Curro Fourways Preschool | Johannesburg

Welcome to Curro Fourways: Premier Early Childhood Development in Sandton

Welcome to Curro Fourways, a premier preschool nestled in the heart of Sandton, Johannesburg. We are dedicated to providing exceptional early childhood development for children aged 3 months to 5 years, laying a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning and growth.

Nurturing Environments and Individualised Attention

Our thoughtfully designed classes are age-appropriately structured, and we maintain meticulously controlled class sizes. This ensures every child receives individualised attention, nurturing care, and engaging experiences tailored to their developmental stage.

The Power of Play: Our Core Philosophy

At the core of our vibrant preschool programme is a dynamic play-based approach. We believe children learn best when they are actively engaged and joyfully exploring subjects that naturally pique their curiosity and interest. We understand that children are natural explorers. Our philosophy champions the idea that learning through discovery and play at a young age leads to faster, more efficient retention and a deeper understanding, far surpassing the effectiveness of a rigid, 'forced learning' environment.

For a comprehensive overview of our unique offerings, please refer to our detailed fact sheet.

A Curro School: Learning Through Joy, Not Pressure

As a proud member of the esteemed Curro school group, our approach to early childhood development is thoughtfully designed around fostering learning and growth through joyful play, rather than adhering to rigid developmental milestones. This creates a supportive and encouraging atmosphere where children thrive, free from anxiety or the pressure to conform to an external pace.

Multi-Sensory Learning Adventures

Learning at Curro Fourways is a multi-sensory adventure from the very beginning. Our youngest learners delight in exploring their senses of touch and taste through engaging with squishy pasta, wobbly jelly, and a variety of texture-rich objects. As they grow, young toddlers naturally grasp foundational mathematical concepts by building with blocks, playing with balls, and manipulating objects, all through joyous exploration. Our older toddlers embark on the exciting journey towards early literacy and comprehension, developing pre-writing and pre-reading skills through creative drawing, painting, singing, and themed discovery activities.

Holistic Development Through Play

Here are some of the key areas where learning through play fosters incredible development:

• Cognitive Growth (Mathematics): Children naturally develop an understanding of shapes, size, time, counting, and foundational addition and subtraction.
• Communication & Literacy: We foster essential skills in speech development, active listening, early reading comprehension, and understanding.
• Creative Expression: Nurturing artistic talents through drawing, painting, developing fine motor skills for pencil grip, and joyful dancing.
• Physical Well-being: Enhancing balance, coordination, movement, and an awareness of personal safety.
• Social & Emotional Intelligence (Identity & Belonging): Cultivating individual personality, moral reasoning, empathy, caring, fostering friendships, and promoting the joy of sharing.

Seamless Educational Journey within the Curro Group

As a distinguished member of the Curro school group, your child will benefit from preferential consideration during applications to any Curro school, ensuring a seamless educational journey. Nearby Curro institutions include Curro Academy Riverside and Curro Douglasdale, with HeronBridge College also in the vicinity.

Igniting Imagination with Loose-Parts Play

We passionately believe that nurturing curiosity and imagination in early childhood is paramount, as these are the bedrock for developing sophisticated problem-solving and critical thinking skills in later life. As a dedicated Curro school, we champion the use of 'loose-parts' and multi-purpose playthings. Unlike restrictive single-purpose toys, these open-ended materials ignite boundless imagination. Through 'loose-parts' play, children are empowered to follow their natural curiosity, exploring fascinating concepts like stacking, rolling, sliding, fitting, colour theory, and countless other self-directed discoveries.

A Day of Discovery: Our Comprehensive Programme

Our meticulously crafted daily preschool programme is a vibrant tapestry of physical and cognitive activities, ingeniously designed so children learn joyfully through play. Beyond our core curriculum, your child will also benefit from specialised programmes included within our school fees, such as B-Active, Nimblewiz, and many other enriching experiences.

Optional Extramural Activities for Enhanced Growth

To further enrich your child's journey, we offer a diverse array of additional, optional extramural activities right here on our Sandton campus. These programmes, led by expert external tutors and coaches (at an additional cost), provide wonderful opportunities to strengthen specific areas of interest or hone particular skills, tailored to individual passions.

Discover the full spectrum of our engaging extramural offerings on our comprehensive fact sheet.

Seamless Care for Busy Parents: Our Holiday Programme

At Curro Fourways, we understand the unique demands faced by working parents in Sandton, Johannesburg. School holidays shouldn't be a source of stress! That's why our preschool proudly offers a comprehensive holiday-care programme, keeping our doors open during most school breaks at no extra cost to you. Your child's early childhood development journey continues uninterrupted, often enhanced with extra fun activities and themed adventures designed to spark joy and curiosity. We only close for a specified period over the festive season in December and January, ensuring year-round peace of mind for your family.

