Elevating Early Years Education: San Silvestre’s International EYFS Consultancy Success

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San Silvestre School, a distinguished independent girls’ school in Lima, Peru, partnered with Early Excellence for international EYFS consultancy to enhance their Early Years and Key Stage 1 provisions. With a diverse student body and a curriculum blending EYFS, English National Curriculum, and Peruvian standards, the school sought expert support to elevate their teaching practices and learning environments. The collaboration involved strategic reviews, bespoke training, and curriculum development, resulting in significant improvements in pedagogy and student outcomes.

Download the San Silvestre School’s case study

Contextual Information

Founded in 1938, San Silvestre is an independent girls school located in Lima, Peru.

Spread across two sites, the school has approximately 1400 children attending from aged 3 to 18. The majority of the staff and pupils are from Peru, with Spanish as their home language. The children are immersed in the English language from the day they join.

Julia Martinez, the head teacher of the Early Years Department (children aged 3-7yrs), has extensive international teaching and leadership experience. The school draws on the EYFS for its Early Years curriculum, as well as using the English National Curriculum and Peruvian National Curriculum for older children.

The Bespoke Plan:

Initial Strategic Review of EYFS and Key Stage 1
Tailored consultancy for key leaders
Curriculum development support
Bespoke training for the whole school team
Follow-Up Review of progress and impact

Project Intent & Implementation

When the team at San Silvestre first contacted Early Excellence, I was delighted to have the opportunity to learn more out about the unique nature of the school, the plans for their development journey and to be invited to be part of this!

Together, we identified key priorities for an initial visit in early Spring. This took the form of 4 days of extensive whole school and phase specific CPD, as well as strategy meetings; during which we worked together to develop a clear vision for pedagogy and its relationship to the school’s curriculum. Returning in early Autumn for another 4 days of monitoring, strategic conversations and CPD, it was truly inspiring to see the impact the project has had on practice and the outcomes for the children!

Take a look at Julia and the team’s feedback to see how effective the partnership was and continues to be!

Best Wishes,

Phil Armstrong, Early Excellence International Services Lead & Senior Education Lead

Evaluating the Impact

How useful was the Strategic Support?

“Working with Phil was an immense pleasure – his passion for Early Years education is contagious! He assisted us in strategically evaluating our existing provision and practices, and with reorganising our Continuous Provision to create an environment where children can thrive and make the most of their learning experiences across the school. Looking ahead together, we have outlined a course for our growth, ensuring our children continue to receive the best possible learning experiences.”

How effective was the Training & Consultancy?

“The training and consultancy were exceptional! It was nothing short of comprehensive, engaging, and perfectly tailored to our specific needs. Our staff had the opportunity to delve deep into the core principles of a high-quality Early Years setting and gained a thorough understanding of what it truly entails. Furthermore, the training has provided us with a well-defined roadmap for our future development, ensuring we can consistently strive for excellence.”

What was the impact on Teaching & Learning?

“The inclusive and empowering atmosphere created by Continuous Provision has resulted in remarkable engagement from our students. We now have more effective planning and implementation strategies which prioritise the needs of every child and ensure that their needs are always met. The journey of implementing Continuous Provision reflects our dedication to progressive education methodologies and the positive effects these have on our student’s development.”

Our Children

“The Continuous Provision has positively influenced our students’ social and emotional well-being. Their curiosity, independence, and resilience are truly nurtured. The provision has been a catalyst for fostering creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on exploration. In particular, in the dynamic realm of STEAM, our children have thrived in an environment that encourages experimentation and problem solving.”

Our Environment

“Continuous Provision’s immersive and interactive nature has created a linguistically rich environment, promoting effective communication, collaboration, and the articulate expression of thoughts. Notably, impact has been particularly pronounced among our female students, breaking down traditional gender stereotypes and contributing to enhanced language and literacy skills.”

Our Adults

“It has been an absolute game-changer for our staff, enabling them to create an environment where children thrive and reach their full potential. Our teachers now have a crystal-clear vision of what exceptional teaching should look like, and they have gained invaluable insights into the best methods to adopt in their classrooms from Nursery to Grade 1.”