Lighthouse Special Education vs Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam

	L Lighthouse Special Education Rotterdam, Netherlands	N Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam Rotterdam, Netherlands
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €19,800 - 24,200	Fees / year €16,300 - 23,500
Age range	Age range 3 - 13 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IPC (International Primary Curriculum), British Curriculum, Dutch Curriculum, SEN focussed	Curriculum IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IMYC (International Middle Years Curriculum), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 25	Pupils 230
Typical class size	Typical class size 16	Typical class size 17
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1998	Opened 1959
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Van Heutszstraat 12, 2593 PJ Den Haag, The Netherlands. Lighthouse Special Education and Three Little Ships Preschool are located within the International Department of The Haagsche Schoolvereeniging in The Hague (Van Heutszstraat location). The building is wheelchair-accessible.	Location The school is located at Verhulstlaan 21, 3055WJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands. It is a private international school in Rotterdam. Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam provides door-to-door bus transport to and from the campus, operated by Taxi Wooning V.O.F., with routes planned to minimize journey times. Bus routes are scheduled, with the aim of keeping most journeys to about 45 minutes where possible.
Stages	Stages Early Intervention group (ages 2.5 to 5) within Three Little Ships preschool; Class 1 (ages 5 to 8); Class 2 (ages 8 to 13).	Stages Early Years, Primary, Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary
School type	School type International special education school.	School type International private school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix More than 230 students from over 35 countries.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Cooperation with associated therapists and local Dutch specialists. The school works with psychologists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and other professionals to design individualised learning plans; Lighthouse also benefits from a dedicated assessment team and collaboration with Three Little Ships Preschool.	Additional learning support English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme provides English language support for students from Year 1 to Year 11; EAL support is provided at no extra cost.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation The Netherlands
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Daily schedule: Lighthouse classes run from 08:30 to 15:00, with a soft start around 08:20–08:45 for related groups. Lunches are integrated as part of the day; there is outdoor playtime and a focus on social and academic development. The Lighthouse program totals about 30 hours of lessons per week.	School day structure The school day starts at 8:10 am and ends at 3:05 pm. Foundation 1 and 2 finish at 12:00 pm on Wednesdays. Primary students register at 8:10 am, have a 45-minute lunch break, and afternoon pick-up is at 3:05 pm. After-school care and activities are available on campus after the formal day ends.
Bus service details	Bus service details Bus service is available for eligible students through local transport schemes; reimbursement of transport costs may be possible. The provider options include Wassenaar, Leidschendam-Voorburg and Den Haag.	Bus service details Door-to-door bus transport is provided to and from the Rotterdam campus by Taxi Wooning V.O.F.; the service operates on a fixed schedule with routes and zones, and fees are set according to transportation zones; changes may occur for after-school activities.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Assessment Fees - The school charges assessment fees for evaluations carried out by its associated therapists. Typical assessment fees are: Articulation assessment €200; Full Speech and Language Assessment €600; Occupational/Physical Therapy Assessment (on request); Occupational & Sensory Assessment (on request); IQ test (approx. €900); WISC‑V plus WIAT achievement test (approx. €1,260); Dyslexia assessment with IQ and achievement tests (approx. €1,400). Individual therapy sessions are typically charged at €85 per hour and are invoiced separately by the therapist. Tuition / Parental Contribution (by age group) — annual and per term - Early Intervention (Three Little Ships pre‑school, ages 3–5): €19,800.00 per school year. Per term (three equal instalments): €6,600.00. - Lighthouse Special Education (ages 5–13): €24,200.00 per school year. Per term (three equal instalments): €8,066.67. Billing schedule and payment terms - The annual contribution may be paid in full or in three instalments. Instalment schedule and due dates are: Term 1 — payable before 1 June; Term 2 — payable before 1 October; Term 3 — payable before 1 February. Payments are calculated pro‑rata for students who join during the school year. Reimbursements for students who leave during the school year are calculated on a pro‑rata basis after the notice/termination period is completed. Withdrawal and refund information - The school operates a 40‑week academic year. Written notice of withdrawal must be submitted on the school's Withdrawal Form. The contract continues for three months from receipt of the Withdrawal Form and the financial obligation continues for those three months. If a student leaves during the school year, any reimbursement is calculated pro‑rata after the three‑month termination period. Other costs and typical additional fees - Assessment and therapy fees as listed under Application / Assessment Fees (above). - Additional individual one‑to‑one support fees may be charged where full‑time additional assistance is required; these are arranged via Admissions. - Accident insurance: the school pays a student accident insurance premium that covers accidents during school hours (including one hour before and after school); parents remain financially responsible for medical bills in most cases. Parents are advised to maintain their own liability and medical insurance. - Transportation: where applicable, taxi/bus transportation between home and school must be requested through the local municipality; any eligibility and arrangements are handled by the municipality. Costs or arrangements for transportation are not covered as a routine school fee. - Meals, uniforms and after‑school care: lunch and snacks are typically provided by parents; there is no standard school uniform fee listed. After‑school care (BSO) and holiday care are provided by external providers and are contracted and paid for directly by parents. Fee payment options and account details - Payments are made by bank transfer to the school's fee account. Account details: STG HSV ID FEES, IBAN: NL87 ABNA 0245720170, BIC: ABNANL2A. (Payments should be made in Euros to this account.)	