Lucknow: Burlington English, a global provider of education solutions, organised an interactive workshop on early childhood education here on Friday, emphasising child-centric practices and holistic wellbeing in the foundational years.

The four-hour event, titled The Burlington Magic of Early Years, was led by educationist Dr Swati Popat Vats, Advisor for the initiative and President of the Early Childhood Association (ECA-APER). It brought together teachers and school leaders to discuss how early education can nurture joy, curiosity and lifelong learning.

The sessions highlighted the importance of play-based, activity-oriented and inquiry-led teaching methods, alongside discarding outdated practices. Key recommendations included introducing MR font instead of cursive writing at the foundational stage, focusing on conceptual understanding in mathematics rather than rote chanting of numbers, and applying the Panchakosha model for physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual growth.

“The early years should not rush children towards academic readiness, but nurture their overall development in age-appropriate ways. Play-based learning is key to healthy growth,” Dr Vats said. She also stressed on screen safety awareness for children in the digital age.

Burlington English Managing Director for India and Southeast Asia, Amit Baveja, said the organisation's early years resources were designed to combine care with education. He noted that the Burlington Early Years Kit, aligned with the National Curriculum Framework-Foundational Stage (NCF-FS), had received a five-star rating from ECA-APER.

The initiative is part of Burlington's 100ED Fest workshops, aimed at helping educators stay aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2022).