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The Giving Tree International School

Cambodia, Phnom Penh

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees KHR 13,480,000 - 26,980,000
Ages 1 - 12 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2008
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP)
Taught languages French, Mandarin
Strengths STEM, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School
Introduction

The Giving Tree International School (TGTIS) in Phnom Penh began as a nursery in 2008 and now offers Early Years and Primary education. The school is fully authorised to deliver the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and provides part- and full-time options from accompanied Baby Playgroups (12 months+) up to Primary 6. Specialist lessons listed on the school site include Art, Music, Swimming, Makerspace, ICT, STEM, Physical Education and Languages; the site also shows named specialist teachers for French and Chinese. The school publishes an annual fee schedule (USD) and an enrolment packet with age/grade guides and policies. TGTIS describes itself as serving Khmer and international learners in the BKK1 area of central Phnom Penh and notes plans to introduce the Middle Years Programme (MYP) from August 2026.

17 Street 71, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The Essentials

The Giving Tree International School has instruction in English.

Location
The Giving Tree International School is located at House #17, Street 71 in BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang I), a central residential and expat neighbourhood of Phnom Penh. The school's contact and office details (including opening hours) are listed on its website; BKK1 is well served by taxis and motorbike taxis and is a short drive from central Phnom Penh amenities.

Stages
The school offers Early Years programmes starting with accompanied Baby Playgroups (12 months+) and continues through Primary up to Primary 6. The school publishes a grade-level entry guide and operates the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB‑PYP).

Type
The school is an international, mixed‑gender (boys and girls) day school; its enrolment form requests gender and other standard student details. There are no boarding facilities shown on the school website.

Additional learning support
The school lists named Learning Assistants and several SEN Assistant roles on its staff pages and includes questions about Additional Educational Needs on its enrolment form, and it publishes an Admissions & Inclusion policy in the school policies section. Families should discuss specific needs with admissions to see available arrangements.

Country affiliation
The Giving Tree is an independent international school based in Phnom Penh and does not advertise affiliation to a particular foreign government or national system on its website.

Religious affiliation
The school site does not list a religious affiliation; its materials describe an IB, child‑centred curriculum without religious designation.

School day structure
The school office hours are published as 7:30 am–4:00 pm (Monday–Friday); Early Years enrolment materials show both full‑day and half‑day options for young children and the school calendar sets term dates and events. For exact classroom start/finish times and break/lunch arrangements (which can differ by year group) contact admissions.

Bus service
The school website does not advertise a regular school bus service; third‑party school listings also indicate no school‑provided bus. If you need daily transport, contact the admissions office to confirm current arrangements or local transport options.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Lunch is provided. The Lunch Menu shows a 4-week rotating menu with daily options, and snacks are served twice per day.

Governance and Ownership
The school was founded in 2008 by Anna Matcheret and Anya Weil.
Fees

Annual tuition at The Giving Tree International School ranges from KHR 13,480,000 to KHR 26,980,000 for 2026/27.

Enrolment and application fees

- Enrolment Fee (new students only): USD 700, one-time payment due upon acceptance of an offer.
- Capital Fee: USD 550 per year, payable in full before a child can start school; due date for the capital fee listed as 31 May.

Tuition fees (by year group and payment plan)

Three payment plans are offered: Full Year (single payment), Semester (two payments), or Term (four payments). The amounts below are shown as USD for the 2025–26 fee schedule.

- Early Years 1 & 2 (12 months to 3 years):
- Half day — Full year: USD 3,370; Semester: USD 1,797; Per term: USD 920.
- Full day — Full year: USD 4,494; Semester: USD 2,367; Per term: USD 1,215.

- Early Years 3 & 4 (3–5 years):
- Half day — Full year: USD 3,919; Semester: USD 2,038; Per term: USD 1,040.
- Full day — Full year: USD 5,121; Semester: USD 2,696; Per term: USD 1,380.

- Pre-Primary (5–6 years): Full year: USD 5,671; Semester: USD 2,985; Per term: USD 1,530.

- Primary 1 to Primary 6: Full year: USD 6,745; Semester: USD 3,550; Per term: USD 1,810.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Due dates (as shown in the fee schedule):
- Term 1 / Semester 1 / Annual payment: due 30 June.
- Term 2: due 30 September.
- Term 3 / Semester 2: due 12 December.
- Term 4: due 8 March.
- The capital fee due date is shown as 31 May.
- Invoices are issued one month prior to the payment deadline. Penalties for late payment apply (5% charged per month on unpaid fees). Up to a 5-day delay may be granted with prior written agreement from the Finance office. If fees remain unpaid for two weeks the school reserves the right to disenrol the student.
- Late-enrolment charge: if enrolling after more than 50% of a term has passed, the charge is 50% of one term's tuition.
- Family / sibling discount: 10% off tuition for the second child, 15% for the third, and 20% for the fourth (discount applied to the youngest attending siblings). The school also indicates an enrolment-fee waiver for siblings in some cases.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not listed in the school's programme offerings (the school provides Early Years and Primary programmes only); no boarding fees are included in the published fee schedule.

