Curro Chartwell Preschool | Johannesburg

Welcome to Curro Chartwell Preschool: Where Young Minds Blossom

Nestled in the heart of Chartwell, Johannesburg, Curro Chartwell is more than just a preschool – it's a vibrant haven where children aged 3 months to 5 years embark on an exciting journey of high-quality early childhood development. We believe in nurturing each child's unique potential through a stimulating and supportive environment.

Our thoughtfully designed classes are meticulously divided by age, with carefully controlled numbers to ensure every child receives personalized care, attention, and engaging activities. Our innovative preschool programme is anchored by the internationally-acclaimed Curiosity Approach, empowering children to explore and discover areas that naturally ignite their interests.

For your convenience, we offer:

• Early drop-off and late pickup times
• Operation during school holidays
• Nutritious meals and snacks, all included in our school fees

Explore our comprehensive fact sheet for a detailed overview of everything we have to offer your family.

A Foundation for Future Success: The Curro ELDA Framework

As a proud member of the esteemed Curro school group, our children benefit from a robust programme meticulously designed to support their holistic physical, social, emotional, and cognitive well-being. This advanced approach to early childhood development is built upon the foundational Early Learning and Development Areas (ELDAs), which prioritize broad developmental areas over rigid milestones.

This means your child will feel genuinely supported and encouraged, free from the pressure to develop at someone else’s pace. Our days are filled with joyful play and creative expression, as our dedicated teachers and teacher's assistants gently guide them through activities, ensuring every ELDA area is actively engaged. The key learning and development areas include:

• Identity and Belonging: Fostering personality, friendship, and sharing skills.
• Physical Well-being: Developing balance, movement, and an understanding of safety.
• Communication: Enhancing speech, listening, and comprehension abilities.
• Creativity: Encouraging imaginative play, drawing, painting, and dancing.
• Mathematics: Introducing concepts of shapes, size, time, and counting.
• Learning About the World: Inspiring exploration and understanding of their surroundings.

Curious to learn more? Visit our dedicated ELDA page on our website to discover how these areas seamlessly integrate to provide a truly high-quality preschool programme.

Unlocking Potential with The Curiosity Approach

The Curiosity Approach is at the heart of our preschool philosophy, championing child-led discovery and allowing children to follow their inherent interests to cultivate their natural strengths. While children are empowered to explore, our expert teachers provide thoughtful guidance across all developmental domains, ensuring comprehensive exposure.

Upon entering our classrooms, children are immediately drawn to engaging, themed play stations, thoughtfully designed by our teachers to cater to a diverse range of interests. Children are free to explore as they wish, with teachers skillfully navigating them through various activities to ensure they gain exposure to a multitude of skills and concepts. Our dedicated educators diligently monitor your child's progress, guaranteeing the holistic development essential for a deep understanding of all areas learned in class.

Our classroom environments are intentionally crafted to be sensory-rich and calming. Most traditional tables and chairs are replaced with beautiful, natural furniture and resources. The colour palette features soothing, natural tones, creating an atmosphere that promotes focus and tranquility, rather than the overstimulation often associated with bright, artificial colours.

This innovative method thoughtfully integrates elements from esteemed educational philosophies such as Reggio Emilia and Montessori, alongside other leading early childhood development techniques. While seemingly modern, this approach embraces age-old wisdom, celebrating the profound wonder and importance of allowing young children to simply play and be kids.

Nurturing Every Child: Our Commitment to Individual Attention

At Curro Chartwell, we understand that young children thrive on individual attention and nurturing care. This belief is fundamental to our class structure. Our classes are carefully divided by age, and we maintain strictly controlled child-to-teacher ratios. Depending on the age group and class size, our lead teachers are supported by one or more dedicated assistants.

This commitment to limited class numbers ensures that our teachers can provide each and every child with the personalized care and focused attention they need to truly flourish, feel loved, and develop a strong sense of security and belonging.

