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)

Over 20 nationalities

Belgian / British

40% French speakers, 60% non-French speakers

Yes

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

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

20

12-15

Yes

'CleverTouch' interactive screens in our Primary School

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.

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.

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

Excellent for all levels

Yes (in Primary School)

A maximum of 30 minutes per day

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").

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.

Not applicable at this time (see previous answer).

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.

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

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

Yes

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

Only in very exceptional circumstances.

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

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

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).

Not at the moment.

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

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.

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

"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).

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.

Not at the moment.

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

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).

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.

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...)