What Determines Kindergarten Fees?
Which items make up kindergarten fees, how does a full day differ from a half day, and what is included? The questions to ask when comparing fees, in one guide.
Families researching kindergartens come across very different fees from one setting to the next, and the reason for the difference is often not obvious at first glance. A fee may look like a single number, but it is really the total of a list of services; the way to compare two schools fairly is to see that list item by item. In this article we have set out the items that make up the fee and the questions to ask in your meeting.
What makes up the fee
| Item | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Tuition | The programme itself: teaching staff, foreign language hours, specialist lessons, guidance. |
| Meals | Number of meals and quality of the kitchen; for younger children, monitoring of nutrition is also part of this item. |
| School bus | Varies by route; for young children, ask whether the bus has an onboard escort. |
| Materials and activities | Stationery, workshop materials, trips; this is where the definition of "included" varies most from school to school. |
Full day, half day and age group
Within the same school, two main factors change the fee: the length of the day and the age group. Full-day programmes cover afternoon care, nap time and extra activities, so they are priced differently from half-day ones. The younger the children, the smaller the group and the fewer children per teacher; this affects costs too. When comparing, make sure both schools are talking about the same length of day and the same age group.
Questions to ask: "Is it included?"
- Are lunch and snacks included in the fee, or invoiced separately?
- Will materials, uniform and trip costs be requested separately during the year?
- Is the foreign language programme standard, or an optional extra at additional cost?
- When and how are fees announced for re-enrolment?
Scholarships and advantages
In your fee meeting, remember to ask about scholarships and advantages: in many schools, sibling discounts and early enrolment advantages also cover the kindergarten stage. We have explained ours in our article on types of scholarship and on our fees page; as conditions vary by stage and period, you can get the latest details from our admissions team.
In short
- A kindergarten fee is not a single number but the total of a list of services: tuition, meals, bus, materials.
- Compare on the basis of the same length of day and the same age group.
- Ask for the list of what is included in writing, and estimate the year-end total from it.
- Always ask about advantages such as sibling discounts and early enrolment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are meals and the school bus included in kindergarten fees?
It varies from school to school; some quote a single total, others separate the items. What matters is comparing like with like: ask both schools for the annual total including meals, bus and materials.
How are fees calculated for mid-year enrolment?
For enrolments part-way through a term, fees are usually pro-rated for the remaining period. The exact calculation depends on the school and the enrolment date; ask for a written quote at your meeting.
Where can I find out about kindergarten fees at Gökkuşağı Schools?
We have explained our fee policy and scholarship options on our fees page; for the latest conditions, simply fill in the information request form and our admissions team will get in touch.
We looked at how fees work across the school as a whole in our article on private school fees. For our kindergarten programme, see our private kindergarten page, and use the information request form for any questions.
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