 children.

Primary and Secondary children from the Goch area travel to the Primary & Secondary Department, in Arnhem can choose to travel to school using the new AIS Kleve-Arnhem bus service. More information about this service contact Mr Tirrisi (liaison between Bus Service & School)

Ms. Gill Eaton, Head of Primary Department, Arnhem International School

Arnhem Telephone: 00 31 (0)26 3230729

E-mail: g.eaton@ais-primary.nl

            info@ais-primary.nl

The primary department provides a safe and friendly environment for children in which they can reach their full academic and social potential while benefiting from the rich multi-cultural atmosphere within the school. Small class sizes enable staff to build up a close relationship with pupils and identify specific individual needs.

Arnhem International School Vision

This school aims to provide a wonderful atmoshere built around friendship, genuine happiness and inspired empowerment. The creation of a stimulating, caring and positive environment is an important element in the vision of our school.

The children will share the responsibility in the educational process and to develop their own talents and abilities. The children will be encouraged, supported and inspired to reach their full potential.

The children will develop a respect for a healthy and puposeful life, rich in individuality, facing challenges with wisdom and perseverance. The will expand their international awareness and be reflective, caring and balanced in their outlook which will prepare them for a responsible role in a multicultural world.

Curriculum 
 

A balanced curriculum is offered based on the requirements of both Dutch and English national curricula but adapted for use in an international situation, and is sufficiently flexible to meet the individual needs of each child in order to encourage and develop their personal qualities.

English and mathematics are taught at the appropriate level so that children can progress at a pace most suitable to their individual abilities. Both these subjects are linked to a core scheme and are reinforced by project work. Dutch lessons are offered as part of the curriculum and extra English lessons are available, if necessary, to children for whom English is not their first language.

Other subjects such as science and technology, geography, history and creative work are introduced through topic work. Each class studies one major topic per term enabling pupils to experience all curriculum areas during the year. First-hand international experiences of pupils are used to enrich appropriate subjects such as geography and history.

For the infant group there are educational play activities. Reading and writing are introduced at the appropriate stage for each child.

The school has access to a modern sports hall and an infant gym. Some of the younger classes have weekly swimming lessons.

The older children are tested twice a year to review their progress and evaluate the programme. Standardised tests from the UK National Foundation of Educational Research evaluate the attainment of each child in different subject areas ranging from English and mathematics to problem solving and mapping skills.
 

Activity
 

A wide range of activities is organised, encouraging children to develop their skills in a creative atmosphere. Parents are often invited to participate, fostering a close relationship between staff and parents. A school camp at the beginning of the school year helps children settle into their new groups and enables teachers to build a good working relationship with their pupils in a non-classroom situation. Several Activity Days each year allow children to choose from a wide range of creative programmes. There are regular Week Opening Assemblies, when staff present a theme in the form of theatre, song or dance. At the end of the week there is a Week Closing Assembly when groups of children, having worked on the same theme in class, present their performances. Science days, visits to the Biology Centre in Arnhem and museum visits are also offered. A school journal is produced six times a year with contributions from pupils throughout the school. 
 

 Moving On 
 

 The school aims to equip children with the skills and knowledge which will enable them to continue their education effectively whether they are returning to their home country, moving to a new country or continuing their education in the Netherlands. Children regularly return to education systems in many different countries throughout the world, whilst those who stay in the Netherlands continue their education at the international school or at main-stream Dutch or bilingual schools.