Seamless Progression and Innovative Play

Being part of the extensive Curro school group offers unparalleled advantages. Our learners enjoy preferential placement when applying to any school within the group, ensuring a smooth and confident transition to their next educational chapter. Nearby Curro schools include Curro Academy Riverside, Curro Douglasdale, and Meridian Cosmo City.

Furthermore, your child is automatically enrolled at HeronBridge College, a prestigious Curro Select school located nearby in Fourways, Johannesburg, unless you choose to enroll them in one of our other nearby Curro schools, where preferential acceptance will also apply.

We firmly believe that cultivating curiosity and imagination in early childhood is paramount for developing critical problem-solving skills and higher-order thinking later in life. As a Curro school, we champion play with "loose parts" and multi-purpose playthings over single-use toys that limit imagination. Through this innovative loose-parts play, our children harness their natural curiosity to explore fascinating concepts such as stacking, rolling, sliding, fitting, colours, and so much more, fostering genuine discovery and creativity.

A Day of Discovery: Our Dynamic Programme & Extramurals

Our daily preschool programme at Curro Chartwell is a vibrant tapestry of physical and cognitive activities, meticulously designed so children learn joyfully through play. The programme even includes specialized, enriching activities as part of our standard school fees, such as B-Active, Baking and Making, urban farming, and more!

As a leading preschool in Chartwell, Johannesburg, we also provide a range of additional, optional extramural activities. These opportunities are perfect for strengthening specific areas of development or honing particular skills. Our extramural activities are facilitated by experienced external tutors or coaches, take place conveniently on the school premises, and are available at an additional cost.

Discover the exciting array of activities we offer by consulting our detailed fact sheet.

Welcome to Curro Chartwell, where every child's journey of discovery, growth, and joy begins! Nestled in the heart of Chartwell, Johannesburg, we are a premier preschool dedicated to providing a nurturing, stimulating, and high-quality early childhood development experience for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Our vibrant community is built upon a foundation of holistic care, innovative education, and a deep understanding of what children need to thrive.

Peace of Mind for Working Parents

• Early Morning Welcome: We understand the demands of a challenging commute. Our doors open early, offering a warm and welcoming start to the day. Children are greeted by caring teachers or assistants, settling into a gentle free-play session before the main preschool programme begins.
• Year-Round Care, No Extra Cost: Unlike traditional schools, we recognise that working parents don't get school holidays. That's why Curro Chartwell remains open during most school holidays, providing a full, engaging holiday-care programme at no additional charge. Early childhood development activities continue, often complemented by special fun activities to keep little minds and bodies stimulated. We are only closed for a short, specified period over December and January.

Wholesome Nutrition: Fresh Meals Prepared On-Site

• Delicious & Balanced Meals: Included in our affordable school fees, your child will enjoy freshly prepared breakfast, a hearty lunch, and a nutritious afternoon snack. All meals are cooked daily in our fully equipped, on-site kitchen, using fresh, wholesome ingredients, and delivered directly to classrooms just in time for meal and snack times.
• Catering to Every Child: We are committed to accommodating all dietary requirements, including allergies and specific preferences. Our small class sizes allow us to cater to individual needs with meticulous care. For severe dietary requirements, we may request a medical letter to ensure our kitchen staff can accurately interpret and prepare your child's food safely. Please speak to our teachers about our procedures for storing and preparing breastmilk and powdered formula for our youngest learners.

Dedicated Care & Optimal Learning Environment

• Age-Appropriate Classrooms: Our classes are thoughtfully structured by age group, ensuring that learning activities and social interactions are perfectly suited to your child's developmental stage.
• Exceptional Teacher-to-Child Ratios: We believe in personalised attention. Each class benefits from a dedicated teacher, supported by one or more assistants, depending on the group size and age. This generous ratio guarantees that every child receives the individual care, guidance, and support needed to thrive and fully engage with our preschool programme. Younger children and babies, with their unique needs, often benefit from additional assistants to provide the utmost nurturing care.

