The current Silicon Valley parenting trends witnesses the tech honchos sending their kids to schools where they don’t use technology. The inclination among some of the ‘digerati’ for their children to backpedal to basics has prompted a debate over this. While most principals are scrambling to find the cash for more gullible tech innovations in the crèche, some pre-schools are getting rid of them altogether. The pedagogy emphasises the role of imagination in learning and takes a holistic approach that integrates the savvy, practical and creative development of pupil. Bestowing upon ‘learning by doing’, Mumbai-based WILLIEZ makes sure that its classrooms have abundant non-screen interactive activities to promptly draw kids into it, thereby resulting in experiential learning rather than subjecting children in their early formative years to an over dose of technology. Rather than routers and wireless connections, the school boasts of chalk blackboards and book shelves full of encyclopaedias, an anathema in most schools these days.

Disentangling the ABCs of parenting concerns, Suvidha Shekar (Managing Director) incepted WILLIEZ that offers Pre-school and day care services revolving around the philosophy of creating a home away from home for learning toddlers. WILLIEZ started its venture in 2009 with an approach of acknowledged research that plainly demonstrates the most profound and certified learning for kids through play & fun exercises. Awarded as the ‘Most Admired Pre-School in Mumbai’ by Worldwide Achievers in the Asia Education Summit & Awards 2016, WILLIEZ has extended to numerous limits to build up its own expertise in pre-school education to help the youngest of learners to explore and discover their own thoughts with the help of events and activities.

The Inciting Curriculum & Safety Measures
A global report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggests education systems that have invested heavily in computers have seen ‘no noticeable improvement’ in their results for reading, maths and science in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) tests. Concurring to this point, WILLIEZ pre-school curriculum provides the right kind of incitement and interest to the children so that they can promptly maximise on all the domains & development. In order to ensure that the curriculum covers the developmental modules, there are several core content learning areas, which include numeracy, language arts, social & emotional skills, creative & visual arts, and physical development without incorporating the interaction through tech widgets.

WILLIEZ’s pre-school curriculum is a researched syllabus which is an eclectic mixture of outcome, objective, play and inquiry based learning approaches. Designed by curricula experts, the curriculum is further peer reviewed by an advisory committee to ensure educational relevance and rigor. With state-of-the-art classrooms, empanelled with specialized teaching & learning aid from finest brand where playing & learning are inextricably linked, WILLIEZ fosters to its vision of giving children the opportunity to explore, learn and enjoy their childhood. WILLIEZ’s activity center is a one-stop activity and learning forum for various age groups of kids, providing multiple activities for them to learn novel and out-of-the-ordinary-skills. Engaging children with different activities in a caring and safe environment under the able guidance of trained staff, the company has four

primal activities that children can choose from – Dance, Karate, Drawing and Abacus.

As a pre-school herculean, the institution offers numerous different services such as Playgroup, Nursery, Junior & Senior KG and Vacation Camp as well. Subjecting the Playgroup as a basic foundation for learning, Suvidha explains, “In playgroup, we ensure that every child develops the love for learning, gets to know that school is fun and looks forward to come to school. Our playgroup curriculum focuses on hands on discovery and exploration through play”. The activities at playgroup engage children physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually help them in learning language skills. Moreover, the children are taken in an organised manner through the day to be able to give them a sense of routine to help them settle in a new environment.

Acquiring the quintessence of common sense play-life, WILLIEZ organises vocational camps twice every year (during Diwali & summer vacations) where kids engage themselves in creative activities channelizing their energies, thereby enhancing their learning via innovative play-field experience

In Nursery program every child is exposed to essential life skills like creativity, curiosity, imagination and exploration that lead to concept building where they are given concrete experiences. Suvidha attests, “Our age appropriate activities ensure the readiness of every child for kindergarten, so along with the concept building we also hone their ability to communicate, express, comprehend, analyse and act accordingly”. The educational modules planned in junior KG aims at edification on the already existing foundations through designed activities adding on more concepts to enable them to relate to their environment and their growing world. Children through this exposure learn more advanced concepts which in turn enhance their language skills, hone their gross and fine motor skills, and broaden their social & emotional skills thereby laying foundation for their intellectual skills.

