Compare Reggio Emilia Approach International Schools in Netherlands

Asserring 93, 1187 SM Amstelveen, Netherlands. The school is located in the Westwijk area of Amstelveen and is currently operating from a temporary building in Westwijk while a purpose-built campus is developed on site. AIS is part of Onderwijsgroep Amstelland and aims to house both primary and secondary students on the same campus in Amstelveen.

Primary and secondary

International day school

AIS works with a speech therapist, an occupational therapist and a child psychologist to provide personalized support for students with learning needs.

Netherlands

School runs Monday to Friday. Doors open at 08:20; lessons begin at 08:45; afternoon pick-up is at 15:00 (Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri) and 13:00 (Wed).

Healthy Snack & Lunch: A healthy breakfast is encouraged. Parents provide a healthy snack and lunch to be brought to school in two clearly labeled containers for Snack and Lunch. We are a nut-free school; examples of healthy snacks include sliced fruits or vegetables, or cheese and crackers.

The school is part of Onderwijsgroep-Amstelland. It is a member of DIS, Dutch International (Primary and Secondary) Schools, which are partially funded by the Dutch government.

The school uses the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and delivers learning through IPC units organized around themes. Project-based learning is used, and the IPC development of skills is central to AIS's approach. AIS fosters global citizenship values.

AIS prioritizes the well-being and safeguarding of all students. The safety and well-being of the children is the most important factor and all actions taken must ensure that the children are safe and secure at all times. AIS safeguards the physical, emotional, social and mental well-being of all individuals within the school community. The safeguarding criteria of the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the International Primary School (IPC) are integrated into AIS policies. AIS has an External Confidentiality Representative and Complaints Commission, with a named External Confidentiality Representative and internal confidential mechanisms for reporting concerns; the safeguarding team includes key staff such as the Director & Safety Officer and Deputy Director, who can be contacted for support.

Differentiation is a common practice in AIS teaching and learning, with a commitment to meeting the needs of all students. The school believes that children have special rights rather than special needs, reinforcing an inclusive approach. AIS welcomes children of all nationalities, beliefs and cultures, and maintains a dedicated student support framework to assist diverse learners. The AIS Student Support Team provides targeted assistance to students as part of the school's inclusive ethos. The AIS safeguarding policy, including internal and external training and procedures, supports the well-being and inclusion of learners with varying needs.

English is the main language of instruction at AIS, and two official languages for AIS Primary are English and Dutch. An English Language Acquisition (ELA) program exists with ESL curriculum based on Cambridge International standards, including translation of lesson instructions into students' native languages when necessary to ensure access. English lessons total four hours per week across the school, with upper primary students receiving an additional three hours of targeted phonics instruction. Dutch is taught as a second language with two official Dutch lesson blocks per week, plus Dutch culture and Dutch-language components; an Extended Dutch Programme supports long-term integration. The language program is strengthened by Cambridge International Curriculum resources, including literacy instruction using a six-language-module approach and phonics support such as Letterland.

AIS is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, which includes physical, emotional, social and mental well-being. The school's safeguarding framework emphasizes the mental well-being of students as part of its broader welfare responsibilities. The Student Well-Being & Safeguarding policy outlines structure for action, staff training, confidentiality, and safeguarding contacts to support mental health and well-being. AIS maintains a multi-tier safeguarding setup with defined roles and contact points for students and families.

AIS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, with safe recruitment practices and background checks prior to appointments. The school has a formal External Confidentiality Representative and Complaints Commission, and internally AIS follows a confidential reporting framework with designated staff and safety officers. The safeguarding criteria of CIS and IPC are embedded in AIS policies. The safeguarding team includes the Director & Safety Officer, Deputy Director, SST Coordinator, Staff Council Rep, Confidentiality Rep and other safeguarding contacts, with direct email and phone details available for reporting concerns. An External Confidentiality Representative is Pepita David, and the internal safeguarding procedures include staff, team leaders and the Director as points of contact.

1. Complete the Registration Of Interest (ROI) form and ensure all mandatory fields are filled. AIS is acknowledged and subsidised by the Dutch government and complies with national admissions regulations. Upload two most recent school reports from the current or previous school or day-care and copies of all family passports as part of the ROI submission. If applicants meet the Dutch government criteria, they will receive an invitation to visit AIS in the form of a Social Play Morning/Day.
2. After the Social Play Morning/Day, the team reviews the visit and the Director makes an admissions decision. Approved applications are followed by an overview of the school fee payment policy and a request to pay the first deposit to secure placement. Once the deposit is paid and all financial obligations are met, a welcome letter is issued and a start date is provided.
3. For students requiring additional support, ROI and application must be completed with accurate information; AIS reserves the right to deny applications that are deemed untruthful or incomplete. If there is a question or concern, the Director and the Internal Student Support Guide will follow up with parents immediately after the Social Play Morning/Day. For students entering with a diagnosis and an IEP, the relevant documents must be shared with the school within six weeks of starting.
4. Re-registration and start of the next school year: After spring break AIS issues a re-registration letter to confirm whether current students will return. April is the deadline to respond and the withdrawal deadline is April 12 if you decide to withdraw. From April 15, finances begin preparing invoices for the new academic year, and placement is secured only after the school fees are paid in full before the new year.

Wijndaelerweg 11, 2554 BZ Den Haag, The Netherlands. The postal address is The International School of The Hague, P.O. Box 52047, 2505 CA The Hague, The Netherlands. The visiting address is Wijndaelerweg 11, 2554 BZ Den Haag, The Netherlands.

Early Years, Primary and Secondary.