Nourishing Minds and Bodies: Our On-Site Culinary Experience

Fueling healthy growth and vibrant learning is a cornerstone of our philosophy. Included in your affordable school fees, your child will enjoy delicious, well-balanced meals throughout the day:

• Wholesome Breakfast
• Nutritious Lunch
• Energising Afternoon Snack

All meals are freshly prepared daily in our state-of-the-art, on-site kitchen, using fresh ingredients, and delivered promptly to classrooms. We meticulously cater to allergies and various dietary requirements, ensuring every child feels safe and well-fed. For severe dietary needs, we may request a medical letter to ensure our dedicated kitchen staff can perfectly interpret and prepare your child's meals. For our youngest learners, our teachers are expertly trained in the safe storage and preparation of breastmilk and powdered formula.

Dedicated Educators, Personalised Attention: Our Class Structure

We believe in fostering an environment where every child truly thrives. Our classes are thoughtfully divided by age, ensuring age-appropriate learning and socialisation. Each classroom benefits from a dedicated teacher supported by one or more experienced assistants. This exceptional adult-to-child ratio guarantees that your child receives the individualised care, attention, and guidance they need to optimally engage with our stimulating preschool programme. Our youngest learners and babies receive even more focused support, acknowledging their unique developmental needs.

Safety First: Our Commitment to Your Child's Well-being

Childhood is a time for joyful exploration, which sometimes includes minor bumps and scrapes. Rest assured, the safety and well-being of your child are our top priorities. All our dedicated staff are extensively trained in first aid, ready to respond with care and competence. Please note that in adherence to national regulations, our teachers are prohibited from dispensing any medicine 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, but only upon presentation of a valid medical prescription, ensuring responsible and safe practice.

Holistic Development: Our On-Site Multi-Disciplinary Therapy Team

A truly unique advantage at Curro Fourways is our integrated, on-site multi-disciplinary therapy team, dedicated to supporting your child's holistic development. This exceptional team includes:

• Speech Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Educational Psychologists

Each therapist is fully qualified, highly experienced, and proudly registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Operating from our fully equipped therapy room, children can be conveniently assessed and treated during school hours, with afternoon therapy sessions also available. This deeply integrated team works seamlessly with our teaching staff, providing continuous training, weekly meetings, and regular, detailed feedback to both teachers and parents, ensuring a cohesive approach to your child's progress.

Inspiring Environments: Our Thoughtfully Designed Classrooms

At Curro Fourways, we view our classrooms as dynamic "third teachers," thoughtfully designed to inspire wonder and facilitate natural learning. Embracing our play-based approach to early childhood development, each space offers a tranquil environment rich with natural elements and inviting open play areas. We move beyond restrictive plastic furniture and rigid structures, empowering children to freely explore themed play zones that naturally align with their innate curiosities. Our child-friendly bathrooms are also meticulously designed to support a smooth and confident transition from potty training to independent toilet use.

Adventures Await: Our Engaging Outdoor Play Areas

Our expansive outdoor play areas are vibrant hubs of activity, designed to ignite imagination and encourage robust physical development. Here, children can:

• Conquer exciting jungle gyms
• Spark creativity in charming playhouses
• Explore sensory experiences in shaded areas

Prioritising safety and comfort, our outdoor spaces primarily feature synthetic grass to minimise allergic reactions. We ensure children enjoy fresh air and active play on days with moderate weather conditions, carefully monitoring for excessive cold or sun exposure, with additional safety measures taken on sunny days.

Curro Fourways: Nurturing Excellence in Early Childhood Development

Nestled in Sandton, Johannesburg, Curro Fourways is a premier preschool dedicated to providing high-quality early childhood development for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Our programme is founded on the internationally-acclaimed Curiosity Approach, a philosophy that empowers children to lead their own learning, fostering natural interests and intrinsic motivation. Our age-divided classes maintain carefully controlled numbers, ensuring every child receives exceptional care, engaging entertainment, and a truly personalised learning journey.

A Legacy of Learning: From Land of Oz to Curro Fourways

Our rich history began in 1987 as Land of Oz Nursery School in Fourways, founded by our esteemed first Executive Head, Maureen Irving. What started as a nurturing playgroup for 18-month to 3-year-olds quickly blossomed, expanding by 1994 to welcome children from 12 months to 5 years. Our unwavering commitment to a safe, nurturing environment, underpinned by strong Christian values (ethics and morals), and our exceptional educational offerings led to our proud membership with the Independent Schools Association of South Africa (ISASA) by 1997.

Our growth continued with the opening of a second campus (now Curro Chartwell) in 2007, further extending our dynamic learning environment to the community. Such was our popularity that we soon moved to our current, much larger campus in Chartwell, allowing us to serve even more families.

After more than three decades of delivering excellence in early childhood education, January 2020 marked an exciting new chapter as we proudly joined the prestigious Curro group. The campuses that once comprised Land of Oz Nursery School now flourish as unique Curro schools, each continually enhancing its approach to early childhood development and building upon a cherished legacy of inspiring young minds.