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PlayPen Escola Cidade Jardim

Brazil, São Paulo

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Portuguese
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 1 - 16 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1981
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), IB (PYP)
Taught languages Spanish, English, Portuguese
Strengths Languages, STEM, Sport
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, High School
Introduction

PlayPen Escola Cidade Jardim in Brazil is an independent bilingual school within the Cognita network, the first Cognita school in Latin America. It offers English-immersion from Early Years and bilingual literacy in English and Portuguese within the IB framework, with Spanish taught as a foreign language. The school serves ages 1 to 16, from Early Years through secondary, delivering the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) while pursuing authorization to offer the Middle Years Programme (MYP) as a candidate. The PYP emphasises inquiry-based learning and global perspectives, integrated with social and cultural development. The campus, designed by Isay Weinfeld and Márcio Kogan, connects indoor and outdoor spaces and features ramps for accessibility. Facilities include extensive library, outdoor and rooftop sports areas, and spaces for labs and after-school activities. With about 130 staff, the school offers after-school clubs in languages, robotics, arts, and sports, plus international experiences and Cognita Be Well day.

Praça Prof. Américo de Moura, 101 - Cidade Jardim, São Paulo - SP, 05670-060, Brazil

The Essentials

PlayPen Escola Cidade Jardim has instruction in English, Portuguese.

Location
Praça Professor Américo de Moura, 101, Cidade Jardim, São Paulo, SP, Brasil

Stages
Early Years; Elementary School; Middle School

Type
Independent bilingual school; English-immersion education; IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme and pursuing the Middle Years Programme as a candidate; Cognita network; Spanish taught as a foreign language

Country affiliation
Brazil
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The school has a uniform; uniform providers are listed.

Food Options
Lunches and the canteen are provided; daily menus are available.

Governance and Ownership
The school is part of Cognita; it is the first Cognita school in Latin America.
Fees
Application / Registration Fees
- The school does not publish a public, fixed application or registration fee schedule. Families should contact the school's fees/finance team or Admissions for the exact application or enrolment charge and the payment timing.

Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)
- The school does not publish a public fee table showing tuition by year group or per term. No definitive per-term or per-year numeric tuition schedule is publicly available; families must obtain the current fee schedule directly from the school's finance office.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- A public billing timetable (for example: monthly, termly, or annual billing), accepted payment deadlines, and penalty or discount policies are not published. The school provides fee and billing details on request from its finance or admissions contacts.

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- Boarding is not offered or referenced as a school service; the school operates as a day school and no boarding fee schedule is published.

Other costs and additional fees
- Uniforms: The school uses external uniform providers; uniform costs are not published by the school and must be obtained from the listed uniform suppliers.
- Transportation: Group bus/transport options are provided by an approved external contractor (Bus Children); transportation fares and contracts are arranged separately through that provider and are not part of a publicly posted school tuition table.
- Meals / Canteen: Canteen and meal arrangements exist, but specific meal or canteen fees are not published publicly.
- Extracurriculars / clubs / specialist activities: Any fees for optional activities, labs, or extracurricular programmes are not published in a public fee schedule and are communicated individually.

Refund information
- The school does not publish a publicly available refund or withdrawal refund policy showing conditions and percentages. Refund terms (for withdrawal, cancellation, or deferred admission) are handled by the finance/administration office and must be requested directly.

Fee payment options
- The school does not publish a definitive, public list of accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, credit card, boleto, or direct debit). Accepted payment methods and instructions are provided to families by the school's finance or admissions team.

Contacts for fees and finance
- For specific numeric fee schedules, billing cycles, payment methods, refunds, and any documented fee policies, contact the school's fees/finance contacts:
- Email for fee enquiries and financial aid: teresa.martins@PlayPen.com.br.
- Admissions contact / general enquiries: admissions@playpen.com.br.
- Main school telephone: +55 (11) 3812-9122 (use school reception or extensions listed for records/secretary).

Brief summary of findings
- The school does not make a public, itemised fee schedule (application fees, tuition per year group and per term, billing schedule, refund policy, or published payment-method list) available in its public information. All numeric fee details and formal fee policies are provided on request by the school's finance or admissions office; use the finance and admissions contacts above to obtain the exact figures and written fee schedule.
Academics

PlayPen Escola Cidade Jardim teaches IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), IB (PYP) for students aged 1 to 16.

