CDNIS Early Years Centre

The CDNIS Early Years Centre (EYC) is situated on Hong Kong Island’s south side. It is a short walk from Wong Chuk Hang MTR station, providing convenient access for families across the city. The main CDNIS campus is also nearby in Aberdeen.

The EYC serves Nursery (age 2) and Early Years 1 (age 3). Across the full institution, CDNIS offers continuous education from Early Years through Grade 12, covering the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP).

CDNIS is a co-educational, independent, non-profit day school. It does not provide boarding facilities; all students commute daily. The EYC runs half-day programmes.

The school publishes information about its Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) framework, but does not disclose EYC-specific provisions for Special Educational Needs (SEN) on its website.

CDNIS holds a Canadian affiliation. In addition to the IB Diploma, Upper School students also graduate with the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

The school has no religious affiliation.

The EYC operates half-day programmes. Morning sessions typically run from 7:50–10:20 and afternoon sessions from 11:50–14:20. Timings may vary slightly between Nursery and Early Years levels.

CDNIS offers a bus service for its main Aberdeen campus through a contracted provider (KCM). However, the school clearly states that no bus service is available for students enrolled in the Early Years Centre.

Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS) delivers the full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum, which includes the Primary Years Programme (PYP) from Early Years 1 to Grade 5, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) from Grades 6 to 10, and the Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11 and 12. In addition, students in the Upper School graduate with the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), a qualification from the Canadian province of Ontario. In the Early Years, families choose between a Bilingual Track (English/Chinese) or an International Track (English), with Chinese taught at multiple proficiency levels. French and Spanish are also introduced as language options in later grades. This dual qualification pathway ensures that students leave with both the IB Diploma and the OSSD at graduation.

CDNIS describes Social and Emotional Learning as a core part of its student development. The school highlights fostering self-awareness, resilience, empathy, growth mindset, and positive relationships across all year levels. SEL is integrated into teaching practices and the wider school culture, rather than being delivered as a standalone subject. While the website outlines the intended outcomes, it does not provide detailed information about dedicated staff roles or specific programmes.

The school does not publicly disclose detailed information about SEN support on its website. It states that it delivers the IB continuum within an inclusive framework but does not specify the kinds of Special Educational Needs it can support, nor does it identify itself as a specialist SEN institution.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding EAL. While CDNIS offers both an International Track (English) and a Bilingual Track (English/Chinese) in the Early Years, no dedicated EAL programmes or provisions are described on its public website.

CDNIS promotes student wellbeing through its SEL framework and community initiatives such as Local & Global Engagement and experiential learning opportunities. The website does not provide details about specialist counselling staff or mental health programmes dedicated to student wellbeing.

CDNIS has a published Child Safeguarding Policy, which references the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Task Force on Child Protection standards. The school identifies a designated Child Protection Lead and outlines clear responsibilities for safeguarding and reporting. The policy is reviewed annually and applies to all staff and community members.

1. Application Submission
Families begin by completing the online application form through the CDNIS Admissions Portal. At this stage, the non-refundable application fee is paid. Supporting documents, such as birth certificates, passport copies, and school reports (where relevant), must also be uploaded.

2. Application Review
Once submitted, the Admissions Office reviews the application to ensure it meets entry criteria. This includes verifying the child’s age alignment with grade placement and reviewing previous school records (for older applicants). Incomplete applications are not processed until all documentation is received.

3. Assessment and Interview
For some year groups, students may be invited to take part in assessments or interviews to evaluate readiness for the programme. Younger children (Nursery and EY1) may be observed in play-based sessions, while older applicants might complete academic assessments. Specific details vary depending on the entry point.

4. Offer of Admission
If successful, families receive an official offer letter with instructions for acceptance. At this stage, applicable fees must be paid, including the reservation deposit, entry fee, and capital levy (from EY1 onwards). Nursery families pay the first instalment of tuition to confirm the place.

5. Enrolment and Orientation
After acceptance, families receive enrolment instructions covering uniforms, transportation (if applicable), and school communications. Students and parents are invited to orientation sessions to help them transition smoothly into the CDNIS community.

CDNIS mentions scholarships within its Admissions section; however, the website does not provide public details about the types of scholarships offered, eligibility, or the application process. No information is available regarding scholarships for the Early Years Centre.

CDNIS operates a waiting pool system. Applicants not immediately offered a place may be placed in this pool, and offers are extended as spaces become available. The school does not publicly provide detailed priority criteria or ranking systems for the pool.