FAQs
Welcome to Bluebird Pre-Primary’s FAQs
Here you’ll find answers to the questions we hear most from parents considering our nurturing, play‑based preschool in Parkview, Johannesburg.
At Bluebird, we are intentional in everything we do, from our carefully designed curriculum to the way we build community. We believe in transparency, collaboration, and fun, and we see home and school as partners working together to give children the very best start.
If you don’t see your question here, please contact us directly. Our door is always open and we look forward to engaging with you.
What ages do you accept?
Bluebird offers a gentle first step for toddlers through our Early Birds Programme, designed for children aged 18 months to 2 years, alongside their caregiver who play a key participatory role.
These twice‑weekly, 90‑minute sessions are filled with music, movement, creative play and outdoor exploration. It is a joyful way to build confidence, connect deeply and feel at home in our Bluebird space, making the transition to pre-school smooth and stress‑free.
From the year your child turns 3, they join our daily preschool programme from 08h30 to 12h30.
Children are placed in one of our colour‑coded “Hat” classes, which gives them a sense of belonging and identity:
- Blue & Green Hats: 2 turning 3
- Yellow & Red Hats: 3 turning 4
- Purple & Navy Hats: 4 turning 5
Each class follows age‑appropriate routines that balance play, outdoor activity, creative projects, emergent literacy and numeracy ring times, music, dance and drama, STEAM learning, storytime and social‑emotional development.
This playful yet structured approach nurtures independence, curiosity and confidence, laying strong foundations for future learning.
What is your teaching philosophy?
At Bluebird, play is the heartbeat of learning. We believe that the early years should be filled with joy, wonder, and discovery while also laying the foundations for the skills children will need to enjoy success as they enter formal schooling and ultimately thrive in the 21st century.
We see every child as competent, creative and filled with a natural desire to learn. Children bring agency to their own learning journeys, and our role is to design provocations to learning, experiences, questions and opportunities that spark curiosity and invite exploration. Teachers then support and mediate along the way, guiding children to make connections, solve problems and discover their own capabilities.
Our curriculum is intentionally aligned with the “Big C’s” of modern learning: Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Citizenship, Character Development, and Critical Thinking. These are woven into everyday experiences, from imaginative play and storytelling to group projects and problem‑solving games. In this way, children learn not only how to think, but also how to connect, empathise and contribute meaningfully to their world.
Bluebird is proud to be recognised as a thought leader in the education space, having played a key role in designing the ISASA Early Childhood Development Curriculum. This means that when you join Bluebird, you are part of a nurturing school community that also actively shapes best practice in early childhood education across South Africa.
We see teaching as both intentional and magical: every activity is carefully designed to spark curiosity, build resilience and empower children to thrive, while still protecting the joy and wonder of childhood. Our goal is for each child to grow in confidence and independence, experiencing learning as something playful, meaningful and deeply rewarding.
How is a typical day structured?
At Bluebird, we take our lead from the image of a three‑legged stool, which represents the three key areas of early childhood development: Social‑Emotional Development, Physical Development and Cognitive Development. Just as all three legs must be equally strong to keep the stool balanced, we believe these areas must be nurtured in harmony to ensure each child’s holistic progress.
Therefore, a typical day at Bluebird follows an integrated approach to learning, carefully balancing all areas of input throughout the day.
Mornings begin with warm welcomes and playful exploration, followed by rings that build emergent literacy through stories, songs and language play, and emergent numeracy through counting games, puzzles and hands‑on problem‑solving.
Our daily rhythm also integrates our perceptual programme, which strengthens visual and auditory processing, alongside our motor development programme targeting both gross motor and fine motor skills. These activities develop coordination, balance and dexterity, all essential foundations for later handwriting, reading and numeracy.
Children enjoy outdoor play in our beautiful garden, running, climbing, rolling, zooming round on bikes and developing confidence and resilience. Sensory trays offer exciting opportunities to explore the world in different ways, while water and sand play remain firm favourites with all the children. Our creative projects, STEAM activities and music, movement and drama sessions spark imagination and curiosity.
