Ages: 2-6 years

Curriculum: The year-long Foundation Programme at The International Montessori School of Hong Kong (IMS) is in preparation for the Casa dei Bambini classroom the following year.

Language options: Providing a high-quality, dual-language (English/Putonghua) programme is one of the core values at IMS. The classroom has two teachers: an English-language speaker and a Putonghua speaker.

When to apply: Anytime; assessments for the Foundation Programme (ages 2-3) are held in late spring.

Campus and facilities: Aldrich Bay is the newest campus; it hosts three Casa classrooms and a Foundation Group in Sai Wan Ho. The cosy Mid-Levels campus is where the youngest Foundation and Casa children enjoy their first years in the school. The South Horizons campus is surrounded by trees, an outdoor park and a promenade along the sea in Ap Lei Chau.

Competitive advantage: Three-year-olds typically attend the half-day programme, and four- to five-year-olds attend a special full-day programme designed for children who are discovering reading and writing as they prepare for the challenges of later years. The teacher presents carefully designed lessons and materials on a one-to-one basis to stimulate each child to fulfil his or her potential. Two teachers work alongside a maximum of 16 children in the Foundation environment. IMS was recognised with International Montessori Council accreditation in 2012.

Foundation Year schools in Mid-Levels, Sai Wan Ho and Ap Lei Chau, ims.edu.hk