Is Your Child Ready for First Grade — Or Will They Be?
Starting school is one of the biggest milestones in a child’s life. For international families living in the Czech Republic, it comes with an extra layer of complexity: which school? Which language? And how do you make sure your child doesn’t just survive their first year — but thrives?
That’s exactly where our preparatory class comes in.
More Than Just “Getting Ready”
Most parents think of school preparation as learning to hold a pencil or count to ten. And yes, those things matter. But the children who truly hit the ground running in first grade are the ones who feel confident, connected, and curious — not just academically prepared.
In our preparatory class, we build all of it. Over the course of one structured, playful year, children develop the skills that schools actually look for at enrolment: focus, communication, early literacy and numeracy, and the ability to work as part of a group.
The result? Our prep class graduates walk into first grade — at any school — ready.
Two Languages, One Childhood
For international families, language is everything. You want your child to feel at home in Czech. You want them to keep their English. You don’t want to choose.
And if your child doesn’t speak Czech yet? That’s not a reason to wait — it’s actually a reason to start sooner. Our preparatory class is the ideal environment to build a natural foundation in Czech, while keeping English strong at the same time.
This approach is backed by over 50 years of Canadian experience in bilingual education. We don’t just believe in bilingualism — we know how to do it, because we’ve been doing it for generations.
In practice, this means your child learns from two dedicated teachers every single day: a Czech teacher and a native English speaker teacher, who alternate leading activities throughout the day. Children are gently but consistently exposed to both languages — and the results are genuinely visible.
We also know that multilingualism is a deeply individual process. Some children need encouragement to start speaking. Others need space and no pressure — and they’ll get there in their own time. And some children arrive already juggling three or more home languages, which requires real expertise to navigate thoughtfully. We understand all of this, and we know how to meet every child exactly where they are.
By the time they reach first grade, both languages feel like home.
The Friends They’ll Never Forget
There’s something else that happens in our prep class that no curriculum can fully capture. Children find their people.
For kids from international families, starting school in a new country can feel isolating. Our preparatory class brings together children from all over the world — and gives them a whole year to build real friendships before first grade even begins.
And here’s what makes it even more special: the group that forms in the preparatory class continues together into first grade. These friendships don’t reset — they deepen. The prep class becomes the heart of the class for years to come.
They arrive on day one of first grade knowing faces, knowing names, knowing they belong. That confidence? It changes everything.
A Gentle Start, a Lasting Advantage
We know that for many expat families, the school system here feels unfamiliar. Enrolment requirements, zápisy, deadlines — it can be overwhelming. Our preparatory class is designed to ease that transition, not just for your child, but for your whole family.
One year of the right preparation gives your child an advantage that lasts — not just through first grade, but through all the years that follow.
Spots Are Limited
We keep our preparatory class intentionally small so every child gets the attention they deserve. Enrolment for the upcoming year is now open — and spots fill quickly.
If you’re wondering whether your child is ready for first grade, the answer might simply be: not yet — and that’s perfectly okay. That’s what we’re here for.
Come and see us. We’d love to meet your family.
