Infants Guide to Expats who relocating to Hong Kong
Daycare
There are limited daycare facilities for infants available in Hong Kong as there exists a strongpreference towards engaging domestic helpers to take care of young children. The majority of the facilities currently available are government-run and cater to the local community, so most of the care givers in the daycare centers do not speak English. Most expats find that it does not make financial sense to opt for a private daycare center over hiring a domestic helper, as daily half-day sessions at a private center costs between HK$4,000-$11,000 a month, much higher than the cost of a full-time, live-in helper at HK$3,740 a month. See our “Domestic Help” section for complete information on nannies and helpers.
| Name | Age | Student Intake | Monthly Fees | Location | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston Children Centre | 2-5 | 40 | Primary 1-2: $10,500/M Primary 3-4: $11,000/M Primary 5-6: $11,500/M |
Kowloon Tong | G/F, 14 Cumberland Road Tel: 2337 9049 http://www.kingston.edu.hk |
| Montessori for Children | 2-6 | 43 | $39,295 per term in 2014. | Stanley | House A, Phoenix Garden R.B.L. 1033, Tai Tam Village Tel: 2813 9589 http://www.montessori.edu.sg/faqs_hk.asp |
| Highgate House Nursery | 2-6 | 50 | $2000-$9500 depending on the age of your child and the frequency of attendance. Further details can be found on the school website. | The Peak | Shop No 6, 2/F Block B, Dairy Farm Shopping Centre Tel: 2849 6336 http://www.highgatehouse.edu.hk |
| Tutor Time International Nursery |
2-3 | 50 | Fees at differ according to age of the child and the frequency of attendance. Please contact the school for information | Kowloon Tong, Mid-Levels,North Point and Red Hill, Tai Tam | Tutor Time operates from five locations in Hong Kong http://www.tutortime.com.hk/locations.asp |
| Parkview Rhine Garden International Nursery |
2-3 | 56 | Fees differ according to the age of your child and the frequency of attendance. Further details can be found on the school website. | Tsuen Wan | Podium Level 2, Tower 5 Rhine Garden, 38 Castle Peak Road Tel: 2496 2080 http://www.pips.edu.hk |
| Morningstar Preschool and Kindergarten | 2-3 | N.A. | Fees differ on the basis of the number of hours and classes that your child takes but full-time fees range from $3100 to $7500 a month | Pokfulam | Block H2, Ground Floor Chi Fu Fa Yuen,Pok Fu Lam Hong Kong |
| Baby Buddies International Playgroup | Three months to 3 yrs | N.A. | Contact playgroup for fee information | Four locations in Hong Kong three on the Island and one opening soon in Kowloon | Hotline:- 5188 0671 |
| Braemar Hill Nursery | 2-6 | 95 | Rumoured to be the most expensive preschool in Hong Kong at over $10000 a month | Jardine’s Lookout | 1/F Chun Fai Centre No 9 Chun Fai Road Tel: 2578 7922 http://www.braemarhillnurseryschool.net/contact.htm |
Playgroups
Some playgroups are privately run, while others are non-profit organizations, which require parent participation. Several large apartment developments and estates also run their own playgroups. Before you enroll your child in a playgroup, it is advisable to check that they are registered with the Social Services Department or the Education Department, as the authorities have specific regulations with regard to safety, hygiene, and the qualifications and experience of childcare workers in relation to the number of children in a playgroup. The fee policies of each playgroup differ enormously. Some offer classes by the hour whilst others require that children are signed up for a minimum of a twelve week period. Please check the websites of each playgroup for specific details.
| Name | Age | Monthly Fees | Location | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Kids PPA Playgroup | 18m-3y | $135 per session. | Mid-Levels | 2/F East Wing, 12 Borrett Road Tel: 5193 2044 http://www.hkppa.org/borrett-road |
| Kindermusik By Catherine | 18m-5y | Various packages available, check website for more details. | Central | Suite 1005A, 10/F, The Centrium 60 Wyndham St Tel: 2518 4840 http://www.kindermusikbycatherine.com |
| Kiddicraft Playgroup | 1-2y | Various courses offered do contact the playggroup for details | Kowloon Tong | 107 Waterloo Rd Kowloon Tong Tel: 2338 5890 http://www.kiddikraft.com |
| Graceful Hands Kids Center | 1-3y | Various packages available, check website for more details. | Prince Edward |
8/F Summit Insurance Building 789 Nathan Road Tel: 8227 8842 http://www.gracefulhands.com |
| English Adventures | 10m-3y | $200 per class on weekdays and $255 per class at weekends. Twelve-week packages available, check website for more details. | Tsing Yi | G/F, House 51, Tsing Fai San Tsuen Tsing Sum Street Tel: 2432 2525 http://www.english-adventures.com |
| Jack & Jill Treehouse | 6m-3y | $240-$350 per class |
Mid-Levels | Shop 608, Universal Trade Centre 3 Arbuthnot Road, Mid-Levels Tel: 3102 1328 http://www.jacknjill.com.hk |
Pre-Schools and Kindergartens
There is a wide choice of private pre-schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong, but demand is very high and the popular schools typically have long waiting lists. The entry age for a child is between two to three years old, depending on the school.
| Name | Curriculum | Age | Student-Teacher Ratio | Monthly/Yearly Fees (Half-Day Session) | Location | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anfield International Kindergarten | British | 2-5 | 10:1 | $4,300 | Kowloon Tong and Whampoa Hung Hom |
6 Somerset Road Kowloon Tong Tel: 2794 3668 http://www.anfield.com.hk/ |
| Carmel Jewish Pre-school | American | 3-5 | 15:1 | Nursery and Pre-K – HK$8,100 per annum
Elementary classes – HK$13,050 per annum |
Mid-Levels | 1 Robinson Place 70 Robinson Rd Tel: 2249 7600 http://www.carmel.edu.hk |
| Woodlands Pre-Schools | British | 2.5-6 | 12:1 | Fees vary according to the hours of attendance and the campus selected. However, the average is around $7600 per month. | Various locations | Suite 2405, Universal Trade Centre, 3 Arbuthnot Road, Central Tel: 2559 4855 http://www.woodlandschools.com |
| International Montessori School | Association Montessori International | 3-5 | 12.5:1 | Around $7,000 per month. | Ap Lei Chau | G/F, Blocks 23-23A South Horizons Phase III Ap Lei Chau Tel: 2861 0339 http://www.montessori.edu.hk |
| Hong Kong International School | American | 3-6 | 20:1 | $103,800 for the year | Repulse bay | 23 South Bay Close Repulse Bay Tel: (852) 2812 5000 http://www.hkis.edu.hk |
| The Kellett School | British | 3-6 | 12:1 | $130,300 for the year | Pokfulam | 2 Wah Lok Path Wah Fu, Pokfulam Tel: 2551 8234 http://www.kellettschool.com |
| International Christian School | American | 3-5 | 10:1 | $52,200 for the year for half-day classes. | New Territories | 7/F, Jubilee Court Shopping Center 2-18 Lok King Street, Fotan Tel: 3920 0010 http://www.ics.edu.hk |
| Zebedee International Kindergarten | British | 3-5 | 20:1 | $4,000+ per month | New Territories | Ground Floor Yat Nga Court Nam Wan Road, Tai Po Tel: 2650 3339 http://www.zebedee.edu.hk |
