SIAL School

154–156 Holland Park Avenue, London W11 4UH, United Kingdom. Located in West London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, near Holland Park.

Nursery (ages 3–4) and Bilingual Primary School (up to Year 6).

Independent private school with a nursery.

Additional language support with specialist Italian/English as an additional language teachers and teaching assistants.

Italian Curriculum integrated with the British education system; part of the Italian network of educational institutions worldwide (Sistema della Formazione Italiana nel Mondo).

The school day starts at 8:20 AM with free before-school provision from 8:00 AM. Nursery arrival should be by 8:30 AM for registration at 9:00 AM; Primary registration is at 8:30 AM. End times: Year 1–2 finish at 4:00 PM on Mondays to Wednesdays and at 3:30 PM on Thursdays and Fridays; Year 3–6 finish at 4:00 PM every day; Reception follows Nursery hours. A school bus service for drop-off only is being considered, costing approximately £10 per day per child.

A school bus service for drop-off only is being considered, costing approximately £10 per day per child.

The school is the only bilingual and bi-curricular school in the UK to teach all subjects in English and Italian from Nursery to Year 6. The Nursery (EYFS) and Primary School (KS1 & KS2) have a bilingual and bicultural curriculum in which Italian Ministry of Education standards are integrated with the EYFS Framework and the National English Curriculum. Coverage is divided into English and Italian with native-speaking teachers collaborating to reinforce bilingual objectives in both languages, and pupils start reading and writing in both languages from the start. The curriculum offers Italian, English, Maths, Science, French, History, Geography, Religious Studies, ICT, Sport, Art, Music and Drama for Years 1–6, with PSHE, Citizenship and Philosophy for Children as integral; P.E., Art, Drama and Music are taught by specialists. Classes are small (Reception up to 16 pupils; Nursery up to 20) with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 1:5 in EYFS and 1:8 in KS1/KS2, plus extra language support and a full-time Wellbeing Supervisor on site. Enrichment activities complement the bilingual curriculum, including educational trips, workshops by visiting experts, contests and charity involvement.

Small classes, Reception up to 16 pupils; Nursery up to 20; average student-to-teacher ratio is 1:5 in EYFS and 1:8 in KS1 and KS2.

Progress and attainment are rigorously monitored to ensure all children reach the expected levels and strive to exceed them. In 2021-2022, 24% of pupils were new to the country in the last 12 months; 97% made expected progress in Reading, Writing and Maths in both languages; 44% exceeded expected progress. Historical data show progress in earlier years: 2018-2019: 36% new to country, 80% progress, 61% exceeded; 2017-2018: 36%, 83%, 67%. Note: data for 2019/20 and 2020/21 were not published due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The school runs a Wellbeing Programme integrated into daily student life and employs a full-time Wellbeing Supervisor on site. Daily check-ins are a core part of pastoral care, with teachers conducting a dedicated circle time each morning. A Wellbeing Committee, made up of teachers and pupils, promotes the wellbeing of the whole school through projects such as the Box of Worries where pupils can share concerns. The environment is designed to be safe and trusting, with a focus on helping children become confident, fulfilled and resilient individuals. Social and emotional skills are developed alongside academic learning as part of the everyday school experience.

SIAL.school has a designated SENCO, the Deputy Headteacher, to oversee special educational needs. There is a SEND and learning disabilities policy in place. These arrangements reflect formal guidance for pupils with SEND as part of the school's policy framework. The school maintains structured processes to address SEND within its policy documents.

English-Italian as an additional language is recognised in the policy framework. For children needing extra support in either language, additional sessions are provided with specialist Italian/English as an additional language teachers and teaching assistants. The school also offers Italian language courses as part of its broader bilingual provision. Some specialist teachers deliver lessons in English to support language development and academic learning for all pupils. This bilingual approach supports language development in both English and Italian.

The Wellbeing Programme is integrated into student life and supported by a full-time Wellbeing Supervisor on site. Daily check-ins are an important part of pastoral care and are conducted each morning. A Wellbeing Committee of teachers and pupils promotes wellbeing across the school through targeted projects such as Box of Worries. The school aims to provide a safe, trusting environment where pupils feel supported to become confident, fulfilled and resilient individuals. Mental wellbeing is embedded as a core aspect of the school's everyday practice.

Safeguarding is a priority and all staff, governors, volunteers and visitors are expected to share this commitment to protecting pupils. All staff are trained in Child Protection and the school actively listens to pupils, parents and staff, taking concerns seriously. Children are encouraged to talk to any adult if they have concerns. The school provides access to its regulation on the Protection of Minors for reference and clarity.

1. Applications to join our bilingual primary school and nursery are accepted throughout the year for entry into any year group. Most children join SIAL.school in September, but in-year admission is possible if places are available. If this is your case, contact the Admissions Office directly. 2. To apply for admission, register your child with us. Registration can be made any time after the child's birth. The application deadline for the school year 2027-2028 is December 2026. There may be places available after the deadline, so contact the Admissions Office anytime throughout the year. You will be asked to pay a £100 plus VAT non-refundable registration fee. The registration fee covers administrative costs only and does not guarantee a place in the school. 3. Receive an offer: Places are normally offered at the beginning of December before entry, when the formal offer letters and relevant forms are sent to those on our registration list – i.e. for a place in September 2027, the forms would be sent at the beginning of December 2026. Places are allocated prioritising siblings and in order of declaration of interest. 4. Confirm your place: To secure the place, you are requested to return the forms with a copy of your child's identification (passport or birth certificate) and a deposit of £1,500 by the end of the following January – i.e. for a place in September 2027, by the end of January 2027. Please note that if the deadlines are missed, and full documentation and payment are not provided on time, the offer will be withdrawn. If there are still places available once all deposits have been received, offers are made to those on the waiting list until the classes are full. The deposit is refunded when the pupil leaves the school, provided a full term's notice has been received and all outstanding accounts have been settled.

Bursaries exist to ensure that children who would benefit from attending our bilingual school are not prevented from doing so because of the costs. A bursary can cover any proportion of the costs of fees up to 100% for those who are eligible. We judge each application carefully, considering the income and assets of the family. To apply for a bursary, you'll need to prove financial need. As well as providing evidence of your income, you may have to give details of your assets, other dependent family members, and even your spending habits, such as holidays. We review bursaries annually, but these will be continued at the same level if there are no material changes in financial circumstances. If there are changes in circumstances, bursary awards may be varied upwards or downwards. To apply for a bursary simply contact our Admissions Office at admissions@sial.school or 020 7603 5353.

Waiting list: If the relevant class is already full, your child will be added to our waiting list. Both our registration list and waiting list are ordered according to the date of registration (the date the form and payment have been received).