Best Early Years Schools Madrid 2026 | Guardería & Infantil

The brief

Through-school EY anchors: TBS Madrid, Hastings, ISM, King's, ICS Madrid, Runnymede. Each runs its own infantil into its own primary.
Dual British-Spanish from age 1 or 2 is the Madrid norm. Pure English-medium EY is the exception, found mainly at Runnymede and ICS Madrid.
NABSS authorisation is the regulatory floor from age 3; guardería (0 to 3) sits under regional licensing. BSO plus CIS is the strongest external-inspection layer, held by King's and Runnymede.
The EY fee is the entry price; Year 1 is the commitment. Most through-schools step fees up sharply at Year 1 or Reception.
Montessori is mainstream in Spain. TEMS and British Montessori carry it to secondary; City Country is AMI Montessori to age 16.

Madrid splits early years two ways. Regulatory: guardería (0 to 3) under the Comunidad de Madrid, educación infantil segundo ciclo (3 to 6) under Ministry oversight, with foreign-curriculum schools needing centro extranjero autorizado status that NABSS supports. Linguistic: English-medium versus dual British-Spanish. Almost every credible English-medium school runs its own in-house infantil from age 1 or 2, so through-school EY is the default route.

The top tier, through-school EY

The British School of Madrid

Pozuelo de Alarcón. Ages 2 to 18. Fees EUR 5,100 to 14,070. Founded 1940. BSO accredited, NABSS authorised.

The oldest British school in Spain runs the most established dual-track early years in the city. EYFS from age 2 with Spanish embedded daily. The BiBac dual pathway lands at sixth form, but the bilingual habit starts in infantil.

Hastings School

Central Madrid, three campuses. Ages 2 to 18. Fees EUR 7,700 to 20,750. Founded 1971. NABSS authorised.

EYFS from age 2 across the Aravaca and Mirasierra campuses, English-medium with Spanish daily. The Central location is the draw for families avoiding the Pozuelo or La Moraleja commute; the multi-campus structure means EY sits in its own building.

International School of Madrid

Chamartín. Ages 2 to 18. Fees EUR 16,875 to 41,625. Founded 1971. NABSS authorised.

The most expensive early years in the city. English-medium from age 2, Spanish as a subject. EY is priced as the entry point to a pipeline that delivers Madrid's strongest A-Level pass rate (99% in 2025).

King's College, The British School of Madrid

La Moraleja. Ages 1 to 16. Fees EUR 8,115 to 16,110. Founded 2007. BSO, CIS, NABSS authorised. Operator: Inspired Education.

The earliest entry in the top tier, from age 1 into a dedicated Early Years building. EYFS, English-medium with a Spanish track for homologación. BSO plus CIS is the strongest external-inspection combination in Madrid; only King's and Runnymede hold both. Sixth form continues at the sister Soto site.

International College Spain

La Moraleja. Ages 3 to 18. Fees EUR 12,186 to 25,635. Founded 2000. CIS, NEASC, Cognia accredited. Operator: Nord Anglia.

The reference IB Primary Years Programme early years in Madrid. PYP from age 3, inquiry-led and concept-driven rather than EYFS subject-and-progression. English-medium with Spanish daily. The natural choice for a continuous IB pathway to Diploma.

Runnymede College

La Moraleja. Ages 3 to 18. Fees EUR 9,300 to 23,700. Founded 1967. BSO and CIS accredited, NABSS authorised.

English-medium from age 3, single-site campus. Structured rather than play-led by Madrid standards, oriented toward the school's traditional A-Level destination from the start. Sibling priority is heavy; waiting lists run.

American School of Madrid

Pozuelo de Alarcón. Ages 3 to 18. Fees EUR 11,593 to 23,878. Founded 1961. MSA-CESS accredited.

Pre-K at age 3, K at age 5, then US elementary leading to AP and IB at high school. American framework, play-informed in early years, structured-academic from Kindergarten. The reference American EY in Madrid.

Best stand-alone international nurseries

Madrid's standalone international nursery market is narrow. Most credible options are bilingual guarderías with English-immersion sessions, not full international programmes.

Maxwell School (Chamartín). EYFS plus IPC from age 1, smaller intake than the anchors.
British Montessori nursery (Aravaca). AMI Montessori from age 1, sister to TEMS.
Brains International Schools nurseries. Bilingual infantil feeders at several Madrid sites, useful for Spanish families wanting English exposure from infancy.
Kids&Us, Helen Doron and similar chains run English-immersion sessions inside conventional guarderías, useful as a bridge to a through-school infantil at age 3.

Best Montessori and Reggio

Montessori is mainstream in Spain, not alternative. Three options sit in the international EY conversation.

The English Montessori School (TEMS)

Central Madrid. Ages 1 to 18. Fees EUR 5,000 to 13,450. Founded 1973. NABSS authorised.

Montessori through early years, English National Curriculum from primary. AMI-aligned mixed-age classrooms transition into IGCSE, A-Level or IB at sixth form. *58% A/A at A-Level in 2024**, unusual for a Montessori EY anchor.

British Montessori

Moncloa-Aravaca. Ages 1 to 18. Fees EUR 7,656 to 16,872. Founded 1973.

The Aravaca sister of TEMS under the Gunzi family. AMI Montessori from age 1, dual British-Spanish from infantil, IGCSE and A-Level at upper school.

City Country School

Aravaca. Ages 3 to 16. Founded 2012. AMS-accredited Montessori, MSA-CESS.