Other costs and optional fees

- Lunch (optional): Vegetarian option USD 320 per semester; Protein option USD 350 per semester.
- Extended pick-up (3:30–5:00 pm): USD 50 per month.
- After-school activities: typically USD 10–15 per one-hour session (per activity).
- Learning support: charged according to individual need; fee determined case-by-case.
- All other one-off or ancillary fees (application-related, materials, activity fees) are treated as separate from tuition and are described in the fee schedule as non-refundable.

Refund information

- Tuition refunds are considered only for full quarters (terms) or full semesters not attended; refunds are calculated on a term or semester basis as applicable. Finance charges are applied before refunds: 5% deduction for tuition and 20% deduction for the capital fee (as shown in the refund terms). If you withdraw 30 or more days before a term/semester installment due date a refund is guaranteed; withdrawing less than 30 days before the installment due date generally results in a 50% refund; withdrawal on or after the installment due date makes the parent responsible for that term's fee. The Fee Schedule indicates that other fees (non-tuition) are non-refundable.
- The school's Fee Schedule includes additional notes on force majeure and the school's obligations and limitations regarding refunds in exceptional circumstances.

Fee payment options

- Electronic / Bank transfer: payments must include the invoice number and/or student name. A copy of the bank transfer remittance slip should be scanned and sent to the Finance office to ensure proper credit.
- Cash: cash payments may be accepted only in USD.
- Cheque: listed as an accepted payment method.

Key administrative notes

- Invoices are normally issued one month prior to the payment deadline. The school may apply penalties for late payment and reserves the right to disenrol students for non-payment. Parents with unexpected financial hardship may apply in writing to the Finance office for a short-term variation of the payment plan.

If you require any specific line-item repeated exactly as shown above, the fee schedule PDF provides the official numeric breakdown for the 2025–26 academic year.
Academics

The Giving Tree International School teaches IB (PYP) for students aged 1 to 12.

Curriculum
The Giving Tree International School delivers an inquiry-led curriculum based on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and is an IB-authorized PYP school serving up to Primary 6.
Early Years (12 months–6 years) is play-based (Early Years 1–2 are play-focused; Early Years 3 introduces the IB approach before transition to Grade 1).
Primary (ages 6–12, Primary 1–6) follows the PYP with Units of Inquiry organised around the six transdisciplinary themes and teacher planning from scope-and-sequence documents.
Specialist provision includes Art, Music, Swimming, Makerspace, ICT, STEM, Physical Education and additional language lessons alongside core literacy, mathematics and science learning within the PYP framework.
The school also states a planned expansion to offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) from August 2026; Early Years do not lead to an external qualification but Primary students follow the IB PYP curriculum authorised by the IBO.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Giving Tree says it delivers the IB Primary Years Programme and uses the PYP Learner Profile to encourage personal development, social skills and student responsibility as part of inquiry-based learning. The Primary Programme page states the school seeks to develop students “socially, physically and mentally” and promotes Learner Profile attributes. Early-years activities such as circle time, music and movement are described on the Baby Playgroup page as part of social and motor-skill development. The site also emphasises parental partnership and open communication between parents and teachers as part of students' development. These statements are presented on the school website.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school's Admissions & Inclusion Policy states TGTIS welcomes students with a variety of abilities and learning needs and can offer Learning Support, but the number of students who can be supported is limited by available resources. The policy says some staff are qualified to support learners with learning disabilities and that the school will work with external Special Needs specialists to create bespoke programmes. It requires parents to submit special-needs documentation (for example IEPs, psychological reports, speech and language reports and teacher recommendations) and reserves the right to request specialist evaluation before admission. The policy also states the school is not a specialist SEN institution and explicitly says it cannot accept students requiring wheelchair access because of the historic nature of its buildings. These points are taken from the school's publicly posted Admissions & Inclusion Policy.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The Admissions & Inclusion Policy describes an optional, fee-based EAL programme run on a pull-out basis for learners whose English ability is restricting progress; the policy states the programme is offered at a stated hourly rate. The policy frames EAL as optional and targetted for learners identified as lacking English and limiting progress in other subjects. The information about the EAL programme and its pull-out structure appears in the school's Admissions & Inclusion documentation. If you'd like, I can extract the exact sentence or the current hourly rate from the document.

