Living
Nurseries & Pre-Schools
New pre-schools spring up every year as the number of expats increase, which means it can be a competitive system – but there are a variety of programmes on offer. Busy mums and dads tend to keep their child under the personal care of an ayi (a maid and/or babysitter) when they’re young, but pre-school can be a good opportunity to nurture your child’s social skills and ease them into the school system. Most pre-schools emphasise character building and playing, and are not that formal. Enrolling in pre-school can also get your child’s foot in the door to the more competitive primary school programmes.
Children are generally accepted from 2 to 6 years old, although there are exceptions. Shanghai’s pre-schools and international schools will sometimes set up free playgroups for mothers and children to meet, but details often change, so check with schools for specifics. The most in-demand schools have waiting lists, and admission fees can be steep. Expats with education packages usually pay by term or year, but if fees are coming out of your pocket a monthly payment system can usually be worked out. Yearly fees can range from ¥23,000 to more than ¥100,000, and there may be additional costs such as application or food fees.
Most schools have full-day programmes, but some have set up half-day options as well. Smaller kindergartens such as Learning Habitat Bilingual Kindergarten will accommodate parents and work out a schedule.
If qualifications matter to you, then you should always ask schools about their hiring criteria. When shopping around, arrange a playtime meeting to speak with teachers and allow your child to interact with some of the pre-school’s students. Bilingual pre-schools are popular picks with parents, and many advertise themselves as such. Be aware though that some exaggerate, and only designate an hour each week to English classes with a native English teacher. When ready to apply, bring a copy of your child’s passport, any previous school records, medical records and the child’s birth certificate.
Children are generally accepted from 2 to 6 years old, although there are exceptions. Shanghai’s pre-schools and international schools will sometimes set up free playgroups for mothers and children to meet, but details often change, so check with schools for specifics. The most in-demand schools have waiting lists, and admission fees can be steep. Expats with education packages usually pay by term or year, but if fees are coming out of your pocket a monthly payment system can usually be worked out. Yearly fees can range from ¥23,000 to more than ¥100,000, and there may be additional costs such as application or food fees.
Most schools have full-day programmes, but some have set up half-day options as well. Smaller kindergartens such as Learning Habitat Bilingual Kindergarten will accommodate parents and work out a schedule.
If qualifications matter to you, then you should always ask schools about their hiring criteria. When shopping around, arrange a playtime meeting to speak with teachers and allow your child to interact with some of the pre-school’s students. Bilingual pre-schools are popular picks with parents, and many advertise themselves as such. Be aware though that some exaggerate, and only designate an hour each week to English classes with a native English teacher. When ready to apply, bring a copy of your child’s passport, any previous school records, medical records and the child’s birth certificate.
