Every child's path through Little Way looks different
Some families join us as early as Toddler Playgroup and stay through Early Years 3. Others begin at Early Years 1 and move on after Early Years 2. There is no single right timeline — what matters is that wherever your child exits, they leave confident, ready, and excited for what's next.
Seeds to Big School
Children are placed based on developmental readiness, not age alone. Hover or tap a stage to see what children are growing into.
What children are working toward at each stage
We offer vertical classes across both programs — children are placed based on developmental readiness, not age alone. The goals below reflect what children are typically growing into at each level.
Toddler Playgroup 1Seeds
At this stage, children are building their very first sense of comfort and belonging in a school setting. They are learning to be away from their primary caregiver for short stretches, beginning to explore their surroundings, and discovering the simple joy of being around other children. Seeds are working on early communication — waving bye-bye, understanding simple words, and beginning to say a few words of their own. Physically, they are building confidence in their bodies — walking steadily, picking up small objects, and beginning to explore cause and effect through play. Everything at this stage is about familiarity, trust, and gentle exploration.
Toddler Playgroup
Toddler Playgroup 2Seedlings
Seedlings are becoming more aware of themselves and the world around them. They are beginning to play alongside — and sometimes with — other children, following simple routines like clean-up time, and showing what they can do. Their language is growing quickly: putting two or more words together, naming things in books, and starting to express themselves with words like "I" and "me." They are learning to problem-solve in simple ways, using pretend play with purpose, and becoming more independent physically — running, jumping, turning pages, and beginning to dress and undress themselves. This is where early classroom habits and social confidence begin to take shape.
Toddler Playgroup
Early Years 1Buds
Buds are settling into school life with growing confidence. They are learning to calm down after being dropped off, noticing other children and joining in play, and beginning to form real friendships. Their language is becoming conversational — asking questions, telling stories, and speaking clearly enough for others to understand. Cognitively, they are drawing with intention, beginning to recognize shapes and patterns, and learning to follow safety cues. Physically, they are stringing beads, using a fork, and putting on some clothes by themselves. At this stage, foundational skills in readiness, writing, language, literacy, and numeracy are being introduced through the Learning Without Tears program.
Early Years Program
Early Years 2Blooms
Blooms are becoming more socially aware and emotionally capable. They are learning to comfort others, take turns, adapt their behavior to different settings, and ask to play with other children. Their language allows them to tell stories about their day, answer reasoning questions, and engage with songs and nursery rhymes. They are beginning to draw people with detail, name colors, and predict what happens next in stories. Physically, they are catching balls, holding pencils with a proper grip, and developing greater independence in self-care. At this stage, children are working through Handwriting Without Tears, Heggerty Phonemic Awareness, Earlybird Kindergarten Math, and STEAM — building the foundational skills they need to succeed in Kindergarten.
Early Years Program
Early Years 3Bees
Bees are building the readiness — academic, social, and emotional — to enter big school with confidence. They are following rules in group games, sustaining attention for longer periods, and taking on simple responsibilities. Their language is rich: they can keep a conversation going, retell a story with multiple events, and use rhyming words. They are recognizing and naming letters and numbers, beginning to write their name, and using time-related words like "yesterday" and "tomorrow." Socially, they can sing, dance, and perform for others — a sign of growing self-assurance. This transitional kindergarten program deepens everything built in earlier years, with more intentional skill-building, deeper projects, and growing independence.
Early Years Program
Readiness, not timelines
There are natural points where families transition out of Little Way and into big school. The right time depends on your child and on the entry requirements of your chosen school.
Most families move on after Early Years 2, when children have built the foundational skills they need for Kindergarten. Some families choose Early Years 3 — our transitional kindergarten program — for children who are ready for more depth before making the move. A smaller number of families exit after Early Years 1, depending on the entry age requirements of their chosen big school.
We focus on readiness, not timelines. Wherever your child is in their journey, we'll work with you to make sure the transition to big school feels right — for them and for you.
Our graduates have gone on to both local and international schools. Our students leave Little Way confident, kind, and happy — ready and willing to learn, and empowered with the skills they need to thrive.