Early Years

CAMBRIDGE EARLY YEARS IN CENTRAL LISBON: NURSERY & RECEPTION (Ages 3–5)

A JOYFUL START TO A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING

At The Lisboan, we believe that young children learn best when they feel safe, happy, known and motivated. Our Early Years programme provides a nurturing environment where curiosity is celebrated, relationships matter and learning is brought to life through play, exploration and discovery.

Children arrive each day ready to investigate, create, question and imagine. Through a balance of child-led exploration and carefully planned adult-guided learning, we help every child develop confidence, independence and a lifelong love of learning.

Learning takes place both indoors and outdoors, giving children rich opportunities to explore the world around them and build meaningful connections between their experiences and their understanding.

WHY CHOOSE THE LISBOAN EARLY YEARS?

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

Play is not a break from learning — it is how young children learn best. Through carefully designed experiences, children develop communication, creativity, problem-solving skills, resilience and social confidence while building a genuine love of learning.

EVERY CHILD IS KNOWN

Small class sizes and strong relationships allow us to understand each child as an individual. By knowing their interests, strengths and needs, we can provide the support, challenge and encouragement that helps every child flourish.

LEARNING HOW TO LEARN

One of the most important things children develop in the Early Years is not simply knowledge, but the habits that lead to future success. Curiosity, independence, perseverance, creativity and critical thinking are woven into everyday learning, helping children become confident learners who ask questions, solve problems and think for themselves.

AN INTERNATIONAL BEGINNING

Our diverse international community provides children with daily opportunities to learn alongside classmates from different cultures, languages and perspectives. Whether English is a child's first language or an additional language, they are supported to feel confident, included and successful from the very beginning.

STRONG FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE

The Cambridge Early Years Programme provides a carefully structured pathway that supports children's academic, social, emotional and physical development, ensuring they are fully prepared for a successful transition into Primary School and beyond.

THE CAMBRIDGE EARLY YEARS PROGRAMME

Our curriculum follows the Cambridge Early Years Programme, an internationally recognised framework rooted in the best principles of UK early childhood education.

The programme takes a holistic approach to learning, focusing on the development of the whole child and providing strong foundations for future success.

Learning is organised around six curriculum areas:

Communication, Language & Literacy

Developing speaking, listening, reading and early writing skills. We follow the Read Write Inc. Phonics programme from Oxford University Press to build confident readers and writers.

Mathematics

Building confidence with number, pattern, shape, measurement and problem-solving.

Personal, Social & Emotional Development

Helping children develop self-awareness, resilience, empathy and positive relationships.

Physical Development

Supporting coordination, movement, gross and fine motor skills and healthy habits.

Understanding the World

Encouraging curiosity about people, places, nature and the wider world.

Creative Expression

The curriculum builds progressively on children’s knowledge and skills, deepening understanding and confidence over time.

A RICH AND CONNECTED CURRICULUM

Early Years children in the school library

A RICH AND CONNECTED CURRICULUM

Learning is organised around engaging six-week themes that help children make meaningful connections across different areas of the curriculum.

Rather than learning subjects in isolation, children explore ideas through stories, play, investigation, creativity, mathematics, language, movement and outdoor experiences. This integrated approach makes learning purposeful, memorable and relevant.

Our themes encourage children to ask questions, make discoveries and connect their learning to the world around them.

SPECIALIST EXPERIENCES

SPECIALIST EXPERIENCES

Alongside their classroom learning, children benefit from specialist lessons in:

Portuguese Language and Culture
Drama
Music
Physical Education

Children also enjoy regular visits to the Primary Library, helping to foster a love of books, stories and reading from an early age.

LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Children learning outdoors in the forest

LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

At The Lisboan, learning extends far beyond the classroom walls.

Every week, children enjoy a morning of activities in the nearby Monsanto forest.

Through our City as a Classroom approach, children explore their local environment, engage with the community and develop a growing understanding of the city they call home. These authentic experiences help children make meaningful connections between their learning and the real world.

TECHNOLOGY WITH PURPOSE

TECHNOLOGY WITH PURPOSE

At The Lisboan, we believe childhood should be filled with play, exploration, creativity and meaningful human interaction. Technology has a place in our Early Years classrooms, but it is used intentionally and in moderation to enrich learning rather than replace hands-on experiences.

Children take part in short, teacher-led digital activities of around 10–15 minutes each day, using technology only when it enhances the learning experience. Tools such as Bee-Bots introduce early computational thinking, sequencing and problem-solving through play, while interactive displays support collaborative learning and are thoughtfully concealed behind sliding doors when not in use—ensuring technology never becomes the centre of the classroom.

Our priority is to nurture curious, confident learners who experience the joy of childhood while developing the foundations for a digitally connected future.

BUILDING CONFIDENT, CARING CITIZENS

BUILDING CONFIDENT, CARING CITIZENS

Even our youngest learners begin to develop an understanding of their role within a community and the wider world.

Through age-appropriate experiences linked to sustainability, wellbeing and global citizenship, children learn how their choices can positively impact others and their environment.

Guided by our BOA principles — Belong, Own and Act — children learn to:

Build positive relationships
Develop independence and responsibility
Show kindness and empathy
Respect diversity
Care for their environment
Contribute positively to their community

PREPARING FOR THE NEXT STAGE

PREPARING FOR THE NEXT STAGE

By the end of Early Years, children are confident, capable and ready to make a successful transition into Primary School.

More importantly, they leave with a strong sense of curiosity, independence and enthusiasm for learning — foundations that will support them throughout their educational journey.

AT THE LISBOAN, EVERY CHILD’S JOURNEY BEGINS WITH BELONGING, DISCOVERY AND THE CONFIDENCE TO EXPLORE THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

READY TO BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY?

We would be delighted to learn more about your family and answer any questions you may have.

Applications are now open for the 2026/27 academic year.

Enquire Now
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Or please contact our Admissions Team:
EMAIL: admissions@the-lisboan.school
PHONE: +351 910 114 631