IB vs British vs Montessori for expat kids
These three approaches dominate international early years provision. They share a play-rich start, but they differ in structure, assessment and how easily a child can carry on after a move.
| IB Primary Years Programme | British EYFS | Montessori | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | Inquiry-based units organised around transdisciplinary themes | Seven areas of learning with early learning goals at the end of Reception | Child-led work with specially designed materials in mixed-age classrooms |
| Typical ages | From 3 in schools that run PYP early years | Birth to 5, ending in the Reception year | Usually from about 2.5 in Children's House classrooms |
| Moving on | Continues into PYP primary in IB schools | Leads into Year 1 of a British-style primary | Depends on whether the next school is Montessori |
For a family that may move more than once, availability matters: check our directory hubs to see how many listings in your destination mention each curriculum, as counts differ a lot between cities.
- Which is best for children who will move often?
- There is no single answer. Families often pick the approach most widely available in the places they are likely to live next, and check how each school handles children joining mid-year.