Parents touring a preschool usually ask about the mornings. That is when the literacy and the Mandarin happen, along with the maths, so it makes sense to focus there. For a child in a full-day programme, though, the afternoon is a big part of the day. What happens after lunch matters too.

At Shaws, the answer for children who don't nap is ShawsPlay Club. This article explains what it is and what children do there, using what we publish on our curriculum page.

What ShawsPlay Club is

ShawsPlay Club is our afternoon programme for children who don't nap. Instead of resting, they get a different specialism every day.

All Play Club activities are included in the school fees. There is no additional cost, and nothing to sign up for separately.

Where it sits in the day

On our published weekly timetable, the early afternoon runs like this:

  • 12:40 to 1:30pm. Lunch, followed by a calm rest period.
  • 1:30 to 2:00pm. Outdoor play.
  • 2:00 to 3:00pm. ShawsPlay Club.
  • 3:00 to 3:30pm. Afternoon snack.

Children who still need a nap sleep through this part of the afternoon. At Lorong Chuan, for example, full-day children nap until 3pm, and those who don't nap join Play Club. Half-day children finish at 1pm, so Play Club is part of the full-day experience.

The programme varies slightly by campus and age group, so it is always worth asking the school for the detailed timetable for your child's level.

What children do in Play Club

Our curriculum page lists the specialisms that make up ShawsPlay Club. Each one has its own purpose.

Outdoor learning

Herb gardens and butterfly gardens, plus the playgrounds. Literacy and social skills develop outdoors here, without a table in sight.

S.T.E.A.M.

A hands-on mix of science and maths with technology and art. Children ask questions and test their ideas the way scientists do. Building things brings in engineering, and children analyse what happened using early maths.

Earth Ambassadors

Conservation, taught through the term's inquiry unit. Children then put it into practice around the campus.

Sports-based play

More sport and less screen. Children try a wide range of games. The list on our curriculum page runs from soccer and rugby to hockey and golf, with athletics among them too. This sits on top of the Shaws Little League coaching that runs twice a week in the mornings.

Code Play

Screen-free coding with tactile robots. There is no screen time for N2 and K1, and only limited exposure at K2. Our executive function page describes Code Play as practice in sequencing and debugging.

Sensory play

Activities that deliberately stimulate all five senses. Our curriculum page links this to language and movement. It also supports emotional regulation.

Water and messy play

Mud and paint, with plenty of water. Motor skills and early literacy and maths get a workout here, disguised as the best part of the week. If you have ever wondered why we ask for two or three changes of clothes, this is a large part of the answer.

Little Chefs

Real cooking with real knives (the safe kind), followed by real washing up. Children practise maths and sequencing while cooking, and many end up with a broader palate. Our life skills page lists Little Chefs among the ways we put practical skills in children's hands.

How it looks at different campuses

Every campus runs the same curriculum. The facilities differ slightly, and so does the exact mix of Play Club activities. A few examples from our campus pages:

  • Lorong Chuan lists Little League and Little Chefs among its Play Club options, along with Art Club. Water Confidence and a Chinese Culture Club are on the list too. It is the only Shaws campus with its own swimming pool.
  • Mountbatten, our founding campus, describes bilingual lessons in the morning and Play Club in the afternoons for children who don't nap. Shaws Little League sport runs there twice a week, as it does at every campus.
  • Braddell Heights says Play Club changes every day. Children might be cooking or doing arts and crafts, or trying a new sport. The campus has a big open field, which gives plenty of room for sport and gardening.

On a tour, ask which Play Club activities run on which days at the campus you are considering.

Why we run the afternoon this way

The reasoning behind Play Club comes from the same place as the rest of the ShawsPlay curriculum. Children learn by doing, and Play Club gives them an hour each afternoon to do exactly that.

It also fits the three strands that run through everything we teach:

  • Play-based learning. Each session has a purpose, but children get there by exploring and trying.
  • Essential life skills. Children in Little Chefs cook a dish and then wash up after themselves.
  • Executive function. Code Play practises sequencing and debugging. Sport asks children to follow rules and keep their self-control under pressure.

Questions parents often ask

Does my child have to stop napping to join? Play Club is for children who don't nap. If your child still needs a sleep, they nap. Talk to your campus about your child's needs, especially in the months when they are dropping their nap.

Is there an extra fee? No. All Play Club activities are included in the school fees.

Is it the same as the optional activities? No. Play Club is part of the school day. Separately, from N1 and N2 upwards, families can choose optional activities such as Shaws Little League at the Cage and swimming at a local pool. Art and Hindi are offered too, as is robotics. Costs for those vary by programme and they are strictly optional.

What should my child bring? Spare clothes for water and messy play, and a water bottle they can open themselves. Our first day guide has a full packing list.

See it for yourself

The easiest way to understand Play Club is to visit while school is running and ask the teachers about it. Tours run on weekdays by appointment, in the morning from 9:30 to 11:00am and in the afternoon from 3:00 to 5:30pm. Book a tour at the campus nearest you, or send us an enquiry to ask about fees and vacancies for your child's age.