International preschool & primary school in Yokohama

Horizon Japan International School, Yokohama:
Horizon Japan International School is located in Yokohama, eastern Japan, 30 km from Tokyo. We inspire our students to strive for excellence in all aspects of their development: academic, artistic, social and physical by providing the best possible learning environment which combines a well-balanced curriculum with extra-curricular activities.

Early Years Foundation Stage—Preschool/Kindergarten
For 3-5 year olds

Learning through play is fundamental to the philosophy of learning at HJIS ELC. We recognize that play is an essential element in all aspects of the growth of young children, providing a situation where they control the events and construct knowledge. Important conceptual, social, and language skills are developed during these times. Through play they explore their environment, learn to deal with problems, and learn to work within a group.
As children have their own unique learning styles and developmental rates, we provide a blend of carefully-structured and free-play activities to teach early concepts. Many activities throughout the day are planned that enable children to make choices.
This element of choice, allows children to develop skills at their own pace with the appropriate assistance of the teacher. This child-centered curriculum encourages autonomy, choice-making, and social competence. At the same time, each child is taught to take responsibility for themselves and their actions.

Primary School

At the Primary School, we aim to make children confident and independent learners. We provide many opportunities for students to demonstrate what they have learned. Learning at HJIS is generally inquiry-based, where students are encouraged to identify pertinent questions and construct well-informed answers. The Primary School is from Year 1 through Year 6, organized at two levels:

* Key Stage 1 (KS1) covers Years 1 and 2; and,
* Key Stage 2 (KS2) covers Years 3 through 6.

Key Stage 1:
During KS1 students learn to speak confidently and listen to what others have to say. They begin to read and write independently and with enthusiasm. They use language to explore their own experiences and imaginary worlds.

Key Stage 2:
During KS2 students learn to change the way they speak and write to suit different situations, purposes and audiences. They read a range of texts and respond to different layers of meaning in them. They explore the use of language in literary and non-literary texts and learn how language works.

Middle School

The Middle School is designed to meet the needs of early adolescents through their transition from Primary education to Secondary education. Middle School students extend their knowledge to application and take more independent steps into learning while enjoying support from their school. • The middle school is from Year 7 through Year 9 and organized as Key Stage 3 (KS3).

Key Stage 3:
During KS3 students develop confidence in speaking and writing for public and formal purposes. They also develop their ability to evaluate the way language is used. They read classic texts as well as contemporary ones and explore moral and social issues. They also learn to speak and listen confidently in a wide variety of contexts. They develop a higher flexibility, adapting what they say and how they say it to different situations and people. When they speak formally, they are articulate and fluent.