Wellington College Pre-Nursery is the entry stage of the Early Years Centre at Wellington College International Shanghai, the British school in the Qiantan area of Pudong. The centre serves children aged 2 to 5 across Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Reception, following a bespoke early years curriculum linked to the English Early Years Foundation Stage and taught through a dual language English and Mandarin approach. To see where it sits among the city's other early years options, start with the Shanghai city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Bespoke early years curriculum linked to the English Early Years Foundation Stage |
| Stages | Pre-nursery to reception, ages 2 to 5, within an all through school to age 18 |
| Founded | Part of Wellington College International Shanghai, which opened in 2014 |
| Accreditation | Part of the Wellington College family of schools |
| Fee band | Top of the range for Shanghai early years |
| Campus area | Qiantan, Pudong New District |
Curriculum and academics
The Early Years Centre is home to learners aged 2 through 5 across three year groups, Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Reception, with the bespoke curriculum linked to the expectations of the English Early Years Foundation Stage. Inquiry and play based approaches sit alongside more structured sessions in English, maths and science, with teachers planning indoor and outdoor learning around topics that interest the children, and a balanced day that allows time for focused skills and for following curiosity. A strong dual language English and Mandarin programme and the arts support holistic development.
Because it is the entry point to an all through British curriculum school, children who start in pre-nursery can continue through Wellington towards the IGCSE and the IB Diploma. For a wider view of the British provision they progress into, read our editorial guide to the best international schools in Shanghai.
Comparing early years options?
Put Wellington's Early Years Centre side by side with other Shanghai schools on fees, stages and location.
Wellington College Pre-Nursery fees
Early years fees at Wellington are lower in absolute terms than the senior school, but Wellington sits at the top of the Shanghai market, so a pre-nursery place is still a premium early years cost. Our Shanghai international school fees guide sets out the city's bands and how early years pricing compares to the rest of the school. The school sets its own schedule and resets it each year, so confirm the current figures directly.
Beyond tuition, budget for a registration fee, a refundable deposit and optional bus and meals, and remember that fees rise stage by stage as the child moves up the school. Model the full annual figure with our compare tool against other early years options before you decide.
Admissions
The school year starts in August, and the Early Years Centre runs a main August intake with rolling admissions through the year where places allow. The school asks for an age appropriate visit or assessment rather than formal testing at this stage, and as part of a school for the children of foreign nationals its eligibility follows Chinese regulations on passport and residency.
The youngest year groups fill first and securing a pre-nursery place can also smooth progression into later year groups, so apply early. Confirm space in your child's year group, and prepare passport and family records ahead of your move.
Location and who goes there
The Early Years Centre shares the Wellington campus in Qiantan, the planned riverside district in Pudong on the eastern side of the city. It draws from the residential areas of Pudong, including the compounds near Huamu and Lujiazui where many British, European and other expatriate families with young children settle. Families often choose it specifically so a younger sibling can join the same school as older brothers and sisters already at Wellington.
For families weighing Wellington's early years against standalone nurseries, the deciding factors are usually the all-through progression, the dual language programme and the campus facilities. To compare the full range of options, including fees and where families cluster, return to the Shanghai city hub.
Wellington College Pre-Nursery reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Wellington College Pre-Nursery. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have gathered enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to both the school and to the families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended the Early Years Centre we would value your account of settling in, the dual language programme, teaching and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Wellington College Pre-Nursery for?
Pre-nursery is the youngest stage of Wellington's Early Years Centre, which serves children aged 2 to 5 across Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Reception, before they continue into the main British school.
How much are Wellington College Pre-Nursery fees?
Early years fees at Wellington are lower in absolute terms than the senior school but the school sits at the top of the Shanghai market, so the pre-nursery year is still a premium early years place. Budget on top for a registration fee, a deposit and optional extras, and confirm the current schedule directly.
What curriculum does Wellington College Pre-Nursery follow?
The early years follow a bespoke curriculum linked to the English Early Years Foundation Stage, combining play based and inquiry learning with structured English, maths and science, and a strong dual language English and Mandarin programme.
When do Wellington College Pre-Nursery applications open?
The school year starts in August and the early years runs a main August intake with rolling admissions where places allow. The youngest year groups fill first, so apply early.
Does Wellington College Pre-Nursery lead into the main school?
Yes. The Early Years Centre is the entry point to Wellington College International Shanghai, so children who start in pre-nursery can continue through the school towards the IGCSE and the IB Diploma.
