Kindergartens in China: a report into private and state provision in Beijing

This report is based upon visits to both private and state
kindergartens in Beijing by a group of UK student teachers following an
Early Years course. Day visits were made to both types of provision
during two visits to China in 2008 and 2010. The whole range of year
groups, subject areas, resources and pedagogy were observed. Data was
collected through student reflections and logs. Initial findings after the
first visit suggested that the Chinese state sector was far superior to the
private sector in provision, staff qualifications and pedagogical
approaches. However both sectors adopted more didactic approaches to
teaching and learning in comparison with the more child-centred playbased
approaches to learning in England. During the second visit there
was significant change to the pedagogical approaches in both the private
and state sectors in China. There was evidence that China’s approach to
Early Years education was beginning to reflect similar principles to those
adopted in England.