Snack time is a communal experience where children practise life skills such as setting tables, sharing as they sit around the table together and using good manners. Quiet moments, mindfulness activities and story rings help children learn self‑regulation and social‑emotional awareness through our SEL programme, beautifully brought to life by our Head, Heart and Hands Programme.
This rhythm of active play, creative exploration and calm reflection ensures that all three “legs” of the stool are strengthened every day, naturally building the balanced foundations children need for their next stage of learning.
How do you support emotional development?
The early years are where children learn so much about their emotions, friendships and taking turns. At Bluebird, we foster this growth through our “Head, Heart and Hands” approach, encouraging children to think, feel and act with empathy and responsibility.
Our teachers gently mediate conflict situations, guiding children to pause, reflect and choose age‑appropriate responses. They model positive language, validate emotions and encourage children to use kindness first and gentle hands when interacting with peers. Daily routines, from snack time to outdoor play, become opportunities to practise patience, respect and collaboration.
Over time, children gain the confidence to say: “I can do it!” and develop resilience, agency and the social‑emotional skills that will serve them well throughout their schooling and beyond.
What are your class sizes and teacher ratios?
At Bluebird, every class is led by qualified, experienced educators who specialise in early childhood development. From our youngest toddlers to our oldest preschoolers, children are taught by teachers and co‑teachers with strong academic training and years of practical expertise.
In the Blue and Green Hat classes (2 turning 3), each group has a lead teacher supported by two co‑teachers, all of whom are qualified and experienced. This team structure ensures a ratio of 1 staff member for every 6 children, providing exceptionally close guidance and individual attention during these formative years.
In the Yellow, Red, Purple, and Navy Hat classes (3–5 years), the ratio is approximately 1 staff member for every 10–11 children, with a lead teacher and co‑teacher working together to create a secure, nurturing environment.
Children also benefit from instruction by our music, movement and drama specialists, which effectively reduces ratios even further during these sessions. In addition, our Early Learning Support Specialist provides small‑group enrichment and one‑on‑one guidance, adding another layer of expertise to the classroom.
This combination of small ratios, specialist input and highly qualified teachers ensures that every child at Bluebird feels safe, celebrated and supported as they grow in confidence and independence.
How do you help children settle in?
Settling is a gradual, gentle process. We offer orientation sessions, familiarisation days and close communication with parents.
For our youngest Blue and Green Hat children, transition items may be used on a case‑by‑case basis to ease adjustment. Teachers work hand‑in‑hand with families to ensure each child feels safe, confident and happy.
How do you prepare children for Grade R?
Preparation for formal schooling at Bluebird is intentional, holistic and joyful. We know that the early years are where children build the foundations that set them up to fly. Our programme begins with a strong focus on perceptual development, alongside carefully designed gross motor and fine motor programmes that strengthen coordination, balance and dexterity - all essential for later handwriting, reading and numeracy.
We place a huge emphasis on language development, giving children the tools to express themselves confidently, build vocabulary and engage meaningfully with peers and teachers. This naturally leads into our emergent literacy and numeracy focus, where children explore phonics, handwriting readiness, counting and problem‑solving in playful, age‑appropriate ways.
Equally important is our commitment to social‑emotional learning (SEL). Through our Head, Heart and Hands approach, children learn to manage emotions, build friendships, practise kindness and develop resilience. These life skills ensure they enter Grade R not only academically prepared, but also socially confident and emotionally secure.
By the time they reach “big school”, our children are not only fully prepared, but eager and excited for their transition into Grade R. Our emergent handwriting and phonics programme ensures they have the foundational skills to succeed, while still keeping learning playful and pressure‑free. With strong ties to local feeder schools, Bluebird graduates are recognised for their confidence, curiosity and readiness to thrive. They are also known for their kindness and are the first to help their peers settle!
How do you communicate with parents?
At Bluebird, we believe communication should be easy, relaxed and ongoing. Every day brings natural opportunities for connection whether it’s a quick chat at drop‑off or pick‑up, or a friendly update from your child’s teacher. We value these informal moments as much as our more structured channels, because they help us stay aligned as home and school.
