Compare SEN / Special Education International Schools in Tenerife, Spain

Located at Camino Fuente Cañizares 11, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, 38206 Tenerife, Spain. The school is in the La Laguna area. Phone: +34 622 875 721; Email: info@kaleide.org.

The school is a family-run, progressive microschool.

Spain

The school is family-run.

The Kaleide International School teaches in English and Spanish as a bilingual school. Learning is active and child-centered, with education through play, authentic projects, nature, and collaboration. The school emphasizes critical thinking, exploration, and intrinsic motivation rather than grades or tests. The approach draws on progressive educational philosophies including Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Forest Schools, and democratic education, rooted in care for each child, the community, and the natural world.

1. After visiting Kaleide's facilities and an informational interview, families who would like to join Kaleide are invited to a second interview to talk in greater depth about Kaleide's approach and your family's needs. The second interview provides an opportunity to discuss how Kaleide's child-centered, bilingual education aligns with the family's goals. The discussion covers Kaleide's philosophy, learning activities, and how the child would participate in Kaleide's daily life. The second interview is a defined step within the admissions process.
2. To formalize admission, complete the enrollment form and pay the registration fee. These actions begin the formal admissions process. After Kaleide confirms your child(ren)'s spaces, you will be asked to pay the deposit and materials by the established dates.

La Luz Site (Early Years and Primary) Carretera la Luz, 28, 38312 La Luz, La Orotava; Trinity Site (Secondary and Sixth Form) Calle Los Almácigos, 3C, 38410 Los Realejos. The school operates across two campuses in the north of Tenerife, with a dedicated bus service connecting multiple towns and the two sites. The Bus service runs on two routes—one from Santa Cruz and one from Puerto de la Cruz—with pickups/drop-offs in Santa Cruz, La Laguna, Guamasa, Tacoronte, El Sauzal, La Matanza, Santa Ursula, La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz. Bus enrollment is fee-based, with monthly prices published for the 2025-2026 school year.

18 months to 5 years (Early Years); 5 years to 11 years (Primary); 11 years to 18 years (Secondary).

Private international school following the British Curriculum; Cambridge IGCSE and A Levels offered.

30+ nationalities represented.

Neurodiversity and inclusive learning support; multi-sensory teaching approaches; early identification of learning differences and Cambridge-based arrangements for examinations.

British

Bus service with two routes: Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz. Pickups/drop-offs include Santa Cruz, La Laguna, Guamasa, Tacoronte, El Sauzal, La Matanza, Santa Ursula, La Orotava and Puerto de la Cruz. Bus program available for a fee; monthly prices published for 2025-2026.

The school has a uniform policy. Early Years wear the PE tracksuit; Primary and Secondary wear formal uniform daily, with PE days using the tracksuit. Uniforms are supplied by Uniformes La Percha.

The meal program provides healthy meals prepared on site at two sites: La Luz for Early Years and Primary, and Realejos for Secondary. A nutritionist-designed monthly menu accommodates dietary needs, including allergies and religious restrictions; packed lunches are allowed, and snacks are provided for Early Years.

There are four houses, represented by blue, green, red and yellow. The colours map to the four Canary Islands' national parks for the Primary site and to the four elements for the Secondary site. House points are awarded for the pillars of commitment, kindness, honesty and respect, with weekly assemblies and termly prizes; the system supports trips and inter-house competitions.

The British School of Tenerife is a non-profit organisation with no government subsidy. It is governed by a Board of Directors elected by the Association of the British School of Tenerife; the Association is led by a Board and includes parent members; a Senior Management Team manages day-to-day operations.

The British Curriculum is followed. In Key Stage 4, students take IGCSE examinations. In the Sixth Form, students prepare for Cambridge A Level examinations. Cambridge International AS & A Levels are used to gain entry to leading universities worldwide. The Cambridge Examinations Board and the UK national curriculum underpin the programme.

During Year 11, students take the IGCSE exams. In Years 12–13, they take the A Level exams and an English language examination, with other assessments as required by universities. The majority of students go on to higher education in the UK, Spain, Germany or the United States. A Level qualifications are recognised worldwide.