Furthermore, the senior KG improves their areas of language & numbers, and prepares children for success in formal schools. Acquiring the quintessence of common sense play-life, WILLIEZ organises vocational camps twice every year (during Diwali & summer vacations) where kids engage themselves in creative activities channelizing their energies, thereby enhancing their learning via innovative play-field experience. Through these activities children learn the alphabets, letters, sounds, numbers & simple math and also begin with writing and reading readiness, there by equipping them and preparing them for a smooth transition to the formal schooling. Be it festivity of every single significant celebration and special days celebrated across the globe, sports meet, educational trips, nature walks or family weekend getaways, WILLIEZ ensures that there are events & activities going on all over the year other than the regular Annual Day and Graduation Day.

With RTO permitted logistics system and no compromise on security, each and every aspect of the classrooms are covered, where parents do not have to worry about their children’s wellbeing. “The safety of children is our prime concern and therefore we have CCTV campus; bearer card is a must for walk in parents without which we do not allow any adult to pick up the child. And our vans are escorted by female attendants who take care of the children at the time of pickup and drop at their respective stops,” adjoins Suvidha. With all precautions taken such as doctor-

on-call, first aid units, fire extinguishers and all possible safety & security measures alongside dependable back-ups, WILLIEZ assures parents with a sigh of relief for their children’s safety & well being.

The Professional Care
Suvidha attests, “We are very responsible when it comes to day-care because it is with a lot of faith and belief that parents entrust this responsibility on to us. Children stay with us for as long as 12 hours, therefore we ensure that we provide them with fresh, nutritious and healthy food prepared hygienically and create a caring, warm and loving home environment full of learning and fun”. With state-of-the-art classrooms, empanelled with specialized teaching & learning aid from finest brand where playing & learning are inextricably linked, WILLIEZ fosters to its vision of giving children the opportunity to explore, learn and enjoy their childhood. WILLIEZ pre-school caters to a versatile range of headshots like Mahindra First Choice, DGS group, SA travels, Badani Enterprises and many others.

Certified with ISO 9001 standards, WILLIEZ employs only certified professionals in early childhood care & education. WILLIEZ’s open work milieu provides an opportunity to every teacher to explore and think out-of-the-box and experiment with new ideas. Suvidha adds, “At WILLIEZ, we believe in teamwork. Our teachers share ideas, support each other and work in collaboration as a team to bring out the best in the child. They are very open to feedback and constantly keep working and evolving with each passing day”. Outlined with great care to give the little ones a feeling of being at home, WILLIEZ provides a complete child centric thematic environment. Each day comprises of a variety of age appropriate interesting fun filled activities.

WILLIEZ conducts regular professional development workshops wherein the entire staff, both teaching and non-teaching, understand the aspects of child psychology and development and treat every child as unique. “We are extremely happy and glad to announce that we are upgrading and expanding our horizons from pre-school to High school. The School will be offering CBSE board with new and different methodologies of study. We are also shortly going to start our after School program, the frequency of which will be three times in a week for children in the age group of two to six years,” explains Suvidha.

Be School-Ready at WILLIEZ
Such exclusive efforts and dedicated staff have proven fertile for the pre-school and hence it has grown from just over 950 sq. ft. premise to over seven branches in Mumbai and has inked its next big step of a high school in NalaSopara (estimated over two acres). Under the aegis of the visionary management team that aims at making a difference not only in the field of early childhood education & care, but also at the formal school level, WILLIEZ’s administration puts stock in making an energetic group of teachers & parents who would collaboratively contribute in the overall growth, development & education of children, and help to make this society a better place. So come, let your tiny-tot be school-ready at WILLIEZ!

Panel
Key Management:
Suvidha Shekar, Managing Director
The Founder Director of WILLIEZ pre-school, Suvidha has completed her Masters in Education and is currently pursuing her Doctorate (Phd). Her work in the field of education has received many accolades, among which receiving the Young Entrepreneur Award in 2017, and Best Educationist award for her contribution in the field of preschool education deserve special mention.

Offerings:
• Children Day care Services
• Pre-School/Crèche Services
• Parenthood Counselling

Headquarter: Mumbai