English Enrichment Classes at
Lorna Whiston Schools

Building a Solid Academic Foundation To Help Students Learn Better

A firm grasp of English in Singapore enables students to benefit in the following ways:

  • Learn more effectively, as English is the primary language of instruction for most other subjects

  • Become eloquent communicators in oral and written language

  • Build confidence in self-expression, which is essential in the 21st-century

  • Develop creativity and critical thinking skills required in everyday life

At Lorna Whiston Schools, we aim to equip students with strategies to help them learn better and install soft skills and values critical for success. We deliver our curriculum through collaborative, inquiry-based tasks that foster fundamental understanding and develop a natural curiosity for seeking knowledge. Language skills are taught progressively in a multisensory environment by our teachers, who go to great lengths to understand each child’s abilities and needs, differentiating activities to bring out the best in our students.

A Natural Complement to the MOE Syllabus

Our teachers undergo regular training to develop an understanding of the English Language syllabus prescribed by the Ministry of Education and to be exposed to new pedagogical approaches. Lorna Whiston Schools’ English Enrichment classes complement the MOE syllabus in the following ways:

Continuous Writing

Students receive regular exposure to a wide range of authentic texts. In addition, we focus on empowering our students with writing traits to grow as confident writers.

Listening Comprehension

Students are exposed to a wide range of listening comprehension tasks that enable them to listen to, understand and interpret the information given from a variety of native English speakers’ accents.

Comprehension and Language Use

Students interact with multimodel texts presented through various platforms. Students also learn the necessary comprehension skills and develop a greater awareness of tackling multiple comprehension questions.

Oral Communication

Lorna Whiston Schools focuses on students developing communication skills in authentic situations. Students learn how to present their personal response to a visual stimulus and link their general knowledge to the conversation. Students build confidence in presenting to the class and their peers, and they learn strategies to be effective communicators of Standard English.

Progressive System That Builds Up Capabilities

We have a unique programme called the Individualised Reading Programme in all our English Enrichment classes. This shaped based on our belief that reading is not only essential for competently completing school work but is a vital life skill.

Students have access to a comprehensive library, where books are categorised by “reading levels” and colour-coded accordingly. Students will be encouraged to read many different books at those levels until they show a high level of comprehension and fluency. Our teachers carefully monitor students’ understanding of the words, expressions and storyline and their mastery of decoding skills and correct pronunciation before promoting them to the next reading level.

Through our 2-hour weekly English Enrichment classes, students develop a wide variety of vocabulary and an understanding of language nuances that enable them to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Programme / Age Group Size Activities Class Objectives
Little Explorers 18 months - 3 years 10 Multisensory learning centres help children make sense of the world around them, developing their cognitive skills, social skills, and ability to communicate and express themselves verbally in English. They include:

  • Puppet Centre
  • Music Centre
  • Dramatic Play Centre
  • Sensory Centre
  • Science Centre
  • Creative Art Centre
  • Manipulative Centre
  • Get into a routine and become familiar with transitions in lessons
  • Develop their independence while instilling safety and security in them
  • Learn how to take turns and share with their classmates
  • Explore, discover and express themselves verbally
  • Develop a love for songs and rhymes
Nursery 1
3 years		 10 Students will enjoy experiential learning in a secure and stimulating environment through carefully selected stories, songs, rhymes and a wide variety of hands-on learning activities that appeal to the children’s interests and suit their relatively short concentration spans.

