The Kindergarten program at Maple Bear Prague offers a Preparatory Class (Grade 0) designed for children aged 5 to 6. This preparatory year focuses on developing essential skills such as fine motor coordination, early writing and reading, and social development.
The preparatory year offers an ideal bridge between kindergarten and elementary school. Thanks to our teaching approach and stimulating environment, children are set on a rich and inspiring educational journey.
Each class accommodates a maximum of 15 children, with more than half of the activities led by two qualified teachers – one speaking Czech and the other English.
Teachers support all children, regardless of their language proficiency, helping them gain confidence and make progress. Education in Preparatory class is evenly split between Czech and English, providing a balanced bilingual environment.
A smaller class size allows our two teachers to truly tailor the learning experience to each child’s individual needs. It also gives the whole group the space and time to settle into both languages in a safe and supportive environment, making the transition into bilingual elementary education smooth and natural.
Preparatory class at Maple Bear Prague is recognized as compulsory preschool education. We welcome children regardless of the kindergarten they previously attended.
The program, which mirrors the Canadian Senior Kindergarten, is designed to help children transition smoothly into first grade while providing the benefits of bilingual education in Czech and English.
Our preparatory class is ideal for children who are no longer fully stimulated in a kindergarten setting and are eager to begin exploring (for example, reading and writing). At the same time, it is also well-suited for children who are not yet fully ready to enter the first grade of elementary school and would benefit from the opportunity to prepare for this transition at their own pace under expert guidance.
A typical day at Maple Bear begins with Circle Time, where children share experiences, practice calendar skills, and prepare for the day. This is followed by free play and self-directed activities. The first learning block involves group or individual developmental activities.
After a snack and outdoor playtime, children have lunch and engage in relaxing activities that replace an afternoon nap. The afternoon continues with another learning block, followed by free play or participation in extracurricular activities and clubs.
7.30 – 8.30 School Club (optional)
8.30 – 8.40 Circle Time
8.40 – 9.40 Exploration Time 1
9.40 – 10.00 Snack Time
10.00 – 11.10 Outdoor Play
11.10 – 12.10 Exploration Time 2
12.10 – 13.00 Lunch
13.00 – 14.35 Quit Activities, Read Aloud, Snack Time
14.35 – 17.30 School Club
Our Preparatory Class offers a unique combination of high-quality education and play-based, hands-on learning. While the curriculum is more advanced than typical kindergarten programs and introduces elements commonly found in the czech first grade, it remains engaging and age-appropriate. This allows children to make the most of their learning potential at a time when their curiosity and capacity to absorb new knowledge are at their peak.
An added benefit of the preparatory year is that children are already part of a primary school environment, surrounded by older students. This naturally supports the development of independence and a sense of personal responsibility. A year in our Grade 0 gives children a strong and lasting foundation—not only in skills and knowledge, but also in building their own motivation to learn, helping them discover the joy of learning and understand that their progress depends on their own curiosity and effort.
Teacher Grade 0
My name is Eliška and I am a Czech language teacher at Maple Bear School. I studied education and mathematics at the Faculty of Education. My journey in education began in the Scouts, where I led a children’s group and worked as a trainer in leadership courses. Later, I spent five years teaching in a kindergarten and also gained a lot of experience caring for children. I believe in building warm and positive relationships with children and in nurturing their natural curiosity.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, spending time with my daughter, and being with my family. I’m very happy to be part of the Maple Bear team and to accompany your children on their educational journey.