Mental Wellbeing
The school does not publish a separate mental-health programme page, but the Admissions & Inclusion Policy lists counselling among possible specialist interventions (alongside shadow assistants, speech and language and occupational therapy) that may be used where additional support is agreed. The school's use of the IB PYP and references to personal development and a nurturing environment also indicate wellbeing is part of its educational approach. Beyond those statements, the website does not publish a detailed, standalone mental-health or wellbeing policy. All items above are taken from the school's public pages and policy documents.
Parent Experience

History
The Giving Tree International School was founded in 2008 by two mothers, Anna Matcheret and Anya Weil, who started the school as a nursery to provide a safe, play‑based, child‑centered environment. It began as a small local initiative and expanded after sustained demand from parents and families, prompting the founders to redevelop the school's mission and reinvest in its growth. Over time the school broadened its offer beyond early years and now serves both Early Years and Primary students from a central Phnom Penh campus. The founders' vision emphasizes an affordable, collaborative and inquiry‑based approach that continues to guide the school's development.

Community
The school presents an active parent and student community that participates in regular events such as Orientation Day, Parent Coffee Mornings, Parent‑Teacher Conferences, Family Day, and school field trips. It also programs cultural celebrations and community nights — examples on the events calendar include World Night, Khmer New Year and Water Festival activities, Halloween events, and a Giving Night. Teaching and leadership content on the site additionally highlights a mixed Khmer and international student body and invites community collaboration in the school's development.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The website does not appear to describe a formal, separately constituted PTA, but it documents several recurring parent‑focused activities that serve a similar community‑building function. Regular “Parent Coffee Morning” gatherings, Parent‑Teacher Conferences, Orientation Days and parent art‑exhibition mornings are listed as opportunities for parents to meet staff and one another. Larger community events such as Family Day, World Night, Giving Night and cultural celebrations (e.g., Khmer New Year, Water Festival) also involve parent participation and volunteering. The site encourages parents and partners to reach out and collaborate on the school's development, suggesting an open line of communication between families and leadership. For parents wanting a formal PTA or a parent‑volunteer group, the most direct route is to contact the school office via the published email/phone/Telegram channels to request details or propose an organised parent group. If you'd like, I can draft a short email template you could use to ask the school about an official PTA or parent‑volunteer opportunities.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Giving Tree International School operates two campuses: the Early Years campus for children from 12 months to 6 years and the Primary campus for ages 6 to 12. The campuses are located in Phnom Penh's BKK1 area. On-site facilities support inquiry-based IB learning, with spaces for swimming, outdoor play, and dedicated classrooms and learning spaces. Academic facilities include a STEM classroom, ICT classroom, library, music room, and art classroom, along with a Makerspace and a Chinese language classroom. An Early Years classroom environment and a Nap room support rest and exploration.

Sports Facilities
The campus features a swimming pool and an outdoor playground for physical education and recreation.

Academic Facilities
Academic facilities include a STEM classroom, ICT classroom, library, music room, art classroom, Makerspace, and dedicated Early Years classrooms.

Extra Curricular Facilities
After-School Programs are available.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school provides part-time and full-time programmes for children from Baby Playgroups (12 months+) to Primary 6. The school is fully authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to offer the Primary Years Programme (IB-PYP) to its international learners in Phnom Penh. The IB-PYP framework guides learning by emphasizing inquiry, learning goals, conceptual understandings, and the development of the IB Learner Profile. Leadership and faculty are international educators with deep IB-PYP expertise, teaching in a child-centered, inquiry-based environment that supports a collaborative international community.

Leadership & Professional
Leadership and Faculty are international educators who lead in the classroom and guide student learning. They have deep expertise in teaching the IB-PYP. They work to inspire Khmer and international students and to enrich the Phnom Penh community. The school emphasizes ongoing professional learning among staff to support inquiry-based learning.
Languages

Language Provision
The school uses a play-based inquiry approach in Early Years 1 and 2 (12 months–2 years), where learners learn basic English and numeracy.
Reputation

Awards
The school website does not list any awards that have been awarded to the school in the past five years. I reviewed the school's Newsletters and Events pages (where school‑level announcements would typically appear) and found no entries showing awards presented to the school itself. If you'd like, I can search beyond the school website for awards reported elsewhere.

Accreditations
1) International Baccalaureate (IB) — The Giving Tree International School is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to deliver the Primary Years Programme (IB‑PYP). This authorization means the school has met the IB's programme and school‑wide standards for delivering the PYP curriculum framework and is allowed to use the IB designation.

