For parents of young children scanning the international schools in Taipei, the Early Years stage at Taipei European School is the first rung of a route that ends, fourteen years later, on the IB Diploma. TES was formed in 1992 from the city's British, French and German schools, and its early years provision sits inside each of those sections, so a family chooses both a starting class and the national stream their child will grow up in. The stage is housed on the Swire European Primary Campus in Shilin.
Taipei European School Early Years at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Early years foundation within the British, French and German sections; feeds the primary and later the IB Diploma pathway |
|---|---|
| Stages | Nursery and reception, roughly ages 3 to 5 |
| Founded | Part of Taipei European School, formed in 1992 and renamed in 2003 |
| Accreditation | Within an authorised IB World School (the diploma is taken later in the High School) |
| Fee band | Premium, though early years tuition is the lowest stage (see Taipei fees) |
| Campus area | Swire European Primary Campus, WenLin Road, Shilin |
Curriculum and academics
The early years at TES are play based and language rich, following the foundation stage of whichever section a family chooses. In the British Section that means an English language early years programme aligned to the English system, while the French and German sections begin in their own languages, with the French stream also offering a bilingual route. The aim at this stage is settling, social development, early literacy and numeracy, and a confident first experience of school rather than formal examinations.
Because the early years feed directly into the TES primary and, much later, the shared IB Diploma Programme, a place here is the start of a continuous pathway rather than a standalone nursery. Many families value precisely that continuity: a child can move from a first class at age 3 through to an internationally recognised diploma without ever changing schools. Parents weighing the early stages across the city can see how TES fits in our overview of the Taipei schools.
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Taipei European School Early Years fees
Early years tuition is the lowest stage at Taipei European School, but the school overall sits in the premium band of our guide to international school fees in Taipei, so the starting fees are still towards the upper end of the city's nursery and reception options. The Taipei fees guide notes that early years and primary fees typically run below the secondary headline, often by 15 to 25 per cent. Rates are revised annually and set by section, so confirm the current early years schedule with the school.
Beyond tuition, plan for a refundable deposit, a registration fee, optional school transport, and lunch, with uniform light at this age. Our fee calculator brings tuition and the extras together into one annual figure, which is useful when a young child's place is the first of several school years you are budgeting for in Taipei.
Admissions
Entry to the early years is the most natural starting point at TES, and demand for the youngest classes is high. Admission is gentle at this stage: the school looks at a child's age and readiness rather than testing, and considers the section and language a family wants their child to begin in. A short visit or settling conversation is more typical than a formal assessment.
The school year runs on an August or September start, with children usually joining at the beginning of the year in the class matched to their age. Because the early years lead straight into primary, securing a place early also secures the onward route through the school. Families relocating to Taipei partway through the year should contact admissions directly, as occasional places open when other families move on.
Location and who goes there
The Early Years stage is on the Swire European Primary Campus on WenLin Road in Shilin, the same campus as the rest of the TES primary. Shilin and the neighbouring Tianmu district have long been the heart of Taipei's expatriate community, so the campus is close to the housing, clinics and international shops that relocating families use, and within easy reach for parents of very young children who would rather keep the school run short.
The early years intake mirrors the wider school: British, French, German and other international families, many on corporate or diplomatic postings, choosing a national stream for their child to grow up in. They cluster in Shilin, Tianmu and the northern districts near the primary campus. For how those neighbourhoods compare on housing and commute, the Taipei city hub sets out the wider map for relocating parents.
Taipei European School Early Years reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Taipei European School Early Years fees?
Early years is the lowest tuition stage at TES, often 15 to 25 per cent below the secondary headline, but the school sits in the premium band for Taipei so fees are still towards the top of the city's nursery options. Rates are set by section and revised yearly, so confirm the schedule with the school.
What ages is the TES Early Years stage for?
The early years cover roughly ages 3 to 5, the nursery and reception classes, on the Swire European Primary Campus in Shilin, before children move into the primary year groups.
Is there an entrance test for TES Early Years?
No formal test at this age. Admission looks at a child's age and readiness and the section and language a family wants to start in, usually through a short visit or settling conversation rather than an assessment.
Which section should we choose for the early years?
Families pick the British, French or German section, and the early years begin in that section's language, with the French stream also offering a bilingual route. The choice sets the national stream a child will grow up in through to the shared IB Diploma later on.
When do TES Early Years applications open?
Children usually join at the August or September start of the school year in the class matched to their age. Demand for the youngest classes is high, so apply early, and contact admissions directly about any mid year places.
