Join us and experience the benefits of a bilingual school
Welcome to Butterflies, a bilingual, modern, holistic school dedicated to the future of 21st-century education.
At Butterflies, we inspire each child to think creatively and develop their independence through our daily activities and core values.
Our school is situated in a spacious modern building, spanning over 3000 square meters (about half the size of a US football field), providing an ideal environment for learning and growth.
Conveniently located just 12 minutes from Sintra, 12 minutes from Cascais, 15 minutes from Estoril, and 30 minutes from Lisbon, our school is easily accessible for families in the region.
We welcome children from 4 months up to 10 years, offering a nurturing and stimulating educational experience designed to support their development at every stage.
Come and visit us to see how we can be the perfect place for your child's educational journey.
Our Bilingual Curriculum
At Butterflies, we aim to achieve a fully bilingual environment where both Portuguese and English are fluently spoken throughout the school.
Nursery and Crèche
In each of our classrooms, there will always be a Portuguese and an English educator or assistant who will be alternating speaking in either of the languages throughout the day. For example, big circle activities and story time will be done one day in Portuguese and one day in English.
Pre-School
Similarly to Crèche, there will always be a Portuguese and an English speaking educator or assistant. Our students are introduced through play to reading and writing and further develop their speaking and listening skills in both languages.
Primary Years
We follow the Portuguese National Curriculum, as approved by the Ministry of Education. Our bilingual curriculum will challenge our students in both languages, building a strong foundation for lifelong learning. Each classroom will be lead by a Portuguese Teacher in conjunction with an English Teacher. We encourage students to learn by exploring and inquiring, we develop hands-on activities to engage all their senses.
Click here for more information about the Portuguese National Curriculum.
"Babies are such a nice
way to start people"
Don Herold
Nursery and Creche
Infant’s room for children between the ages of 4 months old until they walk unaided (usually 12 to 15 months).
Toddlers room for children between the walking stages until they are 3 years old.
Key development areas:
Personal and
social skills
Expressing and communicating
Discovering
the world
While at nursery, from month four, babies are starting to come out of their cocoon and, from the moment a child starts walking, they will be on a journey of discovery.
They are rolling over, sitting, crawling and standing.
Walking, jumping, hopping, running and dancing.
Babbling, talking, asking questions and singing
Recognising familiar faces and sounds
Reaching for objects, counting, drawing, colouring and using scissors.
Pre School
For children between the ages of 3 and 5 years.
Key development areas:
Personal and social growth
Expressing and communicating
Literacy, numeracy and creativity foundation
Team work
At this age, children start to understand their own body, mind and emotions; they are becoming independent. They are:
• Active, mobile and learning in very physical ways.
• Interested in playing and making friends with other children.
• Curious about bodies.
• Learning lots of new words.
• Fascinated by the world around them.
• Starting to tell the difference between real and pretend.
Primary
From the year your child turns 6 years old.
Key development areas:
Personal and social development
Personal and social development
Multiple intelligence – verbal and linguistic
Logical-mathematical
Spatial
awareness
Interpersonal and intrapersonal & Active participation
Cooperative and autonomous learning
Critical thinking, project and problem communication
During their primary years, children develop a chronological understanding of what surrounds them; they start to work out links between numbers, letters and sounds, words and pictures and from every day life. They are:
• Aware of people’s feelings
• Able to experience a broad range of emotions
• Willing to develop stronger and long lasting connections
• Continuing to improve gross and fine motor skills
• Improving their verbal and written communication
• Developing their logical and critical thinking.
Dynamic Interactive Rooms
We follow an innovative approach for the design and the physical structure of our premises. We gave priority to the creation of spaces that stimulate creativity, mutual collaboration and the well being of our students.
Nursery and Creche
1 Infant room
2 Toddler rooms
(from walking until 24 months)
2 Toddler rooms
(from 24 to 36 months)+
Pre Primary
2 classrooms children 3 to 5 years old
Primary
4 classrooms for each curricular year (year 1 to 4 of the Portuguese Curriculum)
Shared Spaces
Canteen
Library
Exterior Playground
Interior Play area
Arts & Music Room
Auditorium