IB program: A practical guide for parents of young learners

If you’re looking at early education options, you’ve probably heard the term IB program. It stands for International Baccalaureate, a worldwide curriculum that focuses on inquiry, thinking skills, and personal growth. The idea is simple: let kids explore real‑world questions, work together, and develop habits that help them succeed later in school and life.

At Nottingham Nursery School we use the IB’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) even for toddlers and preschoolers. That sounds fancy, but in practice it means we plan activities that spark curiosity, encourage kids to ask “why?”, and give them chances to solve problems with their hands and minds.

Key ideas of the IB program

The IB program rests on three big ideas:

• Inquiry‑based learning: Children start with a question or a problem, then investigate using tools, stories, and experiments.
• Concepts over facts: Instead of memorising isolated facts, kids learn big ideas like change, balance, and relationships that connect many topics.
• International mindedness: Learning includes an awareness of different cultures and perspectives, so children see themselves as part of a global community.

These ideas shape everything we do, from a simple block‑building session to a nature walk. For example, a unit on “How plants grow” might begin with kids noticing a seedling in the garden, asking how it got there, and then drawing, measuring, and sharing their findings.

How the IB program works in a nursery setting

In a nursery, the IB approach isn’t about tests or grades. It’s about creating a safe space where kids can try, fail, and try again. Teachers act as facilitators, asking open‑ended questions and providing materials that let children experiment.

Typical daily activities include:

• Story circles: A picture book sparks a discussion about feelings, environments, or problem‑solving.
• Hands‑on stations: Maths concepts appear as counting beads, sorting blocks, or measuring water.
• Outdoor exploration: Observing insects leads to talking about habitats and the idea of interdependence.

Assessment is also low‑key. Teachers take notes, photos, and short videos to track each child’s progress on skills like communication, collaboration, and reflection. Parents receive simple reports that highlight strengths and next steps.

Why choose an IB‑focused nursery? The benefits are real:

• Kids develop a love for learning early, so they are more motivated when they reach primary school.
• They become better problem‑solvers because they practice figuring things out on their own.
• The focus on international mindedness helps children respect differences and work well in diverse groups.

If you’re weighing options, ask the school how they embed inquiry, what kind of projects they run, and how they involve families. A good IB nursery will welcome parent questions and share ways you can extend learning at home – like simple experiments in the kitchen or bedtime story discussions.

Bottom line: the IB program isn’t just for older students. In a nursery setting it creates a playground for the mind, where curiosity is the main tool and every activity builds a skill for life. At Nottingham Nursery School we see children who are eager to ask “why?” and confident enough to try new things. That’s the kind of start every child deserves.