To keep families informed about events, routines and community life, we use:
- Class WhatsApp groups (managed by our Class Moms/Dads) for quick updates and reminders.
- The Head’s newsletter, The Bluebird Connect, which shares important news, reflections, and upcoming events.
- Regular emails for detailed communication.
When it comes to your child’s progress and development, we are intentional and transparent. Parents receive:
- Call2Connect, where staff touch base with new parents early in the term to check in with them and offer any support they feel they may need. This is also a perfect opportunity for parents to communicate any fears or concerns they may have in a casual, relaxed manner.
- End‑of‑term parent meetings, where teachers provide personal feedback and celebrate each child’s growth.
- Written progress reports, crafted with care to highlight strengths, developmental milestones and next steps.
This layered approach ensures you always feel informed, supported and part of our caring community. Our open‑door policy means you are welcome to reach out at any time as we see communication as a partnership, and we are here to walk the journey with you.
What happens if my child may need any form of therapy?
At Bluebird, we believe in a proactive and supportive “Web of Care” that ensures every child receives the help they need to thrive. If teachers feel a child may benefit from extra support, we always begin by working together with parents to discuss observations and consider early steps. This partnership ensures families are part of the decision‑making process from the very start.
Our NEST programme (Nurturing, Extension, Support and Training) provides small‑group enrichment and individual attention from our Early Learning Support Specialist to every child in the school. These sessions provide fantastic opportunities for thinking skills to flourish as well as building the children’s social -emotional vocabulary as they explore different ways of managing conflict and handling those big feelings! Close support is also offered to every teacher as our learning specialist comes alongside them weekly in the classroom to guide and support the teaching and learning space.
Where additional intervention is suggested, parents work together with the school to manage next steps. Bluebird is fortunate to have the support of an outstanding team of external professionals, including Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Sensory Integration Specialists, Physiotherapists and Play Therapists. These experts provide early interventions and specialised support, always in consultation with parents.
This integrated approach means that children benefit from both the nurturing environment of their classroom and the targeted expertise of therapists. Parents are kept fully informed and involved at every step, ensuring transparency and alignment between home and school. We see therapy not as a separate process, but as part of the caring, intentional community that helps each child discover their strengths and grow with confidence.
What areas do you serve?
Bluebird Pre-Primary is located in Parkview, Johannesburg, serving families in The Parks, Parkhurst, Saxonwold, Parkwood, Hyde Park and surrounding suburbs.
How can I arrange a tour or enrol my child?
Simply contact us via phone or email, or use the online enquiry form. We’ll arrange a personalised tour, introduce you to our warm community and answer all your questions about enrolment. Come and feel the magic!
What makes Bluebird Pre-Primary different?
Bluebird’s strength lies in a unique combination of heritage, intentionality, and innovation.
Established in 1951, we are one of Johannesburg’s most trusted pre-primary schools, with a long-standing reputation for nurturing young children through a thoughtful, play-based approach to early learning.
What truly sets Bluebird apart is our integrated “Web of Care”, supported by our NEST programme (Nurturing, Extension, Support and Training). This ensures that every child receives individualised attention through small group learning and carefully designed enrichment experiences.
Our vibrant enrichment programme forms an integral part of daily life. Alongside music, movement, drama and STEAM, children enjoy engaging experiences such as Coding4Kidz, Jive Alive, Mindful Moves, Brain Waves (Science Club) and Green Beans — all designed to spark curiosity and support whole-child development.
We place a strong emphasis on language development, perceptual and motor skills, early literacy and numeracy, and social-emotional growth, creating a balanced and holistic foundation for future learning.
Bluebird is also proud to be recognised as a thought leader in early childhood education, having contributed to the development of the ISASA Early Childhood Development Curriculum.
Above all, families choose Bluebird for our strong sense of community, experienced and dedicated teachers, and our commitment to nurturing confident, curious children in a joyful and purposeful environment.
We are more than a pre-primary school — we are a place where children, families, and educators grow together.