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Mission of the European Schools

The words which express the essential aims of the European Schools have been sealed, in parchment, into the foundation stones of all the schools:

“Educated side by side, untroubled from infancy by divisive prejudices, acquainted with all that is great and good in the different cultures, it will be borne in upon them as they mature that they belong together. Without ceasing to look to their own lands with love and pride, they will become in mind Europeans, schooled and ready to complete and consolidate the work of their fathers before them, to bring into being a united and thriving Europe.”

Jean Monnet

Why a new curriculum ?

The general educational principles

Research and inititiatives

Early childhood development and learning have been the focus of extensive research and initiatives over the past few years and Early education is seen as equal to all other levels of education.

A growing Europe

The expanding membership of the European Union (currently 27 countries) challenges European schools to provide a state-of-the-art early education. In order to develop and harmonise early education in the European School system, a new curriculum is necessary.

Lifelong Learning

The Early Education Curriculum is a pedagogical tool for people working in early education in the European Schools. As parents are the prime educators of their children, good partnership between parents and the school is essential. The curriculum will help to foster this cooperation.

The fundamental base of this curriculum is the European Reference Framework-Key Competences for Lifelong Learning.

The general principles

Early Education is a fundamental part of life long education and learning and its central role is to support children’s growth into ethical and responsible members of society.

Teaching and learning in the early years supports and monitors children’s physical and psychological wellbeing, including social, cognitive and emotional development and helps to prevent any difficulties that may arise by creating the best possible learning opportunities.

The educational principles

Teachers join with parents in giving children the best opportunities to learn and develop.
In early education children’s positive self-concept will strengthen and their learning to learn skills will develop.

The concept of learning

The core curriculum has been formulated on the basis of a concept of learning both as an individual and also a communal process of building knowledge and skills. Learning takes place as purposeful involvement in a variety of situations: independently, under the teacher’s guidance and in interaction with the teacher, peer group and community. In addition to the knowledge and skills, both how to learn and good work habits are to be acquired so that they will serve as tools for lifelong learning.