As far as I know, the U.K. doesn’t yet have any Mandarin immersion K – 8 schools. The one that had been proposed, Marco Polo Academy, didn’t get off the ground. And I love it that this preschool is being launched by a man with such a lovely Welsh name as Cennydd — Beth

UK’s first Mandarin-English bilingual nursery established to meet growing demand for second language learning in early years

04-Aug-15
Article By: Ellie Spanswick, News Editor

In May, earlier this year, father of one Cennydd John opened the UK’s first bilingual Mandarin-English day nursery in East London after discovering many of his local provisions were unable to provide the type of childcare he sought for his young son.

Cennydd John

Mr John has more than 10 years’ worth of experience, academically and professionally in all things Chinese, a Masters in Chinese and distinction in oral Mandarin, in addition to experience running his own educational consultancy, helping Chinese students secure places at UK and American universities.

Speaking about his decision to establish the innovative new nursery, he said: “I created Hatching Dragons when I was looking for childcare for my son. I felt so un-inspired by the provisions I looked at, none of them were offering anything different than the care I could offer him at home. Although they could provide care for my son, they weren’t gifted in early years education or helping children develop.”

Hatching Dragons was created on the principle of providing children with a full Mandarin-English immersion experience all day–every day, ensuring that language is not taught, but picked up through daily activities within the nursery environment. The majority of children at the nursery come from families where Mandarin is not spoken.

Please read more here.