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Tickles International School

Portugal, Porto

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Portuguese, English
Fees €5,115 - 5,662
Ages 0 - 10 years
Pupil numbers 600
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Cambridge (Primary)
Taught languages Portuguese, English
Strengths STEM, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Preschool, Primary School
Introduction

Tickles International School in Portugal offers an early years to primary programme within an international Cambridge framework, for students aged 0 to 10. The Cambridge Early Years and Cambridge Primary components are authorized from 2025/2026 and are taught as a supplement to the national Portuguese curriculum rather than a substitute. The Cambridge Primary program covers Art and Design, Computing, English as a Second Language, Global Perspectives and Physical Education, alongside Cambridge subjects, with English taught as a second language where needed and Cambridge Primary Progression Tests for Years 2–4. The school operates Nursery, Day Care, Pre-School and Primary, with a strong English component across creche and pre-school and a daily English lesson from Year 1. Facilities include healthy meals, a multidisciplinary support team, and after-school activities. The campus emphasizes Project-Based Learning API, Reading Club, Robotics, Digital Literacy, Financial Literacy, and cultural and artistic engagements with local institutions in the community.

R. São João de Brito Nº 344, 4100-283 Porto, Portugal

The Essentials

Tickles International School has 600 pupils, instruction in Portuguese, English.

Location
Rua São João de Brito, 344, 4100-452 Porto, Portugal. The school is located in Porto city. Contact: +351 226 182 000, +351 914 667 874; tickles@tickles.com.pt. The school offers pupil transport services.

Stages
Nursery; Day Care; Pre-School; Primary School; Cambridge

Type
International school

Additional learning support
Support and therapeutic services provided by a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team to complement development and well-being.

Country affiliation
Portugal

Bus service
School transport is provided; children are transported in appropriate seats by a team of qualified professionals; fees for journeys are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniform is mandatory for creche, jardim de infância and ensino básico and must be purchased through the school. The winter uniform is worn October to April, and the summer uniform is worn September and May to July; creche and jardim de infância may also opt for a bata. The uniform must be clearly identified with the child's name; if not worn, the uniform will be put on the child by staff and debited to the next month's invoice; the school is not responsible for the loss of uniform items.

Food Options
We prepare meals with the utmost care and precision, adhering to high standards of hygiene and food safety that are regularly audited. We select fresh, high-quality ingredients to ensure a balanced, healthy diet tailored to the needs of each child. The school promotes food education based on variety and respect for each child's individuality.

Governance and Ownership
Tickles International School is a private educational establishment. It operates with autonomy to define its organizational and pedagogical management models.
Fees

Annual tuition at Tickles International School ranges from EUR 5,115 to EUR 5,662 for 2026/27.

Application and registration fees

- Pre-registration (non‑refundable): EUR 100.
- New registration (one-off, includes school insurance): EUR 390.
- Renewal of registration (one-off, includes school insurance): EUR 330.

Tuition fees by year group (monthly and semestral/annual where published)

- Berçário (Nursery)
- Monthly tuition: EUR 470.
- Material fee (charged in September): EUR 105.
- Semestral tuition: EUR 2,585.00. Annual tuition (11 months billed as the school's annual figure): EUR 5,066.60.

- Creche (Day care)
- Monthly tuition: EUR 465.
- Material fee (charged in September): EUR 125.
- Monthly lunch (when on monthly lunch plan): EUR 115.
- Semestral tuition: EUR 2,557.50. Annual tuition: EUR 5,012.70. Semestral lunch: EUR 632.50. Annual lunch: EUR 1,265.00. Lunch by occasion (avulso): EUR 7.50 per meal.

- Pré‑escolar (Pre‑school)
- Monthly tuition: EUR 465.
- Material fee (charged in September): EUR 125.
- Monthly lunch (when on monthly lunch plan): EUR 115.
- Semestral tuition: EUR 2,557.50. Annual tuition: EUR 5,012.70. Semestral lunch: EUR 632.50. Annual lunch: EUR 1,265.00. Lunch by occasion (avulso): EUR 7.50 per meal.