Private international day school.

Over 100 nationalities represented.

Learning Support is provided in Primary and Secondary; English as an Additional Language (EAL) is offered.

The Netherlands.

The Early Years day starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. The day includes morning carpet time, free-flow play, snack, specialist lessons (PE, Music, Library), lunch and outdoor time, followed by a second carpet time and story time.

Door-to-door bus service is provided by Achttax; routes cover Den Haag, Voorburg, Leidschendam, Ypenburg, Scheveningen, Rijswijk, Zoetermeer and Voorschoten. In Primary, staff supervise students during the bus journey; inquiries can be made via planning@achttax.nl.

No boarding facilities.

Students do not wear a uniform.

Secondary students have an on-site cafeteria. Primary students must bring their own packed lunch.

ISH is part of the Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation, an educational organisation for primary and secondary education in The Hague and Leiden area. Eight Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation schools offer national and international programmes and are overseen by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Rijnlands, Arjan Kastelein; ISH operates as a partially subsidised school, with support from the Ministry of Education and in accordance with Dutch rules for Primary & Secondary education. Each Principal has a leadership team and the administration for both sections is under the supervision of the Senior Leadership Team, and the school has over 350 staff serving about 2,000 students.

The ISH Primary Curriculum is IPC-based and centers on inquiry-based learning across age groups. The Curriculum includes Language Art, Mathematics, Units of Inquiry, Social and Emotional Learning, Physical Education, Information and Communication Technology, Music, Dutch, Art and Drama. Early Years uses a Reggio Emilia and Montessori-inspired approach with free-flow, child-centered learning and a transition into IPC; EY1 begins IPC content as students move into Primary Years. The school supports multilingual learners through English as an Additional Language (EAL) and a Home Language program, and over 80% of students are multilingual. In Secondary, ISH offers the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Years 7–11, and the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or Career-related Programme (CP) for Years 12–13; the DP and CP include subject groups and core components with a focus on preparing for higher education; in DP, students can study their home language as part of the IBDP, including SSST Language A. The Home Languages at ISH Secondary program supports home language development and allows continuation of home languages in DP.

Group sizes are capped at 23 pupils per class.

The Diploma Programme (DP) is a rigorous two-year pathway designed to prepare students for higher education. The Career-related Programme (CP) provides a university- and employment-oriented route in the final years. ISH provides Careers Guidance and information for University Representatives to support university applications, and DP/CP are offered as the primary routes for post-secondary study. The DP and CP are supported by the school's IB framework and university-preparation resources. Home languages can be continued in the IBDP via SSST Language A, extending language study into the final years.

The school prioritises physical, social and emotional wellbeing as essential to personal excellence. It nurtures wellbeing through a restorative approach to behaviour that emphasises relationships, accountability for actions and empathy. Through its programmes students learn that taking care of their own wellbeing supports learning and future success. The Student Charter protects a student's right to be treated with respect and to have wellbeing and personal safety supported. The Learning Support and Student Wellbeing teams collaborate to address social-emotional development, including restorative practices such as connection circles and social-emotional interventions. The school also supports wellbeing through Anti Bullying initiatives and the Health Office.

The school uses a graduated, multi-tiered approach to Learning Support to remove barriers to progress. A dedicated Learning Support Team provides ongoing review and develops individual learning plans. Services cover academic, social-emotional and health supports, including executive functioning, study skills and literacy and numeracy interventions. There are in-class supports, parallel teaching and specialised workshops. The department collaborates with the Student Wellbeing and EAL teams to support academics, behaviour and social-emotional development. ISH embraces inclusion and aims for universal access to the curriculum. All residents in the Netherlands have the right to appropriate education and ISH operates a three-tiered intervention model. It is noted that ISH offers support for a range of needs, including dyslexia, ASD and ADHD, and ISH is not a dedicated SEN school.

Two main EAL programmes operate within ISH. The Academic Language Programme (ALP) for Years 7-9 provides three extra English lessons per week focused on academic language. The Individual Learning Programme (ILP) for Years 10-13 offers additional language support when ALP is not offered. EAL accommodations for MYP phases include 25% extra time in assignments and access to dictionaries for some tasks. The EAL team includes Maria Ferraiuelo, Marta Galinska, Hanna Harmander (EAL Coordinator) and Julia Strohpagel, with contact through h.harmander@ishthehague.nl. The EAL department implements a whole-school language acquisition programme to enhance student learning and wellbeing.

Mental wellbeing is integrated into ISH's wellbeing framework. The school recognises that students achieve personal excellence only if their physical, social and emotional wellbeing is supported and uses a restorative approach to emphasise relationships and empathy. The programmes help students understand how wellbeing supports their learning and future success, and the Student Charter reinforces the right to respectful treatment and personal safety. The Health Office and anti-bullying initiatives contribute to a safe, healthy environment for students. Learning Support and EAL provisions address social-emotional development and resilience as part of the holistic approach to education.

Safeguarding and child protection are a priority at ISH. The school states that every child has the right to develop physically, mentally and socially in a safe and secure environment. Staff have a responsibility to foster a safe, caring and supportive environment inside and outside the classroom. ISH follows up on any allegations or signs of abuse or neglect and may involve local or international law enforcement and Dutch child protection bodies. The welfare of children is the prime consideration in any response, and safeguarding measures include rigorous safe recruitment practices aligned with the International Task Force on Child Protection. The Safeguarding Policy is developed within the context of Rijnlands Lyceum regulations, national and international law and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Designated Safeguarding Leads include dsl@ishthehague.nl, with designated staff for Primary and Secondary and a safeguarding team.