Curriculum
The school is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for children aged 3 to 11. It is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11 to 15, pursuing authorization to offer the programme. The curriculum is bilingual with full immersion in English from Early Years and simultaneous literacy in English and Portuguese within the IB framework, and Spanish is taught as a foreign language. The PYP emphasises inquiry-based learning to develop academic competencies as well as social-emotional, ethical, and cultural skills. The school integrates global perspectives through social projects, community engagement, and international experiences. The programme is authorised by the São Paulo Department of Education and is globally recognized.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school focuses on holistic development with social-emotional growth, balancing academic achievement with social projects, community engagement, and international experiences to broaden students' worldview.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Accessibility and special needs policy is in place to guide support for diverse learners, including procedures aligned with safeguarding and inclusion.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Students experience full immersion in English from Early Years with simultaneous literacy in English and Portuguese based on the IB framework; Spanish is taught as a foreign language.

Mental Wellbeing
Socio-emotional experience is a priority, supported on site by a school psychologist who collaborates with year groups, families, and external professionals to promote a supportive, caring, safe environment.

Safeguarding
Safety and wellbeing are the highest priorities. A safeguarding program aligned with British standards is in place, with a dedicated on-site psychologist, a safeguarding committee, and comprehensive safeguarding policies.
Parent Experience

History
Escola Cidade Jardim | PlayPen is the country's first bilingual school, where students learn in English from the early years. It is a Brazilian school that offers, as few do, the acclaimed International Baccalaureate framework (IB) from start to finish of the academic journey. Since 2012, the school has been part of Cognita Schools, a leading international education network, and it is the first Cognita school in Latin America, enabling a global education. With about 130 staff, the school is the right size to offer borderless experiences in a safe, welcoming space with individualized care.

Community
Play Day is a family-focused event at Escola Cidade Jardim | PlayPen featuring storytelling, arts, and music, with a guided tour of the facilities to illustrate how bilingual international education is delivered in a safe, welcoming environment. The school offers complete bilingual education, with Early Years taught entirely in English and Primary years split 50% English and 50% Portuguese. The curriculum combines national and international standards and is integrated with the IB framework, fostering a global mindset through international experiences and multilingual participation. Small class sizes (up to 18 students in Early Years) and a safeguarding program aligned with British standards support wellbeing and individualized attention.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The campus is designed for learning and play. The school was designed by renowned architects Isay Weinfeld and Márcio Kogan, with spaces that support teaching and learning through smart, functional design. Large early years rooms have sliding glass doors that connect indoor and outdoor spaces, and the patio uses a free-span design to enable safe outdoor exploration. Inside, ramps interconnect all floors to improve accessibility for younger children.

Sports Facilities
Outdoor spaces for physical activity include a soccer/basketball court in the elementary area and a roof terrace with a soccer/basketball/volleyball court for middle and high school. The elementary area also features a hanging garden, a covered area with a climbing wall, and tables for ping pong and foosball, plus a jump rope station and hopscotch. The middle and high school roof terrace has a panoramic view and a sunny seating area. The roof terrace also includes a giant chessboard.

Academic Facilities
An extensive library is open to all students. Early years 4 begin checking out a book weekly; early years 5 through elementary years visit the library twice weekly, once during Portuguese hours and once during English hours, checking out one book in each language weekly. First grade uses leveled readers in English to develop reading skills. Older students use the library to study, read during downtime, play chess, and conduct research.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Labs and extracurricular activities complement and extend learning beyond the classroom, available to students from early years 5. Clubs run after school every day with options including book club, school band, robotics, arts and crafts, and study groups in English and Portuguese. Soccer is offered from age 3, plus ballet, capoeira, judo, and circus skills for elementary students. Older students can join ECJ teams in volleyball, soccer, and basketball. Special events such as Carnival, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, and Cognita Be Well day are organized throughout the year.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The activities help students develop new skills, discover new interests and hobbies, and socialise in a variety of environments. The school offers a variety of labs and extracurricular activities for students of all ages, from Early Years 5 onward, to complement and expand the learning experience beyond the classroom. The program includes arts, sports, robotics, and more, with daily after-school activities and age-appropriate options. The activities include a book club, a school band, robotics, arts, and study groups in English and Portuguese; football for children from three years old, plus ballet, capoeira, judo, and circus skills for Elementary I; older students can join ECJ teams in volleyball, soccer, and basketball.

