привет из Уэльса! Greetings from Wales!
Здравствуйте! Hello! My name is Gail Bradley and I am originally from Wales, a country famous for its singing, rugby, mountains and … rain! The latter certainly guarantees a very green and fertile region. I first left Wales a long time ago, when I was lucky enough to begin an extremely rewarding career in education in an international context.
Currently, like most people all over the globe, I feel that 2020 might not always be remembered for the most positive reasons. However, 2021 has already started in the most amazing way for me! It is the year that I will join English International School (EIS) Moscow West as an early years teacher, and thus begin the next step of my journey: in the wonderful city of Moscow!
Although this is my first time to live and work in Russia, I have spent over 30 years working in international schools. After teaching in Wales, I started my overseas career in Abu Dhabi. Since then, being an international educator has taken me on the most magnificent journey to Singapore, across to Qatar, then onto Egypt, through to Al Ain and Dubai in the UAE and over to Morocco. Various roles including teaching, leadership and as an educational trainer have kept me busy and helped me develop an unlimited enthusiasm for teaching and learning in this international context.
I am absolutely thrilled to have the privilege of joining EIS – a school with such a great reputation not only for its warmth and friendliness, but also for its academic achievement. I must say, I feel a personal passion for the values that the school holds in high esteem: that children are happy, safe and challenged in their learning: three principles which promote a successful school career and indeed, life.
Most of my career has been spent teaching or working closely with the world’s youngest learners – our early childhood students. For me, this is a truly critical age, and I strongly believe that as early years educationalists we must ensure that these students acquire a firm foundation during their time with us. Just as a house needs a firm foundation to stop it from falling down, so do young children. A strong foundation created in early years schooling ensures that throughout the rest of their school lives, these young learners will continue building on these initial years, and transition successfully to primary school, achieving their utmost, both academically and socially.
Over the years, many parents have asked me, “What is early years education all about? Why is it an important part of the education process?”
My answers are usually quite straightforward, and I list some of them below:
- A child's early years education creates the foundation for future development, providing a strong base for lifelong learning, enabling them to develop numerous skills and abilities, both academically and socially.
- It provides an abundance of opportunities for children to better develop their social, emotional, physical, and academic needs.
- Global research suggests that strong, positive links exist between early childhood education and
- enhanced attention spans
- successful lives
- better job prospects.
- Similarly, a happy learning environment with a variety of opportunity in the early years of life, helps children to
- do better throughout school
- be healthier
- have higher earnings
- participate more in society.
- The brain is the only organ that is not fully formed at birth. Young children’s brains are influenced by what's happening in their environment and by their interactions with the people around them. Early childhood education provides a positive, nurturing environment with numerous opportunities for young children to interact with adults and their peers.
- In an early years classroom, young learners can develop basic skills which will aid them throughout their lives, from the very first step, for example, holding and cutting with scissors; grasping a pencil correctly; learning how to say letter sounds; sharing resources with friends; developing confidence; making first friendships; putting sounds together to read and write a word; listening to others; interacting positively with peers; speaking in front of a large group; respecting friends: the skills are actually endless.
As an early years educator, when I think of what aspects of school life are important to me, they include working with parents to support and nurture our children, thus giving them an opportunity to reach their full potential. I also feel very strongly that young learners should be empowered by becoming as independent as possible; these youngest students can accomplish almost anything given the right tools and environment. Learning and developing skills required for successful life in the 21st Century are also high on my priority list for young learners, and this is an area where I have had great success in the past, both when teaching students and training teachers.
I have just been looking at the most amazing photographs of young learners on the EIS website and I really look forward to becoming a part of this flourishing department. For me to see happy, challenged students who love coming to school makes every minute of my time with them so worthwhile! I feel so excited about sharing more ideas in the near future and also getting to know the wonderful parents and students of EIS. Until then, stay safe and keep well.
Dr Gail Bradley
