Japan, Nagoya
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Well-being and social-emotional learning are central to Sunnyside's approach, with emotional stability described as essential for productive learning and careful attention paid to each child's readiness to learn. The IB Learner Profile emphasizes a balanced life, encouraging outdoor play and healthy eating, and teachers aim to avoid excessive workloads to support wellbeing. The school promotes positive relationships by encouraging students to talk to their teachers when they feel unsettled and by inviting parents to discuss student wellbeing. Mindfulness is taught to help students manage emotions, with practices such as deep breathing and short walks, and Milo the school therapy dog provides additional emotional support. In the PYP, wellbeing guidance includes Be healthy, Be curious, Be caring, Be social, Be thoughtful, and Be aware, with SDG awareness integrated into the curriculum.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision. There is no dedicated SEN policy or SEN support page listed on Sunnyside's English-language site. The Language Acquisition page describes a bilingual program with Japanese as the primary language and English taught as an additional language delivered through collaboration between Japanese homeroom teachers and English specialist teachers, but this does not specify SEN services. The school is an IB World School (PYP), but explicit SEN accommodations or specialist provision are not stated in published materials. Given the absence of publicly disclosed SEN information, families should contact the school directly to inquire about any assessment processes, accommodations, and supports available.
Sunnyside provides a dual-language program with English and Japanese. Japanese is the primary language of instruction, with English taught as an additional language in varied exposure across the school. The language policy describes collaboration between Japanese homeroom teachers and English specialist teachers, with joint planning to deepen understanding. English education is framed as important, emphasizing learning English in the context of daily life. The school notes a language portrait tool to capture a learner's language profile, and multilingualism is valued for developing international-mindedness.
Mental wellbeing is a core focus of Sunnyside's wellbeing approach, with strategies to support emotional health and resilience embedded in daily practice. Mindfulness techniques are taught to help students regulate emotions, including breathing exercises and short walks. Milo the school therapy dog provides a visible, comforting presence for students and staff. There is emphasis on student voice and agency, including a Primary Student Council that discusses wellbeing and school life, and on maintaining open communication with families. The Well-being framework for the PYP outlines Be healthy, Be curious, Be caring, Be social, Be thoughtful, and Be aware, with SDGs integrated into wellbeing education.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding or child-protection policies on public materials. No dedicated safeguarding page is listed on Sunnyside's English-language site. The site sitemap lists Privacy Policy but does not enumerate safeguarding policies. For safeguarding arrangements, families should contact the school directly to request information about safeguarding procedures, designated safeguarding leads, reporting processes, and training. The lack of publicly available safeguarding information means inquiries must be made directly to obtain official documentation.
Sunnyside International School is located in Gifu City, about a 20-minute train ride from Nagoya, in an area known for the Nagara River and surrounding mountains. The school’s programmes span early childcare (from 6 months) through elementary Grade 6, with kindergarten and a primary department. Sunnyside became Japan’s first PYP authorized “Article one” school in 2016, and its primary programme is underpinned by the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). The school’s language policy places Japanese as the first language of schooling while increasing English use step-by-step, supported by English specialist teachers. A distinctive feature highlighted on the site is its collaboration with educator James Nottingham’s “Challenging Learning,” including use of the “Learning Pit” model to help students understand what learning feels like.