Apple Tree's curriculum has been designed and developed by careful international research, covering practices in Britain, the US and Hungary.

We have created a rich learning environment, thereby maximizing each child’s development in all areas of learning. Our curriculum balances academic skills with social and personal development in order to lay a strong foundation for future learning.

Learning through Play and by Experience

Play underpins all development and learning for young children. Most children play spontaneously, although some may need adult support, and it is through play that they develop intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally.

We provide well-planned experiences based on children’s spontaneous play, both indoors and outdoors, so that they learn with enjoyment and challenge.

We observe children’s spontaneous play and build our planning around our observations. We provide a challenging environment, which supports and extends key areas of children’s learning.

Through play in a secure environment, children learn lifelong skills, to develop ideas, to make mistakes and learn from them, to cooperate and to appreciate the need for rules. They acquire important communication and negotiation skills and vocabulary.

Special Focus on Environmental Awareness

Apple Tree puts great emphasis on the appreciation and protection of nature. Related projects are part of our annual plan (e.g. World Water Day, Earth Day, Birds’ and Trees’ Day, World Animal Day). We observe changes in nature throughout the seasons, both in our garden and in our extended surroundings. We are actively involved in maintaining our fruit trees and our vegetable patch.

Children observe the cycle of life every step along the way from planting a seed to enjoying the harvested vegetables and fruit. We teach our children about composting, by regularly disposing of organic waste to our compost heap. We raise awareness about reducing waste, and instill the importance of recycling and re-using materials. We educate our children to become responsible citizens.

A Project-Based Approach

Our classroom teachers use a project-based approach when organising children’s learning. Projects are not only about solving a specific problem but making sure that children explore and examine a lot of different aspects of a theme. Project methodology has proved to be one of the most efficient ways to organize children’s learning: they focus on real life situations and solve complex problems that provide the pleasure of foreseeable and tangible results. Projects are planned, taking children’s interests into consideration, and require a joint effort between teachers and children.

Projects enable children to develop a holistic view of the world. E.g. While planning and executing the project “Preserving Apples,” teachers cover a wide range of developmental areas, such as “apple as a fruit,” health, hygiene, methods of preservation, characteristics of autumn, maths (cutting the fruit into halves, quarters etc.) and literacy (writing labels for the jars).

With well-thought out objectives, children will grow in all areas of development: physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. Opportunities arise to extend English vocabulary, general knowledge and understanding. Children have a chance to learn about size, shape, weight, portions, taste, vitamins, “where do apples grow?”, etc.