We think outside the classroom.
Our five classrooms allow for age-appropriate education and development, and they are one of many school spaces that create opportunities for learning. Our large communal play area and extensive gardens and grounds provide the ideal backdrop and landscape for deeper relationships with each other and the world around us.
Minis & Nannies
3-12 months
Younger Playschool
12 months — 2 years
Older Playschool
2 — 3 years old
Grade 000
3 — 4 years old
Grade 00
4 — 5 years old
Grade 0/R*
5—6 years old
*Coming in 2025
“My three children entered Grade 1 fully equipped intellectually but more importantly with skills they have never forgotten — from learning about Judaism, valuing differences in religion, race, and culture, as well as a deep understanding of love and loyalty.”
From Informal play to formal Learning
Children graduate from Mina Lopato ready to succeed at Grade 1.
The Mina lopato Approach
Our educational philosophy is both cohesive and selective, like a well-appointed toolbox, and our teachers know just which tools to use for each opportunity. Students who graduate from Mina Lopato are not only fully prepared for Grade 1, but they are also better equipped for the world at large.
At Mina Lopato, we consider traditional academics (formal language and math skills) as only one aspect of a child’s development. Our curriculum is designed to offer children opportunities to engage, explore, and connect to our world, and we strengthen these connections by creating learning opportunities (through structured lesson plans) and finding them (through informal play and social interaction).
Through this approach, we can enhance a child’s development in six key areas:
Social
The ability to function positively in a group
Cognitive
The ability to think analytically and solve problems
Emotional
The ability to understand oneself and be empathetic to the emotions of others
Behavioral
The ability to understand positive and negative feedback
Intellectual
The ability to transfer and integrate knowledge
Spiritual
The ability to connect to the human spirit, outside of our material and physical world
All the support Kids need
Studies have shown the benefits of early intervention, and, while not everything 'different' about a child needs to be 'fixed,' there are distinct advantages to being able to identify, support, and mitigate barriers to learning.
Mina Lopato has access to an extensive network of qualified physio, occupational and speech therapists, some of who regularly visit our school to do therapy and consult with our principal and parents. We also offer an annual visual, auditory, and physical screening.
There are regular monitoring meetings with therapists, staff and parents to check that therapy goals are being met and skills are being transferred both at school and at home.
Proudly Jewish
Mina Lopato is a Nursery School with deep South African roots and a Jewish soul.
We embrace an open, inclusive and universalist approach to Judaism, which means all are welcome to our table and Shabbat Ring, all are encouraged to think and give to others, and all are invited to celebrate their spirituality in the way they know best.
Our Jewish Education programme welcomes, encourages, and respects every child in their own educational and spiritual journey and provides a safe place for all to deepen and explore their respective religions and beliefs in a way that is age-appropriate and meaningful.