- 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (Primary / 1st Cycle)
- Monthly tuition: EUR 470.
- Material fee (charged in September): EUR 140.
- Monthly lunch (when on monthly lunch plan): EUR 140. Lanche avulso (single snack): EUR 3.00.
- Optional bundled tuition that includes lunches (where offered): tuition with 1 lunch EUR 515; tuition with 2 lunches EUR 560. Semestral tuition: EUR 2,585.00. Annual tuition: EUR 5,066.60. Semestral lunch: EUR 770.00. Annual lunch: EUR 1,540.00. Lunch by occasion (avulso): EUR 7.50 per meal.

Additional recurring or one‑off school costs

- Digital class (Aula Digital), charged in September: EUR 55.
- Financial literacy (Literacia Financeira) for 3rd and 4th years, charged in September: EUR 32.50.
- Biology kit for 1st year (charged in September to 1st‑year or new students; validity 4 years): EUR 95.
- Study room / after‑school study (45–60 minutes per day, after classes): EUR 120.
- After‑hours care (applies from the first hour after 19:00): EUR 15 for the first hour; EUR 25 for each following hour.
- Material fees for school year are charged only in September of the current school year. Optional enrichment activities and field trips are charged separately and must be paid before the activity. Meal fees for missed days are not refundable.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Monthly billing: invoices must be paid between day 1 and day 5 of the respective month; the school's annual billing covers 11 months (September to July).
- Semestral payments: due at the start of September and the start of March.
- Annual payment: if paid in a single installment by the start of the first month of attendance, an annual payment discount applies (published discount: 2% when paid in September).
- Second‑child sibling discount: 10% applied to the younger sibling(s) when applicable.
- New registrations and pre‑registrations must be paid at the time of enrollment/registration. Renewals are handled in January. The month of July is invoiced and settled in June.
- Late payment and non‑payment: invoices not settled in the prescribed period incur penalties. A late payment aggravation of 10% applies; persistent non‑payment may cause all remaining installments to become immediately due and can lead to termination of the service contract and the student losing their place. �.

Fee payment options (accepted methods and bank details)

- Accepted methods: cheque, cash, or bank transfer to the school's IBANs. When using bank transfer, identify the payment with the student's name.
- Bank accounts (IBANs as published for payments):
- PT50 0007 0509 0002 1920 0079.
- PT50 0036 0489 9910 6008 2175 2 (identify transfer with student name).

Boarding (residential) fees

- Boarding is not part of the Tickles provision (school operates nursery, creche, pre‑school and 1st cycle day services). No boarding fees are published.

Refund and cancellation rules

- The pre‑registration fee (EUR 100) is non‑refundable.
- Withdrawal/cancellation during the school year does not automatically entitle the family to reimbursement of amounts already paid and does not relieve the obligation to pay outstanding or upcoming instalments, except in specifically evaluated cases by school management. Meal fees for absences are not refundable. Failure to provide the required written notice of withdrawal (60 days where applicable) can incur an additional month's tuition charge.

Summary of how fees are presented and charged

- Tuition figures are published both as monthly amounts (used for monthly billing) and as semestral/annual totals (used when families opt for semestral or annual payment). Material fees and certain kits or program fees are one‑off charges collected in September. Optional services (study room, after‑hours care, digital class, specific kits, enrichment activities) have separate published amounts and billing rules. Late payment carries a financial penalty and may lead to loss of enrollment if unresolved.
Academics

Tickles International School teaches Cambridge (Primary) for students aged 0 to 10.

Curriculum
Cambridge Early Years and Cambridge Primary are part of Tickles' Cambridge Pathway, authorized to teach from the 2025/2026 academic year. The programs cover pupils from kindergarten through Year 4 and are taught as a supplement to the national Portuguese curriculum, not a substitution. The school earned Cambridge school code PT777 on 12 September 2025. The Cambridge Primary component includes Art and Design, Computing, English as a Second Language, Global Perspectives and Physical Education; these sit alongside a broader set of Cambridge Primary subjects. English remains a strong component across the curriculum, with English taught as a second language where needed. Cambridge Primary assessments include annual Cambridge Primary Progression Tests for English as a Second Language and Global Perspectives in Years 2–4, and the weekly timetable shows Cambridge Primary hours by year.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Tickles offers an educational experience focused on emotional, cognitive, social and physical development. The school aims to develop confident, autonomous students with an international outlook. The learning environment emphasizes well-being, collaboration and resilience, supported by a multidisciplinary team offering therapeutic services.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Tickles provides a broad range of optional student support and therapeutic services, delivered by a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team. The aim is to complement development and well-being across the educational community. These services support diverse learning needs and promote overall welfare.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English has a strong component across Nursery, Day Care, Pre-School and Primary Education, with a Cambridge Primary program. Cambridge introduces structured learning to equip students with essential knowledge for academic and professional futures. English language development is a central feature of Tickles' curriculum in the early years.