Safety First: Trained Staff & Clear Medical Protocols

• First Aid Certified Staff: We encourage active, joyful play – running, climbing, and exploring – which occasionally results in minor bumps and scrapes. Rest assured, all our staff members are comprehensively trained in first aid, ready to provide immediate and caring attention whenever needed.
• Strict Medication Policy: Your child's health and safety are paramount. In adherence to national regulations, teachers are prohibited from dispensing any medication, including over-the-counter remedies or herbal tonics, without a valid prescription signed by a medical doctor. Should your child require medication during school hours, our qualified first-aid officers or on-site nurse will administer it in class, strictly upon presentation of a valid medical prescription.

Holistic Development: On-Site Multi-Disciplinary Therapy

Curro Chartwell is proud to offer an invaluable service to our families: a dedicated, on-site multi-disciplinary therapy team. This highly qualified and experienced team is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and includes:

• Speech Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Educational Psychologists

Operating from our fully equipped therapy room, children can be assessed and receive treatment conveniently during the school day, with therapists also available for afternoon sessions. This integrated team provides continuous teacher training throughout the year, meets weekly to collaborate, and regularly offers detailed therapy feedback to both teachers and parents, ensuring a cohesive approach to your child's developmental journey.

Inspiring Classrooms: Where Curiosity Comes to Life

At Curro Chartwell, we believe the learning environment itself is a powerful teacher. Our preschool classrooms are meticulously designed to be tranquil havens, rich with natural elements and open play areas, embodying the internationally acclaimed Curiosity Approach to early childhood development.

• Freedom to Explore: Say goodbye to restrictive plastic tables and overly-planned structures. Our classrooms invite children to move freely between themed play areas, encouraging self-directed discovery and engagement with what naturally sparks their interest.
• Designed for Development: Every corner is crafted to stimulate imagination and foster independence. We also feature child-friendly bathrooms, making the important transition from potty training to toilet training a comfortable and empowering experience for your little one.

Dynamic Outdoor Play & Exploration

Our expansive outdoor play areas are a vibrant extension of our learning environment, thoughtfully designed to encourage joyful physical activity and imaginative exploration:

• Adventure Awaits: Children can climb and explore on exciting jungle gyms, engage in imaginative role-play within charming playhouses, and discover new sensations in shaded areas dedicated to creative and sensory play.
• Safety & Comfort: To ensure a safe and allergen-friendly environment, our play areas feature synthetic grass. We prioritise your child's well-being, taking them outside to play on days with moderate weather conditions, preventing exposure to excessive cold or sunburn, and implementing additional safety measures on sunny days.

Discover Curro Chartwell in Action!

Watch our video to get a glimpse into the vibrant daily life and exceptional opportunities awaiting your child at Curro Chartwell:

Check out the video below to discover what we offer your child:

Our Legacy & Vision: Nurturing Futures Since 1987

Our journey began in 1987 as Land of Oz Nursery School in Fourways, founded by our visionary first Executive Head, Maureen Irving. What started as a small playgroup quickly grew, expanding its age range and offerings.

• Growth & Recognition: By 1997, our commitment to a safe, nurturing environment, underpinned by strong Christian values (ethics and morals), and our excellent educational programmes led us to become proud members of the Independent Schools Association of South Africa (ISASA).
• Expanding Horizons: In 2007, a second campus, now known as Curro Chartwell, opened its doors, extending our dynamic learning environment to the Chartwell community. Popularity soon necessitated a move to our current, much larger, and purpose-built campus in Chartwell.
• A New Chapter with Curro: After more than three decades of delivering outstanding early childhood education, January 2020 marked an exciting new chapter as we proudly joined the prestigious Curro group. This integration allows us to further enhance our innovative approaches to early childhood development, while retaining the unique charm and dedication that has defined us for generations.