Home > Belgium > Brussels > Stepping Stones Bilingual School
Montessori and Belgian
Bilingual
Ages 3 to 12

Stepping Stones Bilingual School Verified badge.pink.sm

5.0 (based on 11 reviews) Reviews aren't verified
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CityBrussels
CurriculumsMontessori and Belgian
Leaving qualificationN/A
Languages of instructionEnglish and French
Age RangeAges 3 to 12
Reviews: 5.0
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Reviews:
5.0 (based on 11 reviews) Reviews aren't verified

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Quick summary of key school information

Leaving qualifications N/A
Language of instruction English and French
Native English and French teachers
Extra languages (other than English and French)
Class sizes Average 14 students / class
Maximum 20 students / class
Extracurricular activities
School bus
School's webpage:
Yearly fees: from: €8,400
to: €12,100
This school has more than one campus in Brussels:
Preschool: Ages 3 to 6

Address: 60, avenue Legrand, 1150 Brussels, Belgium

Primary: Ages 6 to 12

Address: Av. Legrand 45, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium

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All the details about this school in their own words

We have organised the information available for this school into 10 sections and 40 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
Number of students

56 in our Preschool, 43 in our Primary (for the 2023-2024 school year); aiming for a maximum of 20 children per primary class as of Sep 2024 (for a total of 120 primary school students)

Number of nationalities represented in the school

Over 20 nationalities

Most common nationality

Belgian / British

Ratio of local students to international students

40% French speakers, 60% non-French speakers

Native English and French speaking teachers

Yes

Language support for students not fluent in English and French

No, we teach by immersion. But individual learning support is always available for students who need it.

Additional language classes offered by the school

Dutch in grades 3-6 (as per the official Wallonia-Brussels Federation programme; as of September 2023).

Max. number of students per class

20

Average number of students per class

12-15

Does the school employ teaching assistants?

Yes

Use of technology in the classroom

'CleverTouch' interactive screens in our Primary School

Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures)

During the first lockdown in Brussels in the Spring of 2020, we offered online sessions via Zoom and were able to develop a solid, reliable working method to keep our young students (and their parents) engaged and feeling connected to their school and their classmates.

Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?

No, we are a non-denominational school. We do make a point of learning about and celebrating the very diverse religious and traditional holidays of all our students, encouraging respect and appreciation towards all creeds.

External examinations or assessments available

Belgian Primary School certifications (Wallonia-Brussels Federation) + Cambridge Assessment English

Results in these examinations

Excellent for all levels

Do teachers assign homework to their students?

Yes (in Primary School)

Approximate hours of homework given

A maximum of 30 minutes per day

Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation

Not applicable, as we do not offer secondary school. In any case, all our graduating primary school students will move on to secondary school ("high school").

Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs

We do not have in-house specialised staff at the moment, but we work closely with the parents, doctors and therapists of any child requiring specialised support. The few children we have welcomed throughout the years that required specific physical, emotional or academic support structures fared very well and flourished when the parents were open to coordinating with us.

Learning support offered

Not applicable at this time (see previous answer).

The school supports gifted, able and talented students

Because of our mixed teaching methods, combining the Montessori approach with more traditional teacher-led activities and with cooperative learning, each child learns at their own pace and gifted students who require more stimulating challenges are perfectly integrated in our vertical classrooms (ages 3 to 6 and 6 to 8, as of Sep 2021). We work closely with the parents, doctors and therapists of any child who requires specialised or more advanced materials, which are made readily available in all our classrooms.

Student access to education psychologist

We work with two local paediatric psychologists who are on call if needed.

Entry evaluation for students

We meet individually with the parents before formalising each child's enrolment.

Waiting list

Yes

Deadline for registration (new academic year)

Usually in March. (This may change as our Primary School grows).

Students can join after academic year begins

Only in very exceptional circumstances.

School start time

Doors open at 8:00 a.m.; classes start at 8:30 a.m. in Primary and 9:00 a.m. in Preschool.

School finish time

3:30 pm except on Wednesdays, which are half-days in Belgium (we finish after lunch, at 12:30 p.m.)

Supervised care before/after school

Free supervised care between 8:00 and 8:30/9:00 a.m. and between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m. (12:30 to 12:45 p.m. on Wednesdays). After-school care is available for a fee, between 3:45 and 6:00 p.m. (12:45 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays).

School bus service available

Not at the moment.

School provided lunches

Hot lunches and healthy snacks for all students (€99 per month). Vegetarian option available.

Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc)

Yes, as required. Children with multiple allergies or other medically justified problems with food can opt out of our hot meal programme and bring their own lunch.

Uniform required

Yes (every day in Primary school; on sports days and school outings for Preschool).

Extracurricular activities or clubs offered

"Happy Wednesdays": Wednesday afternoon activities including Art and Eurhythmics (musical expression through movement) in Preschool; Chess Club, Judo, Basketball, in Primary school. On Monday afternoons: Performing Arts in Primary.
Holiday Camps: Week-long day camps during the main school breaks (November; February; March/April).

Sports activities included

Psychomotricity, Dance and/or Yoga in our Preschool; Physical Education (following the Belgian curriculum which includes team sports, gymnastics, swimming, etc.) in our Primary School.

Sports teams or sport competitions available for students

Not at the moment.

Facilities at the school

Montessori room; music room; lending library (as of Sep 2024).

Sports facilities at the school

In Preschool: Outdoor playgrounds with climbing walls, slides, etc. Indoor psychomotricity materials (balls, hoops, cones, climbing structures, etc.)
In Primary School: Sports hall with a climbing wall; courtyard with portable basket ball hoops, football goal posts, etc).

Qualities and characteristics best defining the school

Stepping Stones is a private bilingual (English/French) preschool and primary school in Brussels. Like our students, our teachers and support staff are international, diverse, and open to the world. We aim to nurture each child's potential for creativity, adaptability and self-assurance, modelling the ideals of respect, liberty, autonomy, curiosity, solidarity and kindness.

Teaching approach of the school

At Stepping Stones we use a mixed methods approach to learning, taking the best from each system to offer a richly rewarding daily experience for each student. Children are the agents of their own learning process, guided by their teachers, at their own pace. Both in our Preschool and in our Primary School, we combine the Montessori approach with more “traditional” teacher-led methods, and the children learn through bilingual or dual immersion (English/French). In our Primary School, one day per week is devoted to cooperative learning, working on joint projects. We hope to enable the children, whose natural instincts are generous and just, to become agents of change in the world. As each child is unique, our differentiated teaching strategies pave the way for every child to reach their full potential, acquiring a solid base of fundamental knowledge and abilities, including psychosocial skills (managing their emotions, developing their creativity and critical thought, building empathy and concern for others...)

Reviews:
5.0 (based on 11 reviews) Reviews aren't verified

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