School Levels

The Pre-School is on the lower ground floor with direct access to the large school park; the Primary School is on the upper ground floor and the Secondary School is on the second floor of the 3600 square meter building we inhabit. The learning environment in each of the school areas is specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of the students on that level. Students from all levels interact daily during breaks, meals, on the playground, in the workshop and at arts and crafts.

Pre-School
The focus at this level is the development of sensory-motor skills, but many children are also already developing an interest in letters and numbers. The learning environment at Sesam is designed to provide children all the necessary stimulus, materials etc. they need to satisfy their curiosity and develop at their own speed in all the areas they choose. We limit groups to a maximum of 12 children. The children in the groups speak French, English and German, are of different ages and have different interests. The heterogeneity of the group constitutes a rich learning experience.

The Pre-School is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to 12pm. From the age of 4 children may also attend the primary school in the afternoons.

Primary School
During the first grades of primary school what children need most is to be able to communicate and move.

Children at Sesam spend countless hours communicating: talking about the books they find in the reading corner, discussing what they see under the microscope at the science table, assessing the best way to produce whatever they have decided to produce in the arts and crafts room, arguing about the rules of the game they have just made up. In all these activities they are learning skills of utmost importance to their success in life: the ability to speak clearly and make themselves understood, the ability to listen to others, the ability to negotiate and cooperate, develop theses, create arguments for their case, gather and share information, solve conflicts.

Children can move freely as they wish between the various rooms inside and the park outside the school building. The large trampoline in the garden is almost constantly in use and the soccer field is also a very popular place. Experience has taught us that some children work better after having worked off a bit of energy on the playground and some prefer to play only after the work has been done.

The primary school (from age 5) is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 8am to 5pm; on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am to 12pm. The number of afternoons children attend is dependent upon the needs of the children and the decision of their parents.

Secondary School
Young people between the ages of 13 and 17 are in the process of individuation and need a lot of understanding from their mentors, a lot of communication with their peers and plenty of opportunities to discover and activate their own developing resources.

Lessons are given in small groups (maximum 8) and a great deal of emphasis is placed on independent study. Two thirds of the learning time is spent working alone, with a partner or in a small group and students must take on a lot of responsibility to get their work done. This structure helps students to learn very valuable skills for their future: the ability to organize, to plan, to keep promises and be responsible.

The secondary school is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to 5pm; and on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am to 12pm. Special arrangements can be made for children who participate in extra curricular activities such as music or sport.