The British American Pre-School (BAPS) in Milan

Bilingual Nursery School in Milan

The British American Pre-School (BAPS) is an English-language nursery school in Milan for children aged 2 to 6. 

About

BAPS was founded in 1987 by an English-speaking parent with a background in education, who wished to offer his children an education combining second-language acquisition with the strength of the Italian educational system.

Over time, BAPS consolidated its English-language educational offering and gave life to The Bilingual European School (BES), expanding the academic pathway. In 1999, It opened Milan’s first bilingual state-recognised Primary School in 1999, the bilingual state-recognised Middle School in 2007, and in 2025, the bilingual state-recognised High School, with a Double Diploma (Italian Diploma and OSSD – Ontario Secondary School Diploma).

Curriculum

The preschool programme follows the guidelines of the British Ministry of Education (Early Years Foundation Stage / Key Stage One) and is delivered entirely in English by highly qualified native English-speaking teaching staff.

The preschool is organised into three main age-based groups, following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), where learning takes place through play, discovery, and active participation:

• Toddlers (2 years old): The first step in the educational journey, focused on sensory stimulation and early social interaction.
• Nursery to Transition (3 to 5 years old): A dynamic environment supporting growth and the development of communication and creative skills.
• Reception (5 to 6 years old): The final group introducing the National Curriculum Key Stage One. This programme develops language, mathematics, writing, and reading skills in English while personalising learning according to each child’s pace.

The teacher-to-student ratio at BAPS is:

• Toddlers: 1:8-10
• Nursery and Transition: 1:12-13
• Reception: 1:12-13

BAPS draws on the best international teaching methodologies (Reggio Emilia Approach, Constructivism, Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences). Children participate in a rich reading, writing, and mathematics program (Read Write Inc., Letters and Sounds): English learning takes place naturally and through play.

The BAPS art programme is based on the Bruno Munari® Method, allowing children to develop creativity and imagination by exploring a wide variety of materials and tools. BAPS also offers a music programme inspired by the Jolly Phonics Programme, which supports language acquisition through phonics. In addition, psychomotricity activities support children’s emotional and cognitive development, enhancing expressiveness and communication skills.

Facilities and Services

The school has 8 classroom-educational spaces and covers an area of 600 m², including a multifunctional area, a gym, and a library with a collection of 2,600 English-language books. All classrooms are equipped with dedicated materials for daily activities and interactive touch screens. The classrooms open directly onto a 1,300 m² internal garden with anti-shock and draining surfaces, equipped with tricycles, bicycles, wheelbarrows, and a mud kitchen.

Children have lunch in the school cafeteria, where specialised staff prepare fresh meals daily following personalised menus based on age and seasonal needs, with particular attention to product sourcing. The school also includes an infirmary.

Location

The British American Pre-School is located just a 5-minute walk from the Istria stop on the Lilla line (M5). A round-trip minibus service operates on two routes within the city of Milan, available from Nursery onwards.

Fees and Admissions

Annual fees start from €12,420 for Toddlers (2 years old) up to €13,040 for Reception (aged 5). Find more detailed information on fees and the admissions process here. Children do not need to be fluent in English or have an English-speaking parents to be enrolled at BAPS.

For more information and to register for upcoming events, visit the school’s website.

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