The Favour Preparatory Nursery School

Welcome to the School

Welcome to the Favour Preparatory Nursery School!

The Favour Nursery School (named by the village in response to the help offered by BACE) was built in response to a local need for nursery education.

Children as young as 3 years old were walking a 6 mile round trip to get an education. Often fees were too high, and families could only opt to send one child, most often a boy.

As The Gambia develops, education is hugely important, especially to those in the bush who have limited access to it, to ensure all children can reach their aspirations when the opportunity arises.

The school opened in February 2011 to 100 3 -7 year old students.

The school is split into 2 classes of 50, with each classroom being run by a teacher and teaching assistant. The curriculum comprises of literacy, numeracy, geography, biology, music and sport, and all materials are provided by BACE to ensure a high quality learning environment.

The nursery has been carefully planned and constructed in partnership with Gambian teaching staff, to ensure it is fit for purpose and provides a stimulating and accessible space for the children's development.

Each classroom has been decorated to a high standard, allowing staff to teach from wall displays and limiting the number of textbooks and posters needed. Teaching is often by call and response or through rhyme and song, and children are encouraged to lead one another in their learning.

A TV and DVD player were kindly donated by the Trust in Children charity. This allows the teaching staff to show learning programmes and children's films to assist with their learning of the English language.

Outside benches have been built in the school grounds to allow teaching within the shade during the warmer months. These also provide seating for both break and lunch time, where local parents provide snacks for the students.

Every child is given a school uniform and school bag. This contains a pencil case and notebook, as well as a tooth cleaning kit. Teachers lead in tooth brushing every morning before school starts.

A playground including goalposts and basketball hoops is available for the children to play before and after school, and during break times. The school owns a range of sports equipment for outside play.

Thank you to so many supporters who during 2015 helped us raise the funds to build and complete a school kitchen, and from September all the children are enjoying a healthy meal a day.