Hands-on activities such as threading, jigsaws, colouring, painting and Play Dough will help students develop fine motor skills and master their pencil grip.
  • Recognise their name, recognise rhythm and recite familiar songs, finger plays and poems
  • Appreciate stories and respond verbally to a simple picture story
  • Relate to other children well through parallel play, and express themselves in a socially acceptable way
  • Learn appropriate behaviours on managing emotions, listening to others and participating cooperatively in group activities
  • Share their personal experiences with others in simple sentences
  • Understand simple directions and common phrases used in routine situations, and complete classification activities
Nursery 2 to Kindergarten 2
4 - 6 years		 12 We aim to nurture a fundamental love of books and reading. Each lesson is based on a theme and an exciting story that allows students to:

  • Recognise a range of high-frequency words
  • Blend sounds together

K2 children will also learn to:
  • Use a pencil correctly to draw and write simple sentences in their compositions
  • Build knowledge of simple spelling patterns when writing
  • Recognise the difference between present tense and past tense verbs
  • Read age-appropriate books with understanding
  • Identify all the initial letter sounds (phonics)
  • Use phonic sounds and learn how to blend the words
  • Appreciate stories and to be able to retell a story in their own words
  • Use a sufficiently broad vocabulary to be able to express themselves clearly
  • Use personal experiences to conduct show and tell
Lower Primary
7 - 9 years		 12 We focus on developing oral language skills, vocabulary, grammar, comprehension and composition at this age.

Lessons alternate between a focus on composition writing and comprehension. Other skills are integrated throughout the class.

A formal oral language activity (stimulus-based conversation) and listening comprehension will be undertaken at the beginning of every term.
  • Express themselves verbally and take part confidently in show-and-tell activities
  • Read age-appropriate books confidently and with understanding
  • Use initial sounds and blends to assist with decoding and spelling
  • Understand and learn how to apply basic punctuation conventions
  • Use a broad, age-appropriate vocabulary to express themselves clearly
  • Have a deeper understanding of tenses and simple grammar rules (e.g. prepositions, conjunctions, nouns, verbs, imperatives, conditionals and adjectives)
  • Use precise vocabulary to express themselves clearly
  • Succeed with reading comprehension passages based on different text types and become more aware of strategies to use when answering a range of comprehension questions
Primary 4 and 5
10 - 11 years		 12 Our comprehensive and challenging Programme focuses on building upon the children’s vocabulary and developing proficient reading and writing skills.

Lessons alternate between a focus on composition writing and comprehension. Other skills are integrated throughout the class.

A formal oral language activity (stimulus-based conversation) and listening comprehension will be undertaken at the beginning of every term.
  • Read age-appropriate books with understanding, analyse characters’ motives and infer meaning from contextual clues
  • Present an oral summary of their book in their own words and comment on aspects of the plot development, climax, antagonist, protagonist
  • Listen to and respond to a variety of aural stimuli based on different genres
  • Learn how to share opinions and ideas on a range of current affairs
  • Understand the importance of purpose, audience and context when doing situational writing
  • Confidently plan, write and edit narratives and expositions by using writing traits and understanding of frameworks
  • Understand and apply general punctuation conventions, including direct and indirect speech
  • Complete synthesis and transformation exercises with a deeper understanding of the rules that govern the use of correlative, coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
Primary 6
12 years		 Besides focusing on academic and life skills, teachers coach students in the social-emotional areas required to succeed in the Primary School Leaving Examination.

Detailed feedback is given for composition writing and situational writing that enables students to progress confidently with their writing. Strategies are also taught for comprehending texts at a deeper level.

Weekly class activities include

  • Planning, writing and editing their compositions and situational writing
  • Learning how to analyse the hidden meaning of texts critically
  • Completing vocabulary, grammar and comprehension close passages on a variety of themes
  • Learning how to present an oral summary of their book in their own words and comment on aspects of the plot development, climax, antagonist, protagonist
  • Reading both fictional and factual texts for understanding
  • Understanding the rules and techniques to complete synthesis and transformation exercises
  • Articulating points of view about themes and current affairs
  • Build on social awareness by collaborating in groups to plan, brainstorm, problem-solve, give opinions and present and review ideas
  • Listen to and respond to a variety of factual and visual texts
  • Understand the importance of purpose, audience and context when doing situational writing
  • Confidently plan, write and edit narratives and expositions by using writing traits and understanding of frameworks
  • Understand and apply general punctuation conventions, including direct and indirect speech
  • Confidently use figurative language when writing
  • Has a developed understanding of tenses (present, past, future) and grammar rules (e.g. uncountable nouns, verbs, relative clauses, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, possessive and relative pronouns, relative clauses, articles subject-verb agreement)
  • Succeed with reading comprehension passages based on different text types and use strategies confidently when answering a range of comprehension questions
Programme / Age Group
Little Explorers 18 months - 3 years
Size: 10
Activities
Multi-sensory learning centres help children make sense of the world around them, developing their cognitive skills, social skills, and ability to communicate and express themselves verbally in English. They include: see more...