Arts & Creative
Arts are offered through after-school activities, including a book club and a school band. Robotics and other arts activities are available, along with study groups in English and Portuguese. For Elementary I, ballet, capoeira, judo, and circus skills are available.

Cultural & Language
From Early Years, students experience complete immersion in the English language. They develop bilingual literacy in English and Portuguese based on the International Baccalaureate framework. Study groups in English and Portuguese are available as part of after-school activities.

Social & Hobbies
After-school activities include a book club, school band, robotics, and arts. Sports options include football for children from three years of age, plus ballet, capoeira, judo, and circus skills for Elementary I. Older students can join ECJ teams in volleyball, soccer, and basketball.

Community & Service
The school encourages engagement in social projects and active participation in the community. The school offers international experiences that broaden students' worldview. The Cognita Be Well Day is observed, suspending regular instruction to focus on wellbeing activities.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Diverse celebrations are organized throughout the year, including Carnaval, Halloween, and St. Patrick's Day. The Cognita Be Well Day is observed, suspending regular curriculum to focus on wellbeing activities.
Languages

Language Provision
English, Portuguese, and Spanish are taught. English immersion supports bilingual literacy from Early Years, and Spanish is offered as a foreign language.

Bilingual Teaching
The school provides bilingual education in English and Portuguese. It is a pioneer in bilingual education in Brazil.

Immersion Programs
From Early Years Education, students experience full immersion in English, with simultaneous literacy in English and Portuguese developed under the International Baccalaureate framework.
Admissions

Admissions
Admissions are processed online through the enrollment portal in seven steps. Start by selecting the candidate segment in the upper left of the enrollment page. Click the enrollment button and enter the guardian's details and the course option (Step 01: Basic Data). Complete the information for the candidate and guardians, plus financial and academic details. To view fields, click the icon. Proceed to Step 02: Guardians, then Step 03: Course Data, where you indicate your area of interest and create a password. In Step 04: Confirmation of Enrollment Data, review the data and make changes if needed. When all data are correct, finalize the enrollment. Step 05: Enrollment Created; the enrollment information is sent to the registered email, and you can view status in the Candidate Portal. You may enroll another child or print the enrollment receipt. After admission, online enrollment is possible by clicking Matrícula; an electronic contract signing uses a security token sent to the responsible email; after signing, the enrollment is complete.

Scholarships
Scholarships are offered through two programs: Early Years (Education Infantil and Anos Iniciais) and Upper Grades/High School (Anos Finais and Ensino Médio). Early Years: open to Group 5 of Educação Infantil through 5th grade in 2023; public-school entrants may receive 100% scholarships; private-school entrants may receive 75%, 45%, or 25% based on academic performance and family socio-economic analysis; for each Social Scholarship, a private-school scholarship is provided. Applications are online via topstudent; registration was July 4–14, 2023. Evaluations include on-site school observation, analysis of the school report, and a guardian interview; all steps are eliminatory. Results are emailed within five business days; winners must submit required enrollment documents; the prize is personal and non-transferable; renewal depends on maintaining academic performance and complying with internal rules. Upper Grades/High School: open to students from sixth year to second year of high school in 2023; 100% scholarships for public entrants; 75%, 45%, or 25% scholarships for private entrants; for each Social Scholarship, one private-school scholarship is awarded. Applications via topstudent; registration July 4–14, 2023. Evaluations include report analysis, English, Portuguese, and Mathematics tests, plus an interview; the evaluation occurred on July 18 at the Escola Cidade Jardim | PlayPen. Results are emailed within five business days; winners have three business days to enroll; required documents are listed in the regulations; the prize is personal and non-transferable; renewal requires a minimum overall average of 8.0 and adherence to internal rules. References: Early Years scholarship regulations and Upper Grades/High School scholarship regulations.”}} PMID: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
School Events
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