2) Approval by Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport — the school's website states the Ministry inspected and approved the school to re‑open on 21 September 2020. Ministry inspection and approval indicates the school met applicable national requirements (including health and safety protocols referenced on the site).

No other formal accreditations or external quality‑assurance qualifications are listed on the school's public website.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Learn about the school and book a visit. Read the school's Enrollment Packet pages (programme, grade-level guide and calendar) to confirm the right year level and timetable options before you apply; the site includes a "Book a Tour" function and details on what you will see during a tour. Parents who cannot visit in person are advised to request the Virtual Tour or contact Admissions to arrange a meeting.

2. Check age/grade guidance and decide full-day vs half-day. The school publishes grade-level guidance and the Early Years and Primary age ranges on its programme pages — confirm whether your child should be enrolled as Early Years (12 months–6 years) or Primary (6–12 years) and whether you want the half-day (7:30–11:30) or full-day (7:30–16:00) option. Choosing the correct programme at this stage affects tuition banding and start dates, so review the Grade Level Entry guidance before you complete the application.

3. Complete and submit the Enrolment Form. The school requires a signed Student Enrolment Form that must be returned prior to the student's first day; the form requests passport-style photos, passport or birth certificate details, medical and vaccination information, previous school reports (if applicable), and emergency contacts. Make sure you answer the medical and additional educational needs sections fully and attach supporting documents where requested, because these inform placement and any learning-support planning.

4. Gather and upload / deliver the required documents listed on the Enrollment Checklist. The checklist specifies the documents the school needs to complete enrolment: accomplished enrolment, media release/opt-out, parent policy agreement, emergency contact form, two passport-size photos, the student's birth certificate or passport, vaccination record (if applicable), past school reports (if applicable), and signed pick-up cards; the settled enrolment fee (invoice provided upon payment) is also listed as a requirement. Submit scanned copies or the originals as directed by Admissions — missing items will delay start-date confirmation.

5. Review fees, pay the enrolment/capital items and choose a payment plan. New-student enrolment fee is listed at USD 700 (one-time, payable on acceptance) and a Capital Fee of USD 550 per year is required before a child can start; annual tuition bands are published by programme (Early Years bands and Primary bands) and the school offers full-year, semester and term payment options. The fee schedule also details sibling discounts (10% for 2nd child, 15% for 3rd, 20% for 4th), optional lunch and extracurricular charges, late-payment penalties (5% per month) and refund rules — read the Fee Schedule carefully and keep the invoice reference with payments.

6. Ask about learning support, placement and any assessment needs. The enrolment form asks about additional educational needs and requests past reports where relevant; the Fee Schedule notes that learning-support fees, if required, are calculated on individual need. If your child has an IEP, recent assessments or requires accommodations, submit those reports with the enrolment paperwork and speak to the Head of School or Admissions so placement and support can be arranged ahead of the start date.

7. Finalise acceptance and confirm start-date logistics. Once the school issues an acceptance and invoice, pay the enrolment/capital fees and tuition according to the chosen payment plan and provide any outstanding documents; the school states it may cancel an enrolment if applicable fees or documentation are not completed. Note published due dates for term/semester/annual payments and the school's policy on late enrolment (a 50% reduction for one term's tuition if enrolling later than 50% through a term) so you understand charges if you join mid-term.

8. Confirm day-to-day details and keep contact information current. Before your child's first day, confirm campus (Early Years ‘Discovery' campus vs Primary ‘Eureka' campus), pick-up arrangements and signed pick-up cards; the Enrollment Checklist and the Enrolment Form both emphasise keeping contact and medical details current. If anything changes after enrolment (address, medical, emergency contacts), notify the school in writing as required by the terms on the Enrolment Form.

Scholarships
The school's public materials for 2025–26 do not advertise a formal scholarship programme. The Fee Schedule does list family (sibling) discounts and allows parents experiencing unexpected financial hardship to apply in writing to the Finance office for short-term variation of a payment plan; learning-support fees are charged separately and depend on individual need. If you are seeking fee reductions, bursaries or a bespoke payment arrangement, contact the Finance office or Admissions to ask whether any discretionary assistance is available and what documentation would be required; the Enrollment Packet and Fee Schedule are the primary references for fees, discounts and hardship requests.

Waitlist
The school does not publish a separate public “waitlist policy” page, but the Fee Schedule confirms that if there is a waiting list for a class, places are offered to the first child on that list. That wording indicates the school operates a chronological queue when classes are full, rather than a points-based pool. If you need to join a waitlist or confirm your child's position, contact Admissions directly (the enrolment pages provide the Book a Tour/enquiry links and contacts) to ask to be added and to request written confirmation of your child's position and any time limits.
School Events
The school has not added events
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