Imagine This...

Blog | Holland International School | 4 November 2025 | Written by Kerry Pentney 

Imagine the smiling face of your child returning home from their very first day at their new school — full of stories about welcoming classmates and kind teachers.This is exactly what a first day at HIS looks like.

No stress.No feeling lost or anonymous.Just warm-hearted acceptance from staff and students alike.

This genuine sense of belonging is what makes us special, and we have plenty of proof.

Making the Move from a Local Preschool

HIS makes the transition from K2 to Year 2 smooth, supportive, and full of smiles.

At HIS, we understand that moving from a local preschool to an international setting can feel like a big step — for both children and parents! Our experience shows that children coming from local preschools thrive here. While our class names may look a little different, the way we teach ensures continuity and confidence, building on what children already know and gently introducing them to the UK-style curriculum.

To help every child feel ready and excited