A business specialising in improving early years education has taken its techniques to China and opened up its own learning centre in the country.
Our Children’s World, based in Gateshead, has opened its first learning centre in Shenzhen, China, after partnering with a local teaching practitioner in the city.
The firm was founded by Sheila Walker and Mike Carter after realising there was an opportunity to export British education techniques over to China.
The pair believe the education sector will soon be in need of more early learning centres after the country relaxed its one-child policy.
The way that children are taught in China is often teacher-led and differs from how children in the UK are taught, which often involves more play-orientated exercises and risk taking. Our Children’s World is planning to bring these teaching techniques to Chinese schools.
It also aims to focus its teaching around STEAM subjects, which combines the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering, and maths, with art.
Mr Carter said: “In China the child is precious. The family will employ a nanny and then that nanny will not let the child take any risks. We have to let the parents know that the child needs to take risks.
“We are operating in Chinese schools, with Chinese children and Chinese staff, who have been brought up learning that this is the way to do it.
“To bring this to that market is quite challenging but it works. Once the parents see it is working, the schools realise that is what they want.”
Our Children’s World has been making connections in China for a number of years but recently broke new ground when it met with a delegation of government officials from Anji County.
Mrs Walker initially visited Anji County last year and met with local officials before touring a preschool in the area.
The officials were keen to find out more about what Our Children’s World can offer to their region’s education system and last month travelled to Gateshead to find out more about the company and its work.
It is hoped that thanks to the relationship Our Children’s World has made it will also be involved in a major new school opening in Anji County, which is set to be called Lanrun Angel School.
Mrs Walker said: “We hope that as a result of this visit we will bond and set up and cooperate in establishing a school, that will open in September next year.”
After the firm’s successful opening in Shenzhen the company is now looking to recruit teachers and early years practitioners to work in China. The company said it can offer a contribution towards accommodation, a competitive salary, and return flights.
Our Children’s World is also looking to expand into other regions and has spotted potential to export its education techniques to India.