Mental Wellbeing
Tickles focuses on emotional, cognitive, social and physical development to prepare students for a changing world. The school emphasizes student well-being as a core objective, including healthy meals that promote well-being and nutrition education. The school offers a range of support and therapeutic services to complement well-being, delivered by a multidisciplinary team to support mental and emotional growth.

Safeguarding
The internal regulation includes safety, health and hygiene provisions for children. Personal accident insurance is mandatory, and students are covered under the insurance included in tuition. For safety, parents must keep the entrance and exit doors closed, evacuation norms exist, and hygiene and health safety measures are audited and enforced.
Parent Experience

History
Tickles International School is a living institution that evolves with time, guided by its people, its identity, and its history. Over the past 20 years, Tickles has been writing its own trajectory, a continually evolving story that the school aims to make more engaging and inspiring with every new chapter. Education for Life anchors the school's approach, delivering an educational service of excellence grounded in past experiences and learnings, attentive to present challenges and guided by a future vision for a global world. The Creche and Nursery programs, with a strong English component, underpin early years, and Cambridge Primary underpins the First Cycle, preparing students for life and for future academic and professional endeavors. The school also offers a broad range of optional therapeutic and psychological services delivered by a multi-disciplinary team to support development and well-being.

Community
Tickles International School describes its community as a living organism that grows with the context and with its actors, shaping its identity and history. Over the last 20 years, Tickles has built its own trajectory, a story continually in construction. Education for Life anchors the community, translating into a welcoming, challenging educational experience delivered by dynamic, attentive, and dedicated professionals with an international outlook. The Cambridge Primary program supports the First Cycle with a strong English component across the early years, and the school provides a broad range of optional therapeutic services through a multi-disciplinary team to support the development and well-being of its educational community. The school's community life also reflects activities and outcomes such as external visits and theatre performances, thousands of meals served, student-created creations and games, and a growing enrollment of hundreds of children in its care.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Tickles offers Nursery, Day Care, Pre-School, and Primary School within an international Cambridge framework. The Nursery is a warm, family-like space where babies grow, thrive, and form secure attachments with their families. Day Care supports holistic development with activities guided by pedagogical, socio-emotional, hygiene, and safety principles, with English playing an important role. Pre-School uses active, play-based learning with a strong English component, aligned with Cambridge Early Years. Healthy meals are prepared with fresh ingredients under high hygiene standards, and a multidisciplinary team provides additional support to complement development and well-being.

Sports Facilities
Sport at Tickles promotes holistic development through physical activity. Sport is an essential part of children's development, fostering health, teamwork, discipline, and respect. From an early age, pupils are encouraged to engage in free movement and to adopt an active lifestyle. More than competition, we value the enjoyment of participation, the thrill of overcoming challenges, and growth through cooperation and respect.

