For the last 30 years, Julia Gabriel’s first preschool has been providing quality, educational and enriching programmes for children aged between 18 months and six years old. The main aim of its programmes is to nurture every child’s independence, build their self-esteem and self-image, and instil in them a love of learning through their earliest experiences.
Progressing from nursery school
Born in England, Julia Gabriel (1951-2019) was the founder of Julia Gabriel Centre. A lover of language and performance, she had, by the time she finished school, received several awards for public speaking and acting from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Julia moved to Singapore with her family in the 1970s before returning to England where she trained to be a speech and drama teacher, completing licentiate teaching diplomas with both the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the London College of Music.
When she returned to Singapore in 1983, Julia opened a small teaching studio in her home. Her classes were popular, and in 1990 she started the Julia Gabriel Centre.
As children from the Centre’s PlayClub programme for toddlers became ready for independent nursery school, their parents shared how much they wished they had their own preschool – one where the values were the same as at Julia Gabriel Centre. Parents were looking for the same commitment to quality, nurturing relationships, a positive and enabling environment, and a respect for individual strengths and learning styles.
In 1994, parents got their wish with the opening of Chiltern House, a preschool named after Julia’s childhood home. This year, the school was renamed Julia Gabriel Preschool to better recognise the link between Julia Gabriel Centres and the related preschools.
A unique approach to children’s development
Julia Gabriel Preschool employs the EduDrama approach, which encourages children to express themselves creatively and confidently. Its activities nurture creative growth, allowing children to express themselves using various materials and techniques, ultimately fostering creative thinking and decision-making skills.
Julia Gabriel Preschool operates according to the belief that the journey of discovery and exploration is crucial for holistic development. Children learn by investigating and finding solutions to problems through their wide range of activities to stimulate their learning. Its curriculum includes hands-on projects and group activities that provide countless opportunities for children to collaborate with their peers, make decisions, and express their ideas freely. This emphasis on the learning process ensures that children develop a well-rounded set of skills, including critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, which are essential for their future success.
Free to express themselves
Within the preschool’s daily programme, children are constantly engaged in conversations, speech activities and discussions, so that they develop confidence and clarity in expressing themselves. By giving children the skills to become confident communicators in both English and Mandarin, they have an advantage that will benefit them in school and in life. Once these children reach primary school, they are often great communicators.
Through the preschool’s specially designed programme, the children also develop dispositions and skills they need in their entire learning journey, eventually developing into confident, curious and creative individuals who are able to express themselves fearlessly and genuinely and who know how to lead.
Julia Gabriel Education recognises the importance of creativity in helping young children adapt and evolve in a competitive world. Singapore may not have had a reputation for creativity, but, according to its Group Managing Director, Fiona Walker, this is changing, with our school system now embracing methods and design environments that develop creative skills, as well as maintain academic excellence.
“We at Julia Gabriel Education believe that creative skills can be developed from a very young age,” she explains.
“Picasso famously said, ‘Every child is an artist; the problem is staying an artist when you grow up’. In Julia Gabriel preschools we help children develop the confidence and skills to be able to remain creative thinkers and problem solvers for life. We do this by ensuring that everyone in the environment is positive and encouraging, providing a place where children feel secure taking risks and making mistakes, and where art, music and drama are built into everyday activities and learning is hands-on and meaningful.”
Appreciating NSmen with art
Julia Gabriel Education was keen to be involved in SAFRA’s Total Defence & Appreciating NSmen Art Jam earlier this year – an initiative between SAFRA and the Association of Early Childhood Education and Training Services (ASSETS).
For starters, it was a great way for the children to learn about the importance of National Service and understand the part their fathers and uncles play in keeping Singapore safe.
“The children got to nurture their relationships with their fathers and appreciate what they have done to keep Singapore safe,” Fiona says.
“We had several fathers talk about their experiences in the army, and our children found this exciting and inspiring. They learnt that it’s an honour to contribute to the country in such a way. Families always enjoy opportunities to participate in school activities, and this was no different.”
Total Defence Art Jam was also a new way for the children to get explore their creativity. In fact, the event aligned perfectly with the Julia Gabriel Preschool curriculum, Fiona points out.
“Our EduDrama approach leverages pretend-play to help children understand the world around them. An example would be setting up dramatic centres that imitate real-world scenarios, such as dressing up in different uniforms of the Total Defence team and learning about the crucial roles each person plays in ensuring Singapore’s safety.
“This helps the children develop a deeper knowledge of real-world concepts while enhancing their creativity, empathy, and problem-solving skills.”
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