  • Puppet Centre
  • Music Centre
  • Dramatic Play Centre
  • Sensory Centre
  • Science Centre
  • Creative Art Centre
  • Manipulative Centre
Class Objectives
  • Get into a routine and become familiar with transitions in lessons
  • Develop their independence while instilling safety and security in them
  • Learn how to take turns and share with their classmates
  • Explore, discover and express themselves verbally
  • Develop a love for songs and rhymes
Programme / Age Group
Nursery 1
3 years
Size: 10
Activities
Students will enjoy experiential learning in a secure and stimulating environment through carefully selected stories, songs, rhymes and a wide variety of hands-on learning activities that appeal to the children’s interests and suit their relatively short concentration spans. see more...

Hands-on activities such as threading, jigsaws, colouring, painting and playdough will help students develop fine motor skills and master their pencil grip.
Class Objectives
  • Recognise their name, recognise rhythm and recite familiar songs, fingerplays and poems
  • Appreciate stories and respond verbally to a simple picture story
  • Relate to other children well through parallel play, and express themselves in a socially acceptable way
  • Learn appropriate behaviours on managing emotions, listening to others and participating cooperatively in group activities
  • Share their personal experiences with others in simple sentences
  • Understand simple directions and common phrases used in routine situations, and complete classification activities
Programme / Age Group
Nursery 2 to Kindergarten 2
4 - 6 years
Size: 12
Activities
We aim to nurture a fundamental love of books and reading. Each lesson is based on a theme and an exciting story that allows students to: see more...

  • Recognise a range of high-frequency words
  • Blend sounds together

K2 children will also learn to:
  • Use a pencil correctly to draw and write simple sentences in their compositions
  • Build knowledge of simple spelling patterns when writing
  • Recognise the difference between present tense and past tense verbs
Class Objectives
  • Read age-appropriate books with understanding
  • Identify all of the initial letter sounds (phonics)
  • Use phonic sounds and learn how to blend the words
  • Appreciate stories and to be able to retell a story in their own words
  • Use a sufficiently broad vocabulary to be able to express themselves clearly
  • Use personal experiences to conduct show and tell
Programme / Age Group
Lower Primary
7 - 9 years
Size: 12
Activities
We focus on developing oral language skills, vocabulary, grammar, comprehension and composition at this age. see more...

Lessons alternate between a focus on composition writing and comprehension. Other skills are integrated throughout the class.

A formal oral language activity (stimulus-based conversation) and listening comprehension will be undertaken at the beginning of every term
Class Objectives
  • Express themselves verbally and take part confidently in show-and-tell activities
  • Read age-appropriate books confidently and with understanding
  • Use initial sounds and blends to assist with decoding and spelling
  • Understand and learn how to apply basic punctuation conventions
  • Use a broad, age-appropriate vocabulary to express themselves clearly
  • Have a deeper understanding of tenses and simple grammar rules (e.g. prepositions, conjunctions, nouns, verbs, imperatives, conditionals and adjectives)
  • Use precise vocabulary to express themselves clearly
  • Succeed with reading comprehension passages based on different text types and become more aware of strategies to use when answering a range of comprehension questions
Programme / Age Group
Primary 4 and 5
10 - 11 years
Size: 12
Activities
Our comprehensive and challenging Programme focuses on building upon the children’s vocabulary and developing proficient reading and writing skills. see more...

