Nurturing Confidence, Character and Connection
Home / iSTEAM Pre-School Curriculum / People Skills
At Cambridge Pre-school, people skills or Human Intelligence (HI) are intentionally embedded into daily learning experiences.
We believe children learn best when they feel secure, understood and connected. Our learning experiences are designed to help children understand themselves, interact positively with others and navigate social situations with confidence.
Through guided interactions, collaborative activities and reflective conversations, children gradually build the skills needed to communicate, cooperate, manage emotions, and adapt to new situations. These abilities support both learning and wellbeing, in school and beyond.
Human Intelligence refers to the abilities that allow children to learn from experience, adapt to change, and understand themselves and others.
Unlike technical skills, these abilities are developed through real interactions and daily experiences. At Cambridge Pre-school, our curriculum supports Human Intelligence through three key areas that are woven naturally into learning and play.
Executive function skills are a set of neurocognitive skills that function as the brain’s control of action, thought and emotion. These skills help children manage their thoughts, actions and emotions, which include focus, memory, self-control, flexibility, planning, and problem-solving. They support children in following instructions, persisting with tasks, managing transitions, and working cooperatively with others.
At Cambridge Pre-school, executive function skills are developed through games, routines and hands-on activities that encourage children to think, adapt and make decisions. Our teachers guide children gently, providing structure while allowing space for independence.
We also use a research-based digital assessment tool to gain insight into each child’s executive function development. This helps our teachers understand individual needs and work closely with parents to support each child’s growth over time.
Character development is an integral part of our curriculum. Children are guided to develop resilience, responsibility and a positive attitude towards learning. These qualities are nurtured through both intentional teaching and everyday classroom experiences.
From Kindergarten 1 onwards, children are supported in developing self-awareness and self-management through our “Wonderful Me!” learning experiences. They learn to recognise their strengths, understand their responses to challenges, and reflect on their behaviour in different situations.
By learning how to manage emotions and overcome difficulties, children develop confidence and perseverance that support learning and relationships.
Every child learns and expresses understanding in different ways. Our curriculum is informed by the Theory of Multiple Intelligences developed by Professor Howard Gardner of Harvard University. This theory recognises that intelligence is not a single ability but a combination of different strengths that develop over time.
According to this approach, children demonstrate intelligence across eight key areas:
Some of these intelligences may be more naturally developed in a child while others emerge with time and exposure.
At Cambridge Pre-school, our curriculum is designed to nurture all eight intelligences through a wide range of learning experiences. Activities are intentionally varied so that children can build on their natural strengths while encouraging growth in less familiar areas.
By recognising and valuing individual strengths, children build confidence and develop a positive sense of self.
Strong people skills help children:
These skills support academic learning, school readiness and long-term wellbeing.
People skills are practised throughout the day at Cambridge Pre-school. Children apply these skills during group activities, play, discussions, problem-solving tasks, and classroom routines. Teachers model positive interactions and support children in reflecting on their experiences.
Over time, children grow into confident learners who are able to express themselves, relate to others and approach challenges with resilience.
People skills develop most effectively when learning is consistent across environments. We communicate closely with parents to share observations and strategies that support social and emotional development at home. This helps children feel secure and supported as they practise people skills in different settings.
Together, we nurture confident and compassionate learners who are well-prepared for school and life.
The best way to understand how people skills are nurtured at Cambridge Pre-school is to see it in practice. We invite you to visit one of our centres, meet our educators and observe how children learn, interact and grow together.
Book a school tour today and discover how people skills are developed through purposeful everyday learning at Cambridge Pre-school.
