The Schools
| School | Fee at Age 3 (USD) | Framework | Feeds into |
|---|---|---|---|
| JIS | $22,333 | American, play-based | JIS Primary → JIS High School |
| ISJ | $10,298 | EYFS | ISJ Primary → ISJ Secondary (from 2028) |
| ACG | $9,873 | NZ / IB PYP | ACG Primary → ACG Secondary |
| NAS | $9,280 | EYFS | NAS Primary (to Year 7 only) |
| BSJ | $8,919 | EYFS | BSJ Primary → BSJ Secondary → Sixth Form |
| AIS | $7,702 | Australian EYLF | AIS Primary → AIS Secondary |
All fees are for full-time (five days per week) at age 3. JIS figure is the full-day Early Years rate - a half-day option is available at $17,341. AIS also offers a three-day option at $5,975. BSJ and ISJ accept children from age 2 at lower fees.
Fees correct as of February 2026. Exchange rate: IDR 16,826 = $1 USD. All fee data verified from official school fee schedules.
The Early Years Decision
Three reasons the early years decision carries weight beyond what is obvious.
It locks in your school pathway. Moving a child between international schools in Jakarta at Year 1 or Year 3 means new application fees, possible waiting lists, a social transition your child did not ask for, and - if the new school charges a capital levy - another lump sum. Most families who start at a school for nursery stay through primary and beyond. The early years choice is a ten-year commitment in disguise.
Places are easier to get at nursery. Jakarta's top schools have limited secondary places and growing waiting lists at primary. Nursery and Reception are the widest entry points. If you want your child at JIS, BSJ or ISJ, applying at nursery age gives you the best chance of a place. Waiting until Year 1 narrows the options. For more on timing, read our when to apply guide.
The framework shapes your child's first experience of school. A play-based EYFS nursery feels different from a structured pre-primary programme. Neither is wrong - but the approach should match your child and your family. A child who thrives on outdoor play, sensory exploration and gradual socialisation will respond differently from a child who is ready for more structure earlier.
The Top Tier
JIS - Jakarta Intercultural School
JIS starts at Early Years 1 (age 3) with two options: a half-day programme at $17,341 per year or a full-day programme at $22,333. Both are the highest early years fees in Jakarta by a wide margin. Fees then climb steeply - Kindergarten (age 5) jumps to $30,030 and Elementary (Grades 1-5) reaches $31,367.
The elementary programme is American in structure - inquiry-based, play-informed in the early years, with a gradual transition to more structured learning. The campus in Pondok Indah has the strongest early years facilities of any Jakarta school: purpose-built spaces, specialist teachers, outdoor learning areas.
JIS is the obvious choice for families who plan to stay through to graduation. Starting at Early Years gives your child thirteen years in the same school, same peer group, same campus. The fee commitment is significant from the start - and it increases at every level.
BSJ - British School Jakarta
BSJ runs the Early Years Foundation Stage from age two. The Kukangs programme (age 2) and Kindergarten 1 (age 3) both sit at $8,919 per year - the most affordable entry point at any top-tier Jakarta school. Kindergarten 2 (age 4) rises to $11,713. The jump to Year 1 is significant: $24,083.
BSJ's EYFS implementation is led by UK-qualified early years specialists. The Bintaro campus has dedicated early years facilities with indoor and outdoor learning spaces. The programme follows the EYFS framework - play-based, developmental, focused on the seven areas of learning with a light touch on formal literacy and numeracy until Reception.
For British families or families who want the EYFS approach, BSJ is the natural first choice. The Kukangs programme starting at age two is a gentle introduction to school life - short days, small groups, and a focus on settling in. The school knows that a two-year-old's first week of school is as much about parent anxiety as child readiness.
ISJ - The Independent School of Jakarta
ISJ starts at Pre-Nursery (age 2) with fees of $8,827, rising to $10,298 at Nursery (age 3) and $17,197 at Reception (age 4). The fee structure sits between BSJ and JIS - ISJ is more expensive than BSJ at nursery level but significantly cheaper than JIS, reflecting the school's all-inclusive fee model where the capital contribution is bundled into tuition.
ISJ follows the EYFS framework with a British independent school character. Classes are small. Staff know every child. The pastoral care in the early years is a particular strength - the school takes settling in seriously and communicates closely with parents during the transition. The extracurricular programme is broader than you would expect for a school of this size, with options starting in the early years.
ISJ is targeting an optimal enrolment of around 500 pupils. The early years community is small and close-knit. For families who want that British independent school feel - where the head teacher knows your child's name and the classroom teacher calls you if something is off - ISJ delivers this from day one. A new secondary campus opens in September 2028, extending the school through to A Levels, which means children starting nursery at ISJ today will have a through-school option by the time they reach secondary.
AIS - Australian Independent School Jakarta
AIS starts at Preschool 3 (age 3) with the most flexible entry model among the top schools: a three-day option at $5,975 or a five-day option at $7,702. Preschool 4 (age 4) is $8,615. Prep (age 5) jumps to $13,197 as it moves into the primary programme.