Fee details Application fee - Application Fee: EUR 200 (one-off, non-refundable). Tuition fees (annual and per term) — Academic Year 2025–2026 - Tuition fees are quoted in EUR for a single academic year (10 months). Annual tuition by year group: - Foundation 1 (age 3): EUR 16,300. - Foundation 2 (age 4–5): EUR 16,300. - Years 1–5 (ages 5–10): EUR 20,650. - Year 6 (ages 9–10): EUR 21,950. - Years 7–9 (ages 11–13): EUR 22,800. - Years 10–11 (ages 14–16): EUR 23,300. - Years 12–13 (ages 16–18): EUR 23,500. (Year 13 students incur additional IB exam charges charged by the IBO on a per-exam basis.) - Per-term tuition (approximate): the academic calendar is organised in three main terms; dividing the published annual tuition by three yields approximate per-term amounts as follows (annual ÷ 3): - Foundation 1 / Foundation 2: EUR 5,433.33 per term (EUR 16,300 ÷ 3). - Years 1–5: EUR 6,883.33 per term (EUR 20,650 ÷ 3). - Year 6: EUR 7,316.67 per term (EUR 21,950 ÷ 3). - Years 7–9: EUR 7,600.00 per term (EUR 22,800 ÷ 3). - Years 10–11: EUR 7,766.67 per term (EUR 23,300 ÷ 3). - Years 12–13: EUR 7,833.33 per term (EUR 23,500 ÷ 3). Additional one-off and recurring fees - One-time Capital Development Fee: EUR 3,000 (charged once per child from Year 1; non-refundable). Payment due in full within two weeks of accepting an offer. - Annual Registration Fee: EUR 1,600 per child (non-refundable). The first year's Registration Fee is due within two weeks of accepting an offer; for subsequent years it is invoiced with tuition. - Learning Support and EAL: - Specialist Learning Support: additional fees apply where specialist learning support is required; costs are calculated case-by-case. - EAL (English as an Additional Language) programme: the school states a comprehensive EAL programme is provided without charge. - Transport (optional, billed annually) — zone-based fees (Academic Year 2025–2026): - Zone 1 (0–5 km): EUR 3,400. - Zone 2 (5–10 km): EUR 4,300. - Zone 3 (10–15 km): EUR 5,200. - Zone 4 (15–20 km): upon request. - Zone 5 (20–25 km): upon request. - Zone 6 (25–30 km): upon request. Boarding fees - Boarding is not offered at this school; the school operates as a day school for ages 3–18. Other costs and extras - The published fees schedule identifies the items listed above. Specialist learning-support fees and IBO exam charges (for Year 13) are additional where applicable. No mandatory boarding fee is listed. No specific mandatory uniform fee is shown in the published fee schedule. Families should expect that optional extras (such as some trips, individual instrument tuition where applicable, and personal items) may be charged separately. Refunds and withdrawal - Refund policy: The school states it does not offer refunds under any circumstances. - Withdrawal notice / deadlines (written confirmation via admissions@naisr.nl): - Leaving in December (not returning in January): notify by 1 October. - Leaving during spring break (not returning in mid‑April): notify by 15 January. - Leaving at the end of the academic year (not returning in August): notify by 31 March. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition fees are calculated on an annual basis and are payable in advance by direct debit. For new students, all fees must be paid in full within two weeks of accepting an offer. For returning students, invoices for tuition and the annual registration fee are issued towards the end of the previous academic year and should be paid by the invoice deadline. The school's published enrolment‑during‑year schedule specifies percentage amounts payable depending on the quarter of enrolment (100% / 75% / 50% / 25%). Fee payment options and bank details - Primary payment method: direct debit / bank transfer to the school's account. The published payment details are: - Account name: Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam. - Account number: 42.60.22.785. - IBAN: NL07 ABNA 0426 0227 85. - BIC: ABNANL2A. - Instruction: include both invoice number and the child's name as payment references to ensure correct processing.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details An individualized curriculum is followed for each student with a strong emphasis on communication and social skills, and on learning how to cope in a school environment. For 5–13 year olds, the School Curriculum places emphasis on basic skills in communication, reading, spelling, language and maths, and is based on the English National Curriculum and the International Primary Curriculum (UK), cross-referenced with the Dutch Primary Education Curriculum. Students work on their own learning goals using a range of materials, including the Edmark Reading Program and Numicon. Students use iPads with apps tailored to their learning level and progress. An Early Intervention Curriculum (Three Little Ships) is play-based and develops communication, social, fine motor, early literacy and numeracy skills, with a focus on independence; the preschool class has a maximum of 16 children, with 11 typically developing and a high staff-to-student ratio.	Curriculum details IMYC and NAISR Pre-IB Programme are used in the middle years; in the upper years, students choose between the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or the NAISR High School Diploma, which provides tailored, vocational pathways to higher education. The curriculum is delivered across six core pillars and enhanced by collaborations with MIT and UNICEF via Nord Anglia Education, with further learning through the Nord Anglia University platform.