How many nurseries in Lagos
Lagos has roughly 60 nurseries and preschools of reasonable scale catering to the international and middle-class Nigerian market. Unlike Dubai or Abu Dhabi, there is no single registry, no inspection framework, and no published fee cap, so the count is necessarily editorial. We include only settings with at least eight years of operation, dedicated outdoor space, and English as the primary language of instruction. The total expands to several hundred if you count every neighbourhood crèche operating from a converted residential property.
The sector splits roughly into three groups. Around two-thirds run the Early Years Foundation Stage framework from England, reflecting how dominant British curriculum primary schooling is in Lagos. About 15 per cent run an IB Primary Years Programme approach, feeding into Lagos's 7 IB World Schools. The remainder use a Montessori or Reggio-influenced model, or a more traditional play-based approach influenced by American kindergarten practice. Almost all incorporate elements of the Nigerian early years curriculum to maintain literacy in the wider context, even at the most international settings.
The sector has grown by an estimated 25 per cent since 2020 as Nigerian birth rates have held steady and expat assignments have shifted towards younger family postings in finance, technology and the creative industries. Newer 2023 to 2025 openings have clustered on Lekki Phase 1 and along the Lekki-Epe Expressway towards Ajah, with one notable arrival on Banana Island serving the diplomatic community.
Fees and the naira question
Nursery fees in Lagos are driven less by curriculum and more by location, hours and the strength of the feeder relationship with a downstream primary. Neighbourhood half-day settings in Lekki Phase 2, Ikeja and Magodo run from 1.5 to 2.5 million naira a year. Mid-tier full-day international preschools in Lekki Phase 1 and Ikoyi sit between 3.5 and 5 million naira. Premium settings attached to elite British curriculum schools, like Grange Pre-School or the Lekki British International nursery feeder, reach 6 million naira a year, with some quoting in dollars to neutralise naira movement.
Two cost traps catch newcomers. Registration and assessment fees of 100,000 to 500,000 naira are non-refundable, so casting a wide net is expensive. Second, capital development levies of 500,000 to 2 million naira are common at the premium tier on first enrolment, payable in addition to the headline tuition figure. The Lagos fees guide walks through the full loading mathematics. The fees comparison tool sets nursery costs alongside primary and secondary across the city.
Picking a Lagos nursery that feeds the right primary?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three settings based on your child's age, your budget, your area, and the primary you eventually want them to feed into.
Illustrative example settings
The five settings below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each has been operating in Lagos for at least eight years with consistent enrolment and clear feeder relationships into downstream primary schools.
Crawford International School Early Years on Lekki Phase 1 takes children from age 2 through Reception, with a strong feeder link into the Crawford primary school and a British curriculum core complemented by Nigerian cultural integration.
Greensprings Early Years operates at the Lekki and Anthony Village campuses with classes from age 1 through KG2, transitioning directly into Greensprings primary on the same site. Particularly popular with Nigerian families committed to staying at one school through to A Level or IB Diploma.
Children's International School Nursery in Lekki Phase 1 covers ages 1 through Pre-Nursery within a Montessori-influenced model that feeds the school's IB Primary Years Programme. Smaller cohorts than Greensprings and a more international parent base.
Meadow Hall Early Years in Lekki delivers a play-based Reception and Pre-Nursery programme. Strong onward link into the Meadow Hall primary which itself runs the IB PYP.
Grange Pre-School in Ikeja GRA is the strongest mainland pre-school option, with a clean feeder relationship into Grange School for primary and secondary. Smaller cohorts, traditional British EYFS, and a long-running Outstanding inspection record from the Lagos State Ministry of Education.
Where young families live
Three residential clusters dominate the nursery search. Lekki Phase 1 houses the largest number of international families with children under 5, served by 14 of the 60 nurseries in the city. Ikoyi and Banana Island hold the diplomatic and senior-expat cluster, with five high-end settings between them and a noticeably calmer commute. Ikeja GRA, Magodo and Maryland serve Nigerian middle-class families and a smaller expat cluster tied to airport-area employment, with five established nurseries.
The Lekki to mainland commute remains the single most significant decision variable. A 30-minute drive in light traffic from Lekki to Ikoyi can become a two-hour ordeal in the rain. Almost every Lagos nursery family chooses a setting within 30 minutes of home in normal conditions. Our best areas guide explains the residential geography in detail.
Admissions and feeder relationships
The Lagos school year runs September to July. Most nurseries open applications for September 2026 between October and December 2025. Premium settings tied to popular British primaries close their KG2 and Reception cohorts by January, with assessment visits in February and offers by mid-March. Neighbourhood preschools accept rolling enrolments through the year subject to room availability and a successful transition visit.
Choose your nursery with the primary in mind. Feeder relationships are not formal in Lagos but they are real. Children who complete Reception at Crawford Early Years, Greensprings or Meadow Hall progress automatically into the affiliated primary without re-applying, whereas external Reception applicants face a competitive process for the same primary places. If your target primary is a stand-alone school such as Lekki British International, choose a nursery that has explicit informal links into that school rather than one with a captive feeder relationship to a competitor.
Frequently asked questions
How many international nurseries are there in Lagos?
Lagos has roughly 60 reputable international and bilingual nursery settings serving expat and middle-class Nigerian families in 2026. Most are concentrated on the Lekki peninsula and in Ikoyi, with a smaller mainland cluster in Ikeja GRA, Magodo and Maryland. Nigeria has no single nursery regulator, so quality varies widely and parental due diligence matters more than in regulated markets.
What age do Lagos nurseries start from?
Most Lagos nurseries accept children from 3 months for Crèche or Infant Community, with structured Toddler classes from 18 months and Pre-Nursery and Nursery from age 2 to 5. Reception or KG1 typically begins the September after the child turns 4 to align with the British and American calendars used by downstream international primary schools.
How much do international nurseries in Lagos cost?
Annual fees in 2026 run from about 1.5 million naira at neighbourhood preschools through to 6 million naira at premium full-day settings in Lekki Phase 1 and Ikoyi. The dollar equivalent at the parallel market rate sits between roughly USD 1,700 and USD 6,800. Many premium settings now quote tuition in dollars or split it into a fixed naira component plus a dollar-linked premium.
Do Lagos nurseries follow the British EYFS?
About 60 per cent of international nurseries in Lagos follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework from England, reflecting the strength of the British curriculum downstream. Around 15 per cent use the IB Primary Years Programme approach, with the remainder running Montessori, Reggio-inspired or American play-based programmes. Most also incorporate Nigerian early literacy and numeracy benchmarks.
When should I apply for a Lagos nursery?
Premium nurseries on Lekki Phase 1 and in Ikoyi operate waiting lists of 4 to 9 months, particularly for KG1 and Reception cohorts feeding directly into popular British curriculum primary schools. Apply as soon as you confirm your move. Smaller neighbourhood nurseries in Lekki Phase 2, Ikeja and Magodo can typically place a child within four to six weeks.
Are vaccination records required for nursery enrolment in Lagos?
Yes. All reputable Lagos nurseries require up to date immunisation records aligned with the Nigerian National Programme on Immunisation, plus a paediatrician's medical certificate. Expat families relocating from Europe or the US should expect to top up the yellow fever vaccination and obtain a Lagos State health declaration before enrolment.