Lessons alternate between a focus on composition writing and comprehension. Other skills are integrated throughout the class.

A formal oral language activity (stimulus-based conversation) and listening comprehension will be undertaken at the beginning of every term.
Class Objectives
  • Read age-appropriate books with understanding, analyse characters’ motives and infer meaning from contextual clues
  • Present an oral summary of their book in their own words and comment on aspects of the plot development, climax, antagonist, protagonist
  • Listen to and respond to a variety of aural stimuli based on different genres
  • Learn how to share opinions and ideas on a range of current affairs
  • Understand the importance of purpose, audience and context when doing situational writing
  • Confidently plan, write and edit narratives and expositions by using writing traits and understanding of frameworks
  • Understand and apply general punctuation conventions, including direct and indirect speech
  • Complete synthesis and transformation exercises with a deeper understanding of the rules that govern the use of correlative, coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
Programme / Age Group
Primary 6
12 years
Activities
Besides focusing on academic and life skills, teachers coach students in the social-emotional areas required to succeed in the Primary School Leaving Examination. see more...

Detailed feedback is given for composition writing and situational writing that enables students to progress confidently with their writing. Strategies are also taught for comprehending texts at a deeper level.

Weekly class activities include

  • Planning, writing and editing their compositions and situational writing
  • Learning how to analyse the hidden meaning of texts critically
  • Completing vocabulary, grammar and comprehension cloze passages on a variety of themes
  • Learning how to present an oral summary of their book in their own words and comment on aspects of the plot development, climax, antagonist, protagonist
  • Reading both fictional and factual texts for understanding
  • Understanding the rules and techniques to complete synthesis and transformation exercises
  • Articulating points of view about themes and current affairs
Class Objectives
  • Build on social awareness by collaborating in groups to plan, brainstorm, problem-solve, give opinions and present and review ideas
  • Listen to and respond to a variety of factual and visual texts
  • Understand the importance of purpose, audience and context when doing situational writing
  • Confidently plan, write and edit narratives and expositions by using writing traits and understanding of frameworks
  • Understand and apply general punctuation conventions, including direct and indirect speech
  • Confidently use figurative language when writing
  • Have a developed understanding of tenses (present, past, future) and grammar rules (e.g. uncountable nouns, verbs, relative clauses, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, possessive and relative pronouns, relative clauses, articles subject-verb agreement)
  • Succeed with reading comprehension passages based on different text types and use strategies confidently when answering a range of comprehension questions

Trusted by Parents, Enjoyed by Students

Driven by our mission to transform lives through exceptional learning experiences for students, Lorna Whiston Schools is shaped by our five core values of collaboration, integrity, education, determination and innovation. These five core values shape every interaction and learning experience delivered in our enrichment classes and enable parents to entrust their precious young children to us.

EE Testimonials
Blog Post Title One

“The content is delivered in a very engaging and creative manner. My children do not want to miss a single class at Lorna Whiston!”

Vincent Sim, Parent of Lianna

Blog Post Title Two

“Arjuna enjoys having Ms Rose because she is willing to hear all his little stories!”

Jacintha Cheong, Parent of Arjuna

Blog Post Title Three

“Since joining Lorna Whiston, you could see my daughter is now very confident and the teachers play a very great role in encouraging their students.”

Parameshwary, Parent of Ishani Rajit

Find out more about our Signature Programmes

Keen to find out more?

At the heart of our programmes is our desire to build a solid academic foundation that equips students with strategies to help them learn better and install soft skills and values essential for success. To prepare our students for academic success, we believe in providing authentic and meaningful learning experiences. More than 70,000 children have experienced the difference of the Lorna Whiston experience. We invite your child to join us on a transformative learning journey too!