Preschool
At La Scuola International School’s preschool, children’s natural curiosity and joy forms the heart of a program uniquely constructed to build a lifelong love of learning.
Nothing without Joy
Our one-of-a-kind approach to early childhood education blends English immersion to expand perspectives and awareness, the Reggio Emilia Approach to encourage autonomy and collaboration, and the International Baccalaureate Early Years and Primary Years Programs* to build critical-thinking skills.
All of this is imbued with the warmth and joy that allows young learners to feel at home in their school environment, and open to endless discovery.
These elements, combined in this way nowhere else, build something exceptionally beautiful and uniquely La Scuola. It’s the beginning of an education that knows no bounds.
* La Scuola International School, Milano has applied to become an authorized International Baccalaureate school.
Why English?
La Scuola International School came to life in San Francisco, California as a play group for Italian and Italian-American families. Over the decades, it grew into a four-campus language immersion, Reggio Emilia Approach, International Baccalaureate school. Our United States campuses are Italian immersion, and our Milano campus is English immersion. This allows students to travel between campuses, and around the globe.
Early exposure to other languages — such as English and Italian — enables more neural connections to form in children’s brains. Multilingual students have better control over their attention, decision making, and planning.
Your children and your family do not need any background in English to enroll in La Scuola International School, Milano, nor to become a very welcome part of the community. Many preschoolers at La Scuola arrive new to speaking or understanding English.
How the Elements of Our Approach Intertwine
La Scuola International School, Milano leverages the Reggio Emilia Approach, the International Baccalaureate, and language immersion from preschool through eighth grade to advance a love of learning.
PreSchool Program Exploration
Ateliers
Preschool at La Scuola comes alive with ateliers — dedicated laboratories of learning in which children inquire, explore, and develop their ideas. At our Milano Campus, music, art, design & technology, and garden & environmental science ateliers nurture a lifelong love of learning in a beautiful, engaging environment.
Environment as Teacher
The learning environment is a principal factor in how students learn. Because of its importance, the Reggio Emilia Approach considers the environment to be “the third teacher” alongside faculty and families. Color, light, beauty, furnishings, and architecture all play an important role in making education and understanding a joy.
100 Languages of Children
Loris Malaguzzi, the founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach, believed children have ‘100 Languages’ or more with which they express themselves and learn. Art, music, tinkering, body language, storytelling, feeling, thinking, inquiry — these are only a few examples of their potential modes of expression. His poem, “No Way. The Hundred Is There” shares our motivation to keep children’s multifaceted engagement with the world alive.
Niente Senza Gioia
At La Scuola, niente senza gioia — or nothing without joy, nada sin alegría — is more than a motto. Throughout each day, we pour joy and love into learning, play, and exploration. Education, especially at preschool age, should be filled with joy so that each child develops a lasting affection for discovery and all the world around has to offer.
Preschool Program Overview
La Scuola International School, Milano offers three preschool levels, five days a week, from 9.00 to 15.45.
Grandi
Age 3
Grandissimi
Age 4
Kindergarten
Age 5
Children need to be potty-learned to enroll at La Scuola International School, Milano.
Children do not need to speak English to enroll at La Scuola. Many do not.
Preschool Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8.30 – 9.00 | Arrival |
| 9.00 – 15.45 | School day |
| 15.45 – 16.00 | Dismissal |
| 15.45 – 18.00 | After school (additional fee for families) |
Meet Preschool Teacher, Sally Targett
Sally Targett is an Early Years Teacher with nearly 20 years of experience working with children aged 3 to 6. She studied in Manchester, England before moving to Italy at the age of 21, where she built her teaching career. Sally is passionate about creating a warm, welcoming environment where every child feels safe, valued, and excited to learn. One of her proudest career highlights remains helping to build strong learning communities where children and families feel a real sense of belonging.
Sally was born in a small town in the northwest of England, called Darwen. She lives in Italy with her Italian husband and two children, Max and Isa. Outside of work, Sally enjoys going to the gym, skiing, and spending time with her family in both Italy and the UK.
Get to know the rest of our faculty and staff.
“At La Scuola, our son learned to listen carefully, become more independent, care for others, solve problems, express ideas, and imagine new possibilities. Thank you for giving our son a childhood filled with wonder, curiosity, beauty, and belonging. What you do matters, and its impact reaches far beyond the classroom.”
—
Daniela B.
La Scuola Parent