Most BST graduates go on to higher education in the UK, Spain, Germany or the United States. A Level qualifications are recognised worldwide. In Sixth Form, university applications are supported, including pathways to Spanish universities via the PAU examination.

Gifted and talented students are identified, with some Primary pupils assessed as Gifted & Talented and reassessed by age 13. These pupils are stretched with differentiated approaches via a SP/EHCP, and the school collaborates with external specialists. Some AGT students are referred to workshops run by the University of Laguna outside school.

The school provides weekly PSHEE lessons as part of the curriculum to support pupil wellbeing. The pillars of Commitment, Kindness, Honesty, and Respect are woven into daily life to create a nurturing environment. A dedicated full-time wellbeing practitioner offers individual support to students. Special celebrations such as Odd Socks Day, Anti-Conflict Week, E-Safety Week, and Random Acts of Kindness Week foster empathy and awareness. Wellbeing resources include a Friendship Bench and wellbeing help lines displayed around the school.

BST is an inclusive school that recognises and supports neurodiversity. A range of teaching methods includes multi-sensory activities, hands-on learning, and project-based approaches to accommodate different learning styles. Identification of learning differences begins in Primary education so that appropriate support can be provided early. Neurodivergent students receive targeted support with literacy and access to technology tools to aid learning. Cambridge International Examination Board arrangements allow compatible exam access so neurodivergent students can sit exams alongside peers when appropriate. Regular staff training and awareness sessions help highlight the strengths of students with learning differences and promote their inclusion.

The school welcomes children whose first language is not English. Families are asked to state languages spoken at home and in previous schools at the start of the application process. Students with English as an Additional Language will have an oral interview with the Head of School and/or the EAL Coordinator, together with a Cambridge English Placement Test (applicable from Phase 3). Primary pupils will be offered extra EAL support, and Secondary pupils may need to attend intensive English lessons outside school. The EAL policy is published on the BST site and is applied to guide EAL provision.

The school has a full-time wellbeing practitioner who provides support to individuals. PSHEE lessons are delivered weekly as part of the curriculum to address pupil wellbeing. The pillars—Commitment, Kindness, Honesty, and Respect—are woven into every aspect of school life to create a supportive environment. A range of wellbeing initiatives include after-school yoga, a relaxation and game group, and wellbeing help lines displayed around the school. Workshops cover health- and safety-related topics such as First Aid, Healthy Living, Technological Abuse, and E-Safety, with additional workshops planned based on feedback.

The designated safeguarding lead is Kim Langdon; Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Anita Pestana (Secondary), Soraya Williams (Primary), and Jenni Garnett (Early Years). The safeguarding team also includes the Headteacher and safeguarding governor as part of the structure. The school recognises its moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all students; the welfare of the child is paramount. Staff are trained to recognise signs of abuse, follow safeguarding procedures, and refer concerns to the DSL or external agencies as required. The policy aligns with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 and other safeguarding legislation and is publicly available as part of the safeguarding portfolio, including online safety. The school will refer safeguarding concerns to children's social care, the police, or other agencies as necessary.

01 Application: Complete the online admission form with student details. Start Application leads to the online admission portal. The form collects the student information for the admissions process. This step begins the application flow.

02 Visit the School: Schedule a visit to see the facilities and meet our staff. Contact us to arrange your visit. The visit lets you observe the school environment and meet staff involved in the admissions process. Arranging the visit is through the provided contact channels.

03 Interview / Assessment: Parents and student attend an interview and assessment session. The interview involves both parents and the student. The assessment session is part of the admissions process. The information gathered informs the school's understanding of the applicant.

04 Document Review: Our team reviews the submitted documentation to finalize admission. The admissions team reviews the documents provided. The document review is the final step in the admissions process.

Waitlist: If there is no availability for places, we place applicants on a waitlist and contact you if places become available. If the waitlist is large, preference is given to: children with siblings in the school; children that had studied in the British education system; families that would enroll multiple children into the school; and students with strong academic results. We are happy to accept new students during the school year.