Academic Facilities
Tickles offers Nursery, Day Care, Pre-School, Primary School, and Cambridge programs. The Primary Curriculum includes Portuguese, English, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Project-Based Learning – API (Learning Through Inquiry), Global Perspectives, Visual Arts, Singapore Mathematics, Performing Arts, Robotics, Reading Club, Emotional Education, Physical Education, Biology, Financial Literacy, and Digital Literacy. Cambridge Primary prepares pupils through structured learning, with a strong English component and international content. Cambridge Early Years and Cambridge Primary provide progression and global perspectives, preparing students for life. Reliable assessment and globally recognised certification are part of the Cambridge pathway.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Tickles activities are designed to respond to ages and interests and are offered after school. Extracurricular offerings include Ballet, Dance, Individual Instruments, Swimming, Yoga, Aloha, Inventors, Football, Acrobatic Gymnastics, Capoeira, and Chess. These activities aim to stimulate creativity, movement, and discovery and to develop concentration, teamwork, and discipline. After-school experiences help students discover new passions, develop talents, and grow in a balanced way. Activities are designed to be engaging and age-appropriate for each child.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
From Year 1, students have a daily English lesson with a specialized English teacher. The 1st cycle follows the Portuguese national curriculum and is complemented by the Cambridge Primary program from Cambridge Assessment International Education, including English as a Second Language and Global Perspectives, with annual Cambridge Primary Progression Tests for Years 2–4. Cambridge Primary also includes Art and Design, Computing, and Physical Education, integrated with the national curriculum. In the early years, there is a strong emphasis on English as a language component across creche and pre-school stages.

Arts & Creative
The school offers Ballet, Dance, and Individual Instrument sessions as after-school arts activities. Ballet develops expression, posture and discipline; Dance stimulates creativity, coordination and rhythm; Instrumental lessons foster musicality, concentration and artistic sensitivity. The program supports creative expression through these activities and showcases students' work within the school year.

Cultural & Language
The school collaborates with external cultural institutions to enrich learning. Fundação de Serralves provides nature- and art-related workshops, and Casa da Música offers interactive education programs. The school also programs visits to cultural sites and parks such as Jardim Botânico and Parque da Cidade, integrating cultural experiences into the curriculum. Family involvement is encouraged in cultural activities and school events.

Social & Hobbies
A broad range of after-school experiences stimulates creativity, movement and discovery. Activities include Ballet, Dance, Instrumental lessons, Swimming, Yoga, Aloha, Inventors, Football, Acrobatic Gymnastics, Capoeira and Chess. The Reading Club is integrated across disciplines to develop literacy and language skills. These offerings support social interaction, teamwork and personal interests outside the classroom.

Community & Service
The school engages with external cultural institutions to enrich learning through regular workshops and activities. It maintains strong family engagement by planning events that involve parents and relatives, such as special days and celebrations. The campus also utilizes nearby public spaces and cultural venues, including Parque da Cidade and Jardim Botânico, to support curricular and community activities.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Healthy meals are provided to promote well-being and nutrition. Autonomy and confidence are central to the school's approach to pupil development. The school offers extensive physical activities, including Swimming, Football, Gymnastics, Capoeira and Yoga, to foster fitness, teamwork and well-being. A Reading Club supports literacy and language development across disciplines.
Languages

Language Provision
Portuguese and English are taught. There is a strong English-language component in Day Care, Pre-School and Primary School. Cambridge Early Years and Cambridge Primary programmes underpin the international education, with Cambridge Primary providing an internationally recognised framework and certification. The Primary Curriculum includes Portuguese and English among other subjects.
Admissions

Admissions
Start your admissions journey: The admissions process can be started at any time during the school year by contacting the school directly or by completing the online pre-enrolment form. Pre-enrolment does not guarantee a place. Assessment and Introduction Meeting: After the application, the candidacy is analyzed by the Pedagogical Direction. Parents or guardians will be contacted to arrange an introduction meeting, where they can learn about the school's educational approach, facilities, and environment. Ideally, both pupil and parent/guardian attend. Place Confirmation and Enrolment: Once the application has been reviewed and a place confirmed, the parent/guardian will be contacted with instructions to complete the enrolment. Enrolment is final once the service agreement is signed. The school reserves the right to admit pupils at its discretion, and the agreement may be amended during the school year if necessary. Waiting List: If applications exceed the school's capacity, an updated waiting list will be maintained. When allocating places, priority is given first to siblings of pupils already enrolled, followed by children on the waiting list in the order in which their applications were received. Complete your pre-enrolment easily through the online form.

Waitlist
Waiting List: If applications exceed the school's capacity, an updated waiting list will be maintained. When allocating places, priority is given first to siblings of pupils already enrolled, followed by children on the waiting list in the order in which their applications were received.
School Events
The school has not added events
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