At Highgate House our priority is to create an environment where children can fully develop at their own natural rate within a warm and caring community of children, staff and parents. We recognize that life is often hectic and competitive and children can feel rushed to grow up too quickly. When entering primary school children are expected to organize and take care of themselves and their belongings as well as be ready for academic learning as early as age 4. We want our children to make a smooth transition from kindergarten into primary school with confidence and enthusiasm. At Highgate, we aim to help children learn to help themselves by providing a wide variety of activities that encourage such abilities as language, problem solving, negotiation and self-care. Research shows that children with well developed social and emotional skills are able to learn better in all areas. Solid foundation skills for academic learning are learnt in an enjoyable way throughout the curriculum. In addition we provide an optional transition class in the afternoon where children begin to learn formal reading, writing and maths from the age of 4. Throughout your child’s time at Highgate we observe and work with his/her individual needs to ensure that the most can be gained from the environment.

Our objective is to include the family in the child’s educational experience and we aim to create a healthy working relationship with parents and carers. To provide a base in Hong Kong where people are able to ask questions, obtain information and receive support and advice on early childhood and family life is our ideal. To this end, we hold regular information sessions both in house and by inviting overseas lecturers to share knowledge about educational and family issues.

INTRODUCTION

Highgate House was established in 1992 in Repulse Bay for the founders' own children. The goal has always been to provide a more gentle and relaxed environment where children could learn in a natural and unpressured way. The location in Repulse Bay became less desirable as noise and pollution increased due to redevelopment in the immediate area. In March 2002 the school moved to it’s new location on the Peak with clearer air and more peaceful surroundings. At the same time we also began working with the recommendations of Steiner Waldorf education. The spacious premises provide the opportunity to hold school meetings, seminars and an open door policy for all concerned with the issue of childhood in the 21st century. In the summer of 2003, the school was recognized by the International Kindergarten Association as an accredited Steiner Waldorf Pre-School.

Waldorf Education and Rudolf Steiner

Waldorf education is a unique and distinctive approach to educating children that is practiced in over 800 schools and 1800 kindergartens world-wide. It is based on the premise that if we "receive the children in reverence, educate them with love, and let them go forth in freedom", the particular individuality of the children can be nurtured, thereby creating fertile ground from which strong academic skills and a love of learning can flourish.

The aim of Waldorf education is to educate the whole child, the head, heart and hands. We strive to achieve this goal through working on our understanding of human development.

We focus on building a feeling of security for the young child in a beautiful homelike environment. This sense of security becomes the foundation that will allow them to develop their curiosity and imagination and begin the life-long process of learning.

The educational movement was founded by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). His life was devoted to building up a complete science of the spirit to which he gave the name Anthroposophy, which literally means "human wisdom". His range of interests was considerable - from the introduction of bio dynamic farming, medicine, social science, to architecture and education. The first Waldorf School was founded in 1919 in Stuttgart, Germany. It served the children of the employees of the Waldorf Astoria cigarette factory, lending the name Waldorf to the movement. While each school is self-sufficient and self-governing, all Waldorf Schools share the same philosophy of education. All schools are non-sectarian. Values such as respect for self, others, and the world are upheld in the classroom. The question of religion is left strictly to the family. In Hong Kong our school adopts a welcoming multi-cultural approach.