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Preschool Early Intervention class has a maximum of 16 children, 11 of whom are typically developing, with a high staff-to-student ratio. Lighthouse Primary School class has up to 16 children taught by 1 teacher and 3–4 educational assistants.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results IBDP points scores are consistently above the global average, and graduates go to top Dutch and international universities.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression Graduates attend top Dutch and international universities, including institutions in the UK, US, and across mainland Europe.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Submit the Application and Required Documentation: To begin the process, parents need to submit a completed application form alongside a copy of the child’s passport, recent school reports, and proof of eligibility, such as a letter from an employer or a temporary employment contract. It is important to provide detailed information about the child’s learning needs, including copies of any assessments from the past two years conducted by psychologists, physiotherapists, or speech therapists. Parents should ensure that all reports and assessments are fully translated into English prior to submission. 2. Attend an Initial Meeting: Once the application and documents are received, the Director will reach out to parents to schedule a meeting to discuss the application. Following this meeting and a subsequent discussion with the Pupil Monitoring Co-ordinator, the school will determine if Lighthouse is a viable option for the child. This step allows both the parents and the school staff to clarify the child's specific needs and the school's capacity to support them. 3. Consent to Information Exchange and Further Assessments: Before making a final admissions decision, Lighthouse staff may need to consult with the child’s current school or therapists to gather more context. Parents will be asked to sign a consent form agreeing to this exchange of information with outside professionals. In some cases, the Lighthouse Assessment Team may require additional assessments to be completed; parents should be aware that these specific assessments incur separate fees. 4. Obtain a Statement of Eligibility: Because admissions comply with Dutch law for Tailored Education (Passend Onderwijs), every child must receive a formal Statement of Eligibility (Toelatingsverklaring) from the local Dutch Education Board in their residential district. Lighthouse staff will assist parents directly with the application for this statement. It is a mandatory legal requirement before the child can officially start at the school.	Admissions 1. Make an Enquiry Begin by filling out the online enquiry form. The admissions team usually responds within 24 hours to verify available spots, as the school accepts students year-round based on capacity. This is the time to ask initial questions about your child's specific situation. 2. Take a Tour of the Campus You can schedule an in-person visit to view the facilities if you are in Rotterdam. For families relocating from abroad, the school offers personalized virtual meetings or online open days so you can explore the campus remotely. 3. Submit the Application and Documents Complete the online application and upload the required documents, including your child's passport and English-translated school reports (two years for Years 1-12; three years for Year 13). The admissions team will contact your child's current teacher directly for a recommendation form. 4. Complete the Interview and Assessment The school will schedule a brief interview with you and your child, either on-campus or via video call. Depending on age, language proficiency, and academic background, your child may also need to take a test to ensure the school can meet their learning needs. 5. Finalize the Placement Offer If successful, the school will offer your child a place and confirm their year group. Placements are based on the child's age as of September 1st and their academic review. You finalize enrollment by accepting the offer and completing the registration paperwork. 6. Prepare for the First Day The school will send materials to help you prepare for the transition. Students starting in August attend a new student induction day to meet teachers and classmates, while mid-year joiners receive direct guidance from staff to settle into their classes.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships NAISR offers an Academic Scholarship Programme for students aged 15–18 (Years 11–13). Eligibility requires academic excellence, creativity and personal initiative, involvement in a range of extra‑curricular activities, and a strong regard from current school staff. Scholarships are awarded to top candidates who can meet the demands of the curriculum and contribute to school life, with recipients required to maintain high achievement and engagement. To apply: download the scholarship application form, write a 400‑word motivation letter addressed to the Director and the Director of Admissions and Marketing, and collect school reports from the past three years; deadlines are 15 April for internal candidates and 1 November or 15 April for prospective/ external candidates; email all materials to scholarships@naisr.nl. After submission, you'll receive an automatic acknowledgement; the academic team reviews documents and references, with internal reviews in April/May and external reviews in November (for a January start) and in April/May (for an August start); the top five finalists are invited to an interview and outcomes are communicated within three working days. If successful, the admissions team guides you through the remaining steps. Documentation is kept for up to 12 months in compliance with GDPR. A downloadable Scholarship Form is available on the page.
Waitlist	Waitlist The Lighthouse Special Education website does not specify the operation of a formal waitlist or applicant pool system. The policy states that children between the ages of 5 and 12 may be admitted at any point during the school year, strictly subject to the current availability of places. For the separate Three Little Ships Early Intervention program, admissions priority is specifically given to children who turn three years old before October 1st of that academic year.	Waitlist —
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