Standalone AMI Montessori with American Montessori Society accreditation, a rare combination in Spain. Single mixed-age progression to age 16, no transfer until secondary.

Reggio Emilia influence runs through many of Madrid's guarderías but no school of TEMS' scale sits in the Reggio camp explicitly.

Best EYFS-anchored

EYFS is the English Early Years Foundation Stage (ages 0 to 5): play-based, seven areas of learning, ending with Early Learning Goals in Reception. The Madrid schools running a recognisable programme:

King's College Madrid. EYFS from age 1, BSO and CIS, dedicated Early Years building.
The British School of Madrid. EYFS in Spanish-English balance from age 2, BSO accredited.
Hastings School. EYFS from age 2, English-medium with Spanish daily.
Runnymede College. EYFS from age 3, structured and English-medium.
International School of Madrid. EYFS from age 2, premium positioning.
Maxwell School. EYFS plus IPC, smaller setting in Chamartín.

EYFS quality depends on adult-to-child ratios, the EY lead's experience, outdoor space, and genuine play-based commitment rather than ticking the framework's boxes.

At a glance

School	Area	Ages	Fees (EUR)	Framework	NABSS	Other
King's College Madrid	La Moraleja	1 to 16	8,115 to 16,110	EYFS	yes	BSO, CIS
British Montessori	Aravaca	1 to 18	7,656 to 16,872	Montessori	yes
The English Montessori School	Central	1 to 18	5,000 to 13,450	Montessori	yes
Hastings School	Central	2 to 18	7,700 to 20,750	EYFS	yes
The British School of Madrid	Pozuelo	2 to 18	5,100 to 14,070	EYFS bilingual	yes	BSO
International School of Madrid	Chamartín	2 to 18	16,875 to 41,625	EYFS	yes
International College Spain	La Moraleja	3 to 18	12,186 to 25,635	IB PYP	yes	CIS, NEASC
Runnymede College	La Moraleja	3 to 18	9,300 to 23,700	EYFS	yes	BSO, CIS
American School of Madrid	Pozuelo	3 to 18	11,593 to 23,878	American Pre-K	n/a	MSA-CESS
City Country School	Aravaca	3 to 16	not published	Montessori AMI	n/a	AMS, MSA-CESS

NABSS authorisation applies from age 3; American and IB-only schools sit outside the NABSS frame.

The age labels and frameworks

Guardería is the Spanish 0-to-3 stage, regulated regionally, mostly Spanish-medium. Educación infantil segundo ciclo is the 3-to-6 stage under Ministry oversight; foreign-curriculum schools need centro extranjero autorizado status that NABSS supports.

Three international frameworks run in Madrid: EYFS dominates the British anchors; IB PYP is the ICS Madrid offer; American Pre-K and K runs at the American School of Madrid.

Bilingual means different things. Real dual-medium (TBS Madrid, TEMS, British Montessori) embeds Spanish across the day. English-medium with Spanish as a subject (Runnymede, ICS Madrid) runs Spanish in dedicated lessons.

How to choose between them

English-medium or dual? Three-to-five-year posting leans Runnymede, ICS Madrid, American School. Long-term or Spanish-national children lean TBS Madrid, Hastings, TEMS, British Montessori.

Framework. EYFS at the British anchors, IB PYP at ICS Madrid, Montessori at TEMS, British Montessori and City Country School, American Pre-K and K at American School of Madrid.

Location. La Moraleja (King's, Runnymede, ICS Madrid), Pozuelo (TBS Madrid, ASM), Aravaca (British Montessori, City Country), Chamartín (ISM, Maxwell), Central (Hastings, TEMS). La Moraleja from central Madrid runs 25 to 40 minutes outside rush hour, longer inside it.

Fees and the senior school. EY fees range EUR 5,000 to 17,000 in the established tier. Year 1 steps up modestly at TBS Madrid, steeply at ICS Madrid. The EY decision is which through-school the family can sustain to Year 6 and beyond.

FAQs

When does infantil start in Madrid international schools?

Most through-schools admit at age 2 or 3. King's College Madrid admits from age 1; Runnymede, ICS Madrid and American School of Madrid start at 3.

Do international schools in Madrid follow the Spanish curriculum in early years?

Dual schools (TBS Madrid, TEMS, British Montessori) embed Spanish across the day. English-medium schools (Runnymede, ICS Madrid, ISM) run Spanish as a subject. American School of Madrid runs Pre-K and K in English with Spanish daily.

What is NABSS and does it apply to nursery?

NABSS supports schools through Ministry of Education authorisation from age 3 onwards. Guardería (0 to 3) sits under regional licensing, outside NABSS.

Is Montessori common in Madrid?

Yes. AMI-aligned schools run through to secondary in Spain. TEMS and British Montessori carry Montessori from age 1; City Country School runs AMI Montessori to age 16.

How early should families apply?

A year in advance for the top tier. King's College, Runnymede and ICS Madrid all run waiting lists at popular entry years.

Is the EY fee a good guide to total cost?

No. Year 1 and Year 7 fees rise sharply; ICS Madrid reaches EUR 41,625 at sixth form, Runnymede EUR 23,700, TBS Madrid EUR 14,070.

Sources: school websites and 2025 to 2026 fee schedules for the schools named. NABSS (nabss.org) for authorisation framework. UK Department for Education BSO scheme guidance. Council of International Schools (cois.org) membership directory. Comunidad de Madrid registry for centros de educación infantil de primer ciclo. Spanish Ministry of Education educación infantil segundo ciclo guidance.

Best Early Years Schools in Madrid