The nursery at Children's International School is the youngest stage of a long established British curriculum school on the Lekki peninsula, founded in 2003. It is where many families begin a single English pathway that can run all the way to A Level without changing school. For relocating parents weighing the Lagos international schools, the early years are often the part of the decision that matters most, because a settled, well staffed nursery shapes how quickly a young child adjusts to a new city.
This profile focuses on the nursery and early years stage: how the youngest classes are taught, what the fees look like, and how admission works. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed. Parents looking further ahead can read our companion profile of the Children's International School primary years.
Children's International School nursery at a glance
| Stage | Early years and nursery, leading into reception and the junior school |
|---|---|
| Starting age | From 2 years 6 months |
| Curriculum | Early years British curriculum feeding the English National Curriculum |
| Founded | 2003 (whole school) |
| Fee band | Upper mid tier, charged in naira (see Lagos fees guide) |
| Campus area | Plot 8 Amore Street, Lekki Phase 1 |
Early years curriculum
The nursery runs an early years British curriculum, which means the youngest children learn through structured play rather than formal lessons. The emphasis falls on spoken language, early reading and number sense, fine motor skills and the personal and social development that helps a two or three year old settle into a routine away from home. As children move up through the nursery and into reception, the work gradually tilts towards the foundations the English National Curriculum builds on in the junior years. The British curriculum overview sets out how these early stages connect to the IGCSE and A Level route the school offers later on.
Because the nursery sits inside a school that runs the full English pathway, the early years are designed as the first rung of a single ladder rather than a standalone playgroup. Specialist input in areas such as music and movement usually appears young, and the transition into the primary years happens inside the same campus and community, which spares families a disruptive change of school at age four or five.
Budgeting an early years place?
Use our fee calculator to estimate the full cost of a Lagos nursery place once registration, deposit and extras are added.
Children's International School nursery fees
The nursery is the most affordable point of entry at Children's International School, which sits in the upper mid part of the Lagos market. Early years fees are charged in naira, often billed per term, and they rise as children move up into the junior and senior years mapped in our Lagos school fees guide. We do not republish a precise figure here because schedules change each session, so confirm the current early years rate with the school before you commit.
Build in the extras that sit above tuition. Expect a registration or application charge, a deposit on acceptance, and a bus fee if you live away from Lekki Phase 1. Families paid in foreign currency should watch the exchange rate as well, because a naira denominated nursery place can shift in real terms between terms when the currency moves.
Admissions and intake
Children's International School runs a September to July academic year and admits to the early years on a rolling basis subject to availability. The nursery is a popular entry point, so spaces in the youngest classes can fill early, particularly for the September intake. Register as soon as a move to Lagos is confirmed rather than waiting for the start of term.
Admission at this age leans on a short settling visit and a conversation with the family rather than formal testing. Applications are made through the school and usually require a birth certificate or passport and, for children moving from another setting, a brief record from the previous nursery. Because the early years flow straight into the school's own reception and primary classes, there is no second application to make as the child grows.
Location and who goes there
The nursery shares the main Children's International School campus on Plot 8 Amore Street in Lekki Phase 1, a planned residential district on the Lekki peninsula. Most early years families live in Lekki Phase 1 or the estates nearby, which keeps the journey short for children who still nap in the afternoon. The community is weighted towards professional Nigerian families alongside expatriates working on the island side of the city, and many of them stay with the school well beyond the nursery.
For the wider view of how the British, American and other schools sit across the city, including fee tiers and neighbourhoods, see the Lagos schools hub.
Children's International School nursery reviews
No verified parent reviews of the Children's International School nursery have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We hold back from publishing a star rating until we have enough verified first hand accounts to represent the early years fairly, and we never fabricate ratings. If your family has used the CIS nursery, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Children's International School nursery fees?
The nursery is the most affordable entry point at CIS, which sits in the upper mid Lagos band. Early years fees are charged in naira and may be billed per term. Confirm the current rate with the school and budget separately for registration, a deposit and a bus place.
From what age does Children's International School nursery take children?
The school admits children into its early years from age 2 years 6 months, moving them through the nursery stage and into the reception and junior years that follow the English National Curriculum.
What curriculum does Children's International School nursery follow?
The nursery follows an early years British curriculum that prepares children for the English National Curriculum used in the junior school. Learning is play based and structured around language, early numeracy and personal development.
When do Children's International School nursery applications open?
The school runs a September to July year and admits to the early years on a rolling basis subject to availability. Because nursery places are sought after, register as soon as your move to Lagos is confirmed.
Where is Children's International School nursery located?
The nursery shares the Children's International School campus on Plot 8 Amore Street in Lekki Phase 1, a residential district on the Lekki peninsula.