AIS follows Australia's Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) - play-based, relationship-focused, with an emphasis on belonging, being and becoming. The approach shares common ground with EYFS but has its own distinct character. AIS runs a calendar year (January-December), which is worth noting for families arriving mid-year - your child can start at the beginning of the Australian school year rather than waiting for August.
AIS has the most transparent learning support programme in Jakarta's early years. The separately published fee schedule for EAL and specialist support means families know upfront what additional costs may apply. For children who need extra support in their first school experience, AIS handles this openly rather than leaving it as a conversation to have after enrolment.
What Is EYFS?
The Early Years Foundation Stage is the statutory framework for children aged 0-5 in England. It sets the standards for learning, development and care. BSJ, ISJ and NAS all follow EYFS in their nursery and Reception programmes.
EYFS is built around seven areas of learning: three prime areas (communication and language, physical development, personal and social and emotional development) and four specific areas (literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, expressive arts and design). It is play-based by design. Formal academic instruction - sitting at desks, working through worksheets - is not part of EYFS. The learning happens through structured play, exploration and guided activities.
For parents unfamiliar with EYFS, it can feel unstructured. Children may come home talking about what they built in the sandpit rather than what letter they learned. This is deliberate. The evidence base for play-based early years education is strong, and EYFS represents England's formalisation of that evidence into a framework that schools follow.
Not all EYFS implementations are equal. The quality depends on the training and experience of the early years team, the ratio of adults to children, the physical environment, and the school's commitment to genuine play-based learning rather than ticking boxes. Ask about staff qualifications, adult-to-child ratios, and how the school assesses progress.
Fee Comparison - Early Years
| School | Age 2 | Age 3 | Age 4 | Age 5 (Year 1 / Foundation) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JIS | - | $22,333 | $22,333 | $30,030 |
| BSJ | $8,919 | $8,919 | $11,713 | $24,083 |
| ISJ | $8,827 | $10,298 | $17,197 | $24,944 |
| NAS | $6,911 | $9,280 | $15,882 | $20,604 |
| ACG | - | $9,873 | $11,833 | $19,169 |
| AIS | - | $5,975-$7,702 | $8,615 | $13,197 |
JIS age 3 figure is the full-day rate. A half-day option is available at $17,341. The column for age 5 shows the first year of primary (Year 1 or equivalent), not a nursery fee. This is where fees typically jump - note the gap between age 4 and age 5 at BSJ ($11,713 → $24,083) and ISJ ($17,197 → $24,944).
The early years fee is the entry price. The primary fee is the commitment. Before choosing a school based on affordable nursery fees, check what Year 1 costs. The two numbers are often very different.
Other Early Years Options
Binus Simprug runs IB PYP from early years. Fee data suggests approximately $7,000 at the entry level. The student body is majority Indonesian and the school culture reflects that - an attractive option for mixed Indonesian-expat families who want bilingual development from the start. Verify current early years fees directly with admissions.
NJIS in Kelapa Gading offers PYP from early years. For families in North Jakarta, it is one of very few credible international options. Fees start at approximately $10,000. The school is small - closer teacher-student relationships, but a narrower peer group.
GMIS in Kemayoran offers IB PYP from early years at the lowest price point in the international school market - approximately $4,600 at entry level. The student body is diverse, with over 50 nationalities represented. For families who want an international early years experience at a lower cost, GMIS is worth visiting.
SPH Kemang Village runs an IB PYP early years programme. Fees start at $11,797 at K1 (age 4) - SPH does not offer a nursery entry at age 3. The student body is primarily Indonesian. SPH is a Christian school with a faith-based ethos that shapes the school culture. For families open to that, SPH offers a credible IB pathway at mid-tier pricing.
Settling In - What Parents Worry About
Every family relocating to Jakarta with young children has the same anxieties. Will my child settle? Will they make friends? Will the school communicate with us? Will the transition be too much?
The first week is the hardest - for you. Your child will cry, cling and protest. This is normal. The school has seen it hundreds of times. Good early years schools manage the transition gradually - shortened days, a settling-in period, regular updates to parents. Ask the school how they handle the first two weeks. The answer tells you a lot about their pastoral care.
Language is less of a barrier than you think. Children aged 2-5 absorb language through immersion faster than adults expect. A child with no English will typically follow classroom routines within weeks and communicate with peers within a term. Schools with experienced early years teams expect non-English-speaking children and plan for them.
Ask about communication. How will the school tell you what your child did today? A daily photo update, a weekly learning journal, a termly report? The best early years schools over-communicate in the first term, then find a rhythm. If the school says "we have an open door policy" but cannot describe the actual communication system, push harder.
Visit the classroom, not the marketing suite. Ask to see the early years space during a normal school day. Watch how the teachers interact with the children. Count the adults in the room. Look at the outdoor space. A brochure tells you nothing that a twenty-minute classroom visit cannot tell you better.
For more on the practicalities of relocating to Jakarta with children, including finding a school, read our relocating guide.