Carmel School - Holly Rofé Early Learning Centre

The Holly Rofé Early Learning Centre is situated in the Mid-Levels district of Hong Kong Island. This is a mainly residential area located above Central, with convenient access to the city. Families are supported by a dedicated school bus provider that connects the campus with other neighbourhoods.

The ELC caters to children from age 1 to age 5 across Walkers/Tzutzik, Ganeynu/Pre-Nursery, Nursery (K1), and Pre-K. From there, children move into Carmel Elementary (IB PYP) and later Elsa High School (IB MYP and DP).

The school is an inclusive co-educational Jewish day school. Carmel operates as a day school across all three of its campuses, with no boarding facilities.

Carmel notes a dedicated Learning Enhancement Room at the Elementary campus. The ELC’s pages, however, do not publish details of SEN provisions or specific support for children with Additional Learning Needs.

Carmel is not affiliated with any one country; it is an International Baccalaureate Continuum School located in Hong Kong.

The school is an independent Jewish day school, guided by Modern Orthodox principles.

The ELC day begins at 8:45am. Families can extend the day through the Extended Day Programme (EDP), which runs from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, Monday through Friday.

Yes, the school offers a bus service run by City School Bus Service Limited. Families register directly through the provider, with support from the school office. If families cancel, one calendar month’s written notice is required, or a month’s fare is charged in lieu. Contact details for the provider are published, including a dedicated phone line and email.

The Holly Rofé Early Learning Centre provides programmes for children aged 1 to 5, focusing on sensory play, creative arts, movement, and outdoor exploration. English is the main language of instruction, with Mandarin taught three times per week from Nursery and Hebrew introduced as a subject; French is available in the Extended Day Programme. Students progress to Carmel Elementary, where the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) runs from Kindergarten through Grade 5. From there, they continue into Elsa High School, which delivers the IB Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) in Grades 6 to 10, followed by the IB Diploma Programme (IB DP) in Grades 11 and 12. Carmel is authorised as an IB Continuum School, meaning students can complete their entire IB pathway within the same institution.

The Holly Rofé Early Learning Centre incorporates age-appropriate development through structured activities such as sensory play, creative arts, movement, and outdoor exploration. These activities are designed to help children build early social interaction skills and emotional awareness. The programme includes music and movement sessions and free play, which provide opportunities for cooperation and self-expression. Specific staffing or dedicated SEL programmes are not publicly described on the school’s website.

Carmel School notes the presence of a Learning Enhancement Room at its Elementary campus. However, the Early Learning Centre pages do not provide details on the type of Special Educational Needs the school can support, nor do they outline SEN-specific provisions or specialist staff. The school does not present itself as a specialist SEN institution.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding EAL at the Early Learning Centre. At the admissions stage for Elementary and High School, the school notes that English proficiency is assessed for non-native speakers; however, no ELC-specific program or support is published.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding mental well-being initiatives, counselling services, or dedicated staff provision at the Early Learning Centre.

Carmel School publishes a Health & Safety Policy, which outlines its commitment to maintaining a secure learning environment. This includes guidelines for supervision, health measures, and safety protocols. However, a standalone safeguarding or child protection policy is not published on the website.

1. Application submission
Parents begin by completing the Application Checklist and Application Form, which can be submitted by email, post, or in person. For older applicants, additional documents such as student or educator questionnaires may be requested. Families are encouraged to apply well in advance, as placement is dependent on space availability.

2. Interview
Once applications are received, candidates and their families are invited for a face-to-face interview with the Carmel faculty. This meeting allows the school to better understand the child and the family’s expectations, while also giving parents the opportunity to ask questions. The interview is a required part of the process before any admission decision is made.

3. Assessment (where applicable)
While formal academic testing is not listed for Early Learning Centre admissions, the wider Carmel admissions process may include assessments, such as MAP entrance exams for higher grades. For ELC students, the focus is on developmental readiness rather than academic performance. The school also applies grade-level prerequisites for progression into Elementary and High School.

4. Placement criteria
Admission is based on age cut-off dates (31 October). For example, Nursery (K1) applicants must be three years old by 31 October of the school year. When places are limited, the school prioritises applications from siblings, children of staff, and members of the Jewish community.

5. Offer and enrolment
Successful applicants receive a formal acceptance letter. A non-refundable deposit is required to secure the child’s place at the school. Families must confirm acceptance promptly, as places are limited and demand is high.

The school does not publicly disclose information about scholarships or financial aid.

Carmel School does not operate a pool system. However, when places are limited, a priority system applies. Preference is given to siblings of current students, children of Carmel School staff, and children of employees or members of the Jewish community in Hong Kong. If no places are available, applicants may be placed on a waitlist until a space becomes available.