Riverside Elementary School
A FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE
We are committed to laying a strong educational foundation that fosters intellectual curiosity, creativity, and character development.
As part of the prestigious Riverside Schools, our elementary section blends the globally recognised Montessori approach with the best of Nigerian and British curricula, ensuring a well-rounded, world-class education.
Our learning environment is designed to engage, inspire, and challenge young minds through hands-on learning experiences, where pupils/learners actively explore concepts rather than passively receive information.
Mrs Ziregbe
Head, Primary Section
Creche
Our Crèche section provides a warm, secure, and stimulating environment where infants and toddlers begin their early learning journey.
Rooted in the Montessori philosophy, we focus on sensory exploration, social interaction, and cognitive development, ensuring that every child receives personalized care and attention.
With a team of experienced caregivers and early childhood educators, we prioritize safety, comfort, and structured play-based learning to nurture curiosity and independence from an early age.
Pre-School
We provide a stimulating, child-centered learning environment where young minds flourish. Our Montessori-based approach nurtures curiosity, creativity, and independence, ensuring a seamless transition to primary education.
With engaging hands-on activities, interactive learning tools, and a balanced blend of academics and play, we foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and social skills in every child. Our experienced educators guide pupils/learners through a well-structured curriculum that integrates early literacy, numeracy, science, and creative expression, all while instilling confidence and a love for learning.
Nursery
We provide a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment where children develop essential foundational skills through the Montessori method. Our curriculum blends structured learning with hands-on experiences, fostering independence, creativity, and a love for discovery.
With a focus on early literacy, numeracy, social interaction, and cognitive development, our experienced educators guide each child at their own pace, ensuring confidence, curiosity, and a strong academic foundation. Through engaging activities, interactive play, and modern learning tools, we cultivate well-rounded learners prepared for the next stage of their educational journey.
Primary
We offer a dynamic and engaging learning environment that blends the Montessori philosophy with the Nigerian and British curricula. Our approach emphasises critical thinking, creativity, and hands-on learning, ensuring that every child develops a strong academic foundation while nurturing their individuality.
With state-of-the-art technology, interactive lessons, and a wide range of extracurricular activities, we equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. Our dedicated educators foster a love for learning, instil core values, and encourage leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Beyond academics, we offer a diverse range of extracurricular activities, from music and sports to arts and leadership programs, ensuring that every child discovers and nurtures their unique talents.
Our team of seasoned educators is dedicated to providing individualised attention and guiding each pupil/learner to achieve their full potential in a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment.
Elementary School Curriculum
Literacy
The language of instruction at Riverside is English. Children have daily opportunities to develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
We offer a balanced literacy program that includes: guided reading when teachers teach specific reading skills and strategies; independent reading when children develop reading stamina by engaging with books at their independent reading level; reading aloud; and shared reading when pupils develop comprehension skills through book discussions.
Independent reading time is an important part of each grade as are home reading programs. Progress is carefully monitored and is dependent upon individual strengths and targets.
The development of writing skills is integrated into the units of inquiry wherever possible. Children write daily for a variety of purposes. The writing engagements include: interactive writing, when children and teachers develop a text collaboratively; shared writing (including talk for writing), when the teacher models different writing genres; guided writing, when the teacher teaches specific skills and strategies; and independent writing.
Opportunities are provided for developing ideas through brainstorming with peers, writing rough drafts, editing, revising and publishing or sharing final copies. Pupils learn from an early age that writing serves a communicative and expressive purpose.
Numeracy
Children are taught mathematics by their classroom and specialist teachers. The school expects all pupils to become fluent users of the language of mathematics and to be able to recognise, understand and apply the concepts and processes of mathematics. Whenever possible, pupils apply their mathematical understanding to solve problems within the units of inquiry. Learning in this area, is supported by manipulatives, online practice sites and a variety of textbooks. Specific learning outcomes in mathematics are set for each grade level and in each mathematical strand number, shape and space, patterns and function, data handling and measurement.
Information and Communication Technology
We integrate the use of technology into the curriculum. Technology integration helps pupils/learners understand concepts and show what they have learned. It also enhances digital literacy; a core skill.
Arts & Craft
RMS has a strong commitment to arts education. Certified art specialists in appropriate, well-equipped facilities teach drama, Music and visual Arts. The art curriculum is supplemented by guest artists and educators, as well field trips and museum visits.
French / Yoruba
The goal is to create an environment that supports the intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of the child while providing a challenging environment for exploring new languages and cultures. The children develop a lasting commitment to foreign and local language learning through their engagement with French and Yoruba language programs. Native speakers are assisted in strengthening the academic language of their mother tongue.
Physical Education (PE)
The purpose of the physical education program is to expose pupils to a wide variety of physical skills in order to experience success in a variety of physical activities. Pupils have fun while working to improve their fitness levels, recognising the value of life-long physical activity.
The program includes several different units including: body control and spatial awareness, invasion games, gymnastics, movement to music, health-related fitness testing and adventure challenges. There is a strong focus on co-operative learning and pupils are expected to be self-motivated as well as good partners and group members.
Field Trips
Field trips are an integral part of the RMS programme and periodically throughout the school year,
pupils take field trips into our surrounding community. These are connected to our units of inquiry and offer valuable learning experiences. Where such trips require parent chaperones, parents will be informed and this offers an additional opportunity for volunteering. Parents will receive advance notice of all such trips as the School will require signed permission slips for all pupils to attend these field trips.
Specialist Classes
In RMS, we believe that children learn through a variety of experiences and disciplines. In order to provide a balanced curriculum the following specialist classes form part of our learning day.
Teaching Practices
Approaches are varied so that individual pupils’ needs, abilities, interests and learning styles are addressed. A variety of instructional materials and appropriate technology is used. The starting point for learning and teaching is pupils’ current understanding. Time to reflect on the learning process is considered an essential part of learning and is supported through our portfolio process.
Co-curricular Activities
Curricular activities are a vital part of the RMS Curriculum. We believe that every child should leave us as well-rounded individuals. We have a rich blend of activities; academic and non-academic and pupils are encouraged to pick an activity from each group. Co-curricular activities are compulsory for ALL primary pupils and these hold on Wednesdays and Thursdays. A full list of activities is available in the School Office. Please consult with your child before picking.
Foreign Excursions
Riverside Montessori School is very passionate about children and about our mission of raising global citizens. It’s on this premise that we have made field trips and excursions integral aspects of our program. Pupils are encouraged to go on tour to African countries and other continents to broaden their knowledge and improve their learning experiences.
