Early Years
Ages 2 to 5 — a gentle, structured start to school, and the first step of the Cambridge Pathway.
- Ages
- 2 to 5
- Stages
- Pre-Nursery, Nursery, Reception
- Curriculum
- Cambridge Early Years
- Specialist lessons
- Music, PE and Thai
- Tuition
- ฿196,350 a year2026–2027, Pre-Nursery to ReceptionSee all fees
Early Years
At BCIS, the Early Years is where childhood is given room to breathe. We follow the Cambridge Early Years curriculum, the first step of the Cambridge Pathway that continues through to A Level, delivered through purposeful play rather than worksheets and desks. Small classes mean every child is known by name, not just by year group. It is early education built the British way: gentle, structured and unhurried, so curiosity has time to become confidence.
Stages Within Early Years
Pre-Nursery
A gentle introduction to school life, focused on settling in and building trust with teachers through play
Nursery
Developing communication, curiosity and independence through structured play and first steps in early literacy
Reception
Building school-readiness skills and a strong foundation in phonics and numbers ahead of Primary
A day in Early Years
A familiar daily rhythm helps starting school feel like an adventure, not an upheaval.
- Arrive and settle
- A warm welcome from a teacher who knows your child by name.
- Learn through play
- Early reading, number and talk, built into games and stories.
- Specialist lessons
- Music, PE and Thai, woven into every week.
- Outdoor time
- Fresh air, movement and shared games in the Early Years garden.
- Story time
- Shared stories that build spoken English and a love of books.
Your child will develop across seven key areas
Communication and Language
Building confidence in speaking and understanding
Physical Development
Coordination, movement, and fine motor skills
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Confidence, independence, and friendships
Literacy
Early reading and writing through stories and play
Mathematics
Numbers, shapes, and early problem-solving
Understanding the World
Exploring nature, culture, and technology
Expressive Arts
Creativity through art, music, and role play
What this means for your child
A joyful, confident start to school life
Real fluency and confidence in spoken English
A genuine love of learning that lasts
Why families choose BCIS for Early Years
Choosing BCIS in Early Years means choosing more than a single year — it is the start of one pathway that continues through Primary, into Cambridge IGCSE, and on into A Level, without a change of school as your child grows.
Many of the parents who join us in Early Years are new to Chiang Mai themselves. Starting school somewhere new is easier when the school itself feels like a community, not an institution to be navigated.
Your child's path beyond Early Years
Children joining BCIS in Early Years continue on the same campus through the Primary years, into Cambridge IGCSE, and on into A Level. Sixth Form facilities are already built and ready on our Chiang Mai campus as each year group grows into them, so families don't need to plan for a change of school as their child gets older.
Questions Parents Ask
Is Early Years the same as kindergarten or preschool?
Broadly, yes. Early Years covers the years many families call kindergarten, preschool or nursery. At BCIS it follows the Cambridge Early Years curriculum, the first step of the Cambridge Pathway, and runs from Pre-Nursery through Nursery to Reception, before children move into Year 1.
What age can my child start in Early Years at BCIS?
Children can join from age 2 in Pre-Nursery. Early Years at BCIS covers ages 2 to 5.
What happens after Early Years?
Children move into Primary at age 5, beginning Year 1 and Key Stage 1. Because both stages are taught on the same campus in Chiang Mai, the move is a familiar one rather than a change of school.
See our Early Years classrooms for yourself