Give your kids an advantage by enrolling them in one of the best pre-schools in Hong Kong.
If you’re thinking about education options for your young ones, then you’ll definitely want to consider the best pre-schools in Hong Kong, as recommended by our littlest Honeycombers community members. The skills they learn at this stage will help them throughout their educational journey, no matter where it goes, from transitioning into an international school, understanding how they learn so they can best prepare for exams, and later, even giving them an edge when applying to universities.
The best pre-schools in Hong Kong
1. The International Montessori School
Parents love this pre-school for the Montessori method that encourages creativity, independence and experiential learning, and the chance for English and Chinese language immersion. Kids love it because it’s fun. The Foundation Groups and Casa dei Bambini programmes cover everything from sensory education and language to maths, history, science, and art. And, because each class has two teachers and a maximum size of 16 students, your child is sure to get the attentive learning they need. Depending on their age, students will attend a half-day class or full-day programme. There are four campuses in Hong Kong, so you’re sure to find one within easy reach.
The International Montessori School has four locations across Hong Kong.
2. ESF Kindergartens
For English-language pre-school programmes, it doesn’t get much better than the ESF. The brand’s five Hong Kong locations offer three-hour-long morning or afternoon sessions for kids between three and five years, all designed around the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme. The more structured approach gives students a jump start on literacy and numeracy skills, and even offers an introduction to Putonghua and the culture of China. Students who attend for two terms will also get priority access to interview with ESF Primary Schools, giving them a leg-up on the next step of their education.
ESF Kindergartens has five locations in Hong Kong.
3. Tutor Time International
With colourful locations all over Hong Kong, this pre-school has become a top choice for parents thanks to its bilingual English-Mandarin immersion programme. Catering to kids between the ages of six months and six years, Tutor Time will have your tots nattering away in two languages while also laying the foundation for future success by helping them learn with sensory activities, art, music, movement, and more. Children also learn at their own pace, with the proprietary Tutor Time Ability Profile helping teachers monitor each child’s progress so that they can create bespoke educational journeys.
Tutor Time International has five locations in Hong Kong.
4. Fairchild Junior Academy
Combining the teaching methods of Ontario, Canada’s Early Learning Framework and the Reggio Emilia approach, Fairchild puts its students in charge of their own development. With an emphasis on learning through inquiry and play, children here are encouraged to explore, get creative, and let their imagination run wild with fun, interesting activities that are suitable for a child’s developmental stage.
The pre-school offers four sections for Infants (8-15 months, 60-minute sessions); Toddlers (16-23 months, 90-minute sessions); Transition (24-26 months; 2 or 3-hour sessions); Pre-Reception (36-48 months; 3-hour sessions). Parents can also choose to add-on extension activities such as Mandarin, Music & Dance, and Storytelling to give their kids an even more holistic start in education.
Fairchild Junior Academy, 22/F Park Commercial Centre, 180 Tung Lo Wan Road, Tin Hau, Hong Kong
5. Woodlands
Popular with expats and open to kids between six months and six years, Woodlands combines the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) curriculum from England with the Montessori approach. Students are given a holistic education that helps them improve their communication skills, work on their physical and motor skills, and develop their social and emotional cues. Of course, they get a good foundation in reading, writing, and the arts too. There are nine campuses across Hong Kong, and all offer classes in English, Putonghua, or a combination of both.
Woodlands has nine locations across Hong Kong.
