Moving to a foreign country and raising your kids there can be a big challenge. An even bigger challenge will be searching for the right preschool for your kids in that unfamiliar environment.
Knowing that preschool is your child’s formative years, choosing the right preschool for your son or daughter is crucial. Your decision will practically determine the quality of education your child will be getting to help develop his skills and talents and hone his understanding of various cultural backgrounds.
There are a number of international preschools in Indonesia that follow global standards in terms of curriculums, including those being imposed in the US, UK and Australia. With a global approach to their education, these international schools in Indonesia will normally have considerably higher rates than their local counterparts.
Choosing to enrol your child in an international school gives them the opportunity to mingle with expat children from different countries, thus making them understand and appreciate various cultures. As they grow older, they learn how to deal with people from diverse nationalities and be able to respect them. It also helps them become more independent as they learn from these top-notch educational facilities and the various programmes and activities provided for their growth.
We’ve rounded up a list of the top international preschools in the country to help you narrow down your choices.
1. EtonHouse Pre-School
EtonHouse offers an international inquiry-based programme that is a result of research on the best practices with highly qualified and early childhood educators. They aim to cultivate a learning environment that celebrates cultural and linguistic diversity as well as empowering its students. Their campuses are also aesthetically designed to support and stimulate the development of children. They want their students to be more active in the learning process by placing emphasis on first-hand practical experiences that engage imagination and curiosity, thus fostering genuine understanding. EtonHouse allows a two-day trial for all levels.
Curriculum: Philosophy, Inquire-Think-Learn
Contact details: (021) 532 2302, 548 5405 (Jakarta) | +62 31 51160020, 51160021 (Surabaya)
AGE | FEES | ADMISSION | CAMPUS LOCATIONS |
| Children can be admitted as early as 18 months for Pre-Nursery. Their Infant and Toddler Programme is now accepting babies 6 months -17 months of age. However, one parent/caregiver must accompany the child. | You need to send a request for fee structure to enquiry@etonhouse.co.id. For registration, you must submit the required documents (see Admission) plus a non-refundable registration fee of US$500. | You must prepare the necessary documents for submission. You can find the complete list here. | Jakarta, Surabaya |
2. Australian Independent School Indonesia
With a vision of providing world-class education based on the Australian education system, the Australian Independent School Indonesia strives for the development of the person as a whole by balancing academic success with personal growth and development. All of the students in AIS are nurtured and encouraged to achieve their full social and educational potential no matter what their ability, culture, ethnicity, gender or language background is. Traditional subject areas such as English and Mathematics are high priority learning areas, and they offer a wide range of extracurricular activities.
Curriculum: Designed to foster a lifelong love of learning
Contact details: View the contact details of all branches here.
AGE | FEES | ADMISSION | CAMPUS LOCATIONS |
| Must be 3 years old prior to March 31st | Application Fee of IDR 2,700,000 Enrolment Deposit (once only) of IDR 6,750,000 DEVELOPMENT LEVY Preschool 3 – 4: IDR 12,500,000 (semester) IDR 25,000,000 (annual) TUITION FEE Preschool 3: IDR 52,250,000 (semester) IDR 95,000,000 (annual) Preschool 4: IDR 68,750,000 (semester) IDR 125,000,000 (annual) | Must possess a foreign passport and scanned coloured copies of KITAS or DINAS as required by the Indonesian law for non-Indonesian nationals | Jakarta, Bali , Balikpapan |
3. Bambino Preschool
Bambino Preschool is focused on providing a fun, nurturing and curiosity-driven environment where children develop a love for learning and a grateful perspective on their lives.
At Bambino Preschool children benefit from a balanced education that invites creativity and curiosity into the learning process. Science, language development, and math are balanced within art activities, dramatic expression, music, and meaningful play. Children’s sense of character blossoms through cultivating gratitude, compassion, friendships, empathy, self-regulation, and resiliency.
Curriculum: Bambino’s Comprehensive Curriculum is inspired by multiple well-known approaches in early education. The specific goal is to enhance Bambino students social, cognitive, physical and emotional development.
Contact details: +62 21 227 64497 | +62 21 720 3356 | bambino@bambinopreschool.com
AGE | FEES | ADMISSION | CAMPUS LOCATIONS |
| Children can be admitted as early as 18 months | Send an inquiry to bambino@bambinopreschool.com
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4. Jakarta World Academy
Jakarta World Academy offers a UK-based Early Years curriculum and stage 1 of the Cambridge Primary programme for Kindergarten 2 students. Within its programmes, JWA provides a special focus on holistic development with a child-centred approach that helps students begin to make sense of their world through a broad and balanced learning environment.
English is the language of instruction, but they also teach Bahasa Indonesia and Mandarin. They offer a strong Chinese programme in partnership with the prestigious Peking University Kindergarten and Elementary School in Beijing,China.
Curriculum: Prime Areas of Learning of Development (Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development; Communications and Language), Specific Areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design)
Contact details: +62 21 29937234 Ext. 322 | admissions@jwa-jkt.com
AGE | FEES | ADMISSION | CAMPUS LOCATION |
| Children can be admitted as early as 20 months | Registration fee of IDR 3,000,000 Development fee of IDR 10,000,000 Refundable deposit of IDR 2,000,000 NURSERY (20 months to to 3): IDR 11.000.000 /term IDR 42.000.000 /year PRE-KINDERGARTEN (ages 3 to 4): IDR 13.000.000 /term IDR 50.000.000 /year KINDERGARTEN 1 (ages 4 to 5): IDR 15.500.000 /term IDR 60.000.000 /year KINDERGARTEN 2 (ages 5 to 6): IDR 18.500.000 /term IDR 70.000.000 /year *On their website, these fees were valid for JWA academic year 2016-2017 | You can find the complete list of required documents here. For expatriate students:
| ACE Square Building -Thamrin Nine Podium Level 8 Jl. MH Thamrin No. 10, Central Jakarta |
See: Baby Playgroups In Jakarta
5. Lollypop Preschool
Lollypop Preschool uses an eclectic teaching style that integrates fun-filled teaching methods and innovative ideas to meet the various needs of children. They use montessori materials to support the concepts taught in class. To allow the child to learn at his or her own pace, they give emphasis on the ‘learning by doing’ approach. English is used as the main medium of instruction, but they also teach Bahasa Indonesia and Mandarin. They also offer a free trial.
Curriculum: Programs such as language arts, mathematics, music, and character building; extracurricular activities such as drawing, young vocalists, piano, dance, and Kidz Chef.
Contact details: +6221 651 6426 | lollypoppreschool_sunter@yahoo.com
AGE | FEES | ADMISSION | CAMPUS LOCATIONS |
| Children can be admitted as early as 18 months | Breakdown of school fee is available at each branch |
| Sunter, Menteng, Kelapa Gading, Sunrise Garden, Pluit, Bali, Surabaya, Makassar |
6. Mighty Minds Preschool
True to their school’s slogan “Where Curiosity Grows,” the core philosophy behind their curriculum is that children are able to learn best by doing. They experience a hands-on approach to learning and are taught through a multidisciplinary, play-based approach that nurtures their passion to influence change. This way, students develop a love for learning too. They also have an interactive storytelling session where children will be given the opportunity to open up their imagination and make room for new experiences.
Curriculum: Creative curriculum; The Mighty Experience
Contact details: View the contact details of all branches here.
AGE | FEES | ADMISSION | CAMPUS LOCATIONS |
| Children can be admitted as early as 6 months | Make an enquiry by sending an e-mail to info@mightymindspreschool.com | Make an enquiry by sending an e-mail to info@mightymindspreschool.com | Hang Tuah, Menteng |
7. Royal Primary Academy
Students who are graduates from this school have an advantage. Royal Primary Academy applies the International Primary Curriculum IPC that is considered as the best in preschool and primary education. This prepares them for the coming school years since their training is not only student-focused, it also develops them as a whole person. They focus on the 21st century kind of learning that includes creative thinking, enquiry based, technology driven, effective communication and high productivity. You can sign up for a tour or a trial.
Curriculum: International Primary Curriculum (IPC), a comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum for children aged 3-12; The Leader in Me aims to develop leadership skills in its students
Contact details: +62-811-8899-400 | info_rpa@royalacademy.sch.id
AGE | FEES | ADMISSION | CAMPUS LOCATION |
| There is an age eligibility, but special consideration may be given by the principal for students not falling into the stated range. View here. | Application fee: IDR 2.800.000 and is non-refundable under any circumstances | Selection is on a “first come, first served” basis Candidates will be accepted if they have met the passing criteria of the Student Admission Assessment, fulfilled all academic and administrative requirements and have already made payment. For expatriate students:
| The Kuningan Place Jalan Kuningan Utama Lot 15 Lumina Tower, 9th floor 12960 Jakarta, Indonesia |
Image credits: Bambino Preschool, Eton House, Indonesia Expat, Bambino Preschool, Jakarta World Academy, Lollypop Preschool, Mighty Minds, Little Steps Asia
