Primary Years Programme

Curiosity, passion and discovery

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is an educational framework developed by the International Baccalaureate (IB). It is designed to provide a comprehensive and inquiry-based curriculum for students aged 3 to 10.

In detail

The PYP encompasses two main stages: the Early Years Unit (EYU) and the Elementary years.

The Early Years Unit focuses on the foundational years of a child’s education, typically spanning from ages 3 to 5. This stage is crucial in nurturing a child’s natural curiosity and fostering a love for learning. The EYU curriculum provides a play-based and hands-on approach, allowing young learners to explore and engage with the world around them. It focuses on the development of language, literacy, numeracy, social skills, and the overall holistic growth of the child.

Exploring the PYP Framework: Nurturing Young Minds in the Elementary Years

Once students join the elementary program (PYP 1-5 – ages 6 to 10), they continue their journey within the PYP framework. The PYP 1-5 curriculum builds upon the foundational skills and knowledge developed during the Early Years. The elementary program offers a transdisciplinary approach, integrating various subject areas and promoting connections across disciplines. Students engage in units of inquiry that explore significant concepts and real-world issues, encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

The Primary Years Programme focuses on the social, physical, emotional and cultural growth of the child, as well as positive educational progress.

Each class has a homeroom teacher, a music teacher, a physical education teacher and an Italian teacher. All teachers have had specific IB Primary Years Programme training and all lessons, except for Italian, are taught in English, the school’s language of instruction.

Students do their classwork at H-IS Vicenza

Primary Years Programme H-FARM International School

An inquiry-based and transdisciplinary learning

A central element of the PYP philosophy is the commitment to learning through structured inquiry: during each school year PYP students learn through six Units of Inquiry (4 units for Honey Bees and Busy Bees). Each unit focuses on a different Transdisciplinary Theme through which students develop their understanding of concepts, learn content and develop their capabilities as learners (approaches to learning).
Reflection, an essential part of the learning process, is an ongoing feature in PYP classrooms designed to help students consolidate their learning and consider who they are as learners. Alongside the Units of Inquiry, PYP students continuously develop foundational skills and understandings (e. g. mathematics, grammar, etc.).

International-Mindedness

The PYP aims to develop global citizens who appreciate and understand diverse cultures, perspectives, and global issues. It promotes open-mindedness, empathy, and respect for others.

Transdisciplinary themes

The PYP encourages a transdisciplinary approach in which subjects are not taught in isolation but integrated into Units of Inquiry as part of exploring important, global themes.

Subjects

Through the 6 transdisciplinary themes, the traditional subjects of languages, mathematics, sciences, social studies, arts, and physical education are studied.

Agency, Action, Exhibition

The PYP not only emphasizes learning but also action based on that learning. It encourages students to put into practice what they have learned to make a positive difference in their communities. Reflection is equally crucial, as it allows students to evaluate their learning process and understand how they can improve or apply their knowledge in different contexts.

Approaches to teaching & approaches to learning

The PYP approaches to the teaching and learning process is based on key principles that promote a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to education. Instead of focusing solely on traditional disciplinary content, the PYP emphasizes the development of students’ cognitive, social, and emotional skills.

IB Learner Profile

The development of the 10 characteristics of the learner profile is a central element of the PYP program. The entire school community plays an important role in developing, valuing, appreciating, and monitoring the student’s 360-degree growth.

Daily Schedule

08.30

Lessons Start

10.00

Morning break

12.00

Lunch break

15.15

Lessons end

16.15

After schools ends

Discover more

What if my child does not speak Italian?

Students in PYP who are new to English, participate in a fee-based English Language Support service throughout their first years in the school. Dedicated small group English language sessions with a specifically trained teacher help students develop their English language capabilities allowing them to access the curriculum and participate fully in classroom learning. All other teachers support each child with their English language development by providing specific in-class support and differentiated learning experiences. This ongoing support develops each child’s confidence in his/her language abilities and ensures active inclusion in classroom learning.

Admissions requirements

What if my child wants to return to an Italian state school?

At the end of PYP5 (fifth grade), our students have the option of taking no exam or taking an internal end of year Italian exam as part of our educational program. Students can also choose to take an external exam to obtain the Italian primary school certificate.

Meet the Head of Programme

I believe that a concept-based curriculum can support students in acquiring the skills, knowledge, understandings and dispositions they need to make sense of the world around them and become lifelong learners.

Anthony Hamblin

Primary Principal/Head of PYP

Meet our students

For my exhibition I chose to focus on the violin. I started playing the violin when I was six years old and since then I never stopped playing. I found that music’s inclusive nature allows everyone to participate in a collective form of creativity, even if we only listen. Because music is universal, it brings us together.

Stella Sophia

Student, Venice

“Labour behind the label. This statement tells you how women are treated working everyday in a dirty, stinky and unfair environment. It tells you that there is a prize behind all clothing items; if the person that doesn’t pay for it is you, someone else is going too. As consumers we should consider changing our future plans. Anyone could do the revolution, but why not you? Do you want to wait until it’s too late?”

Maria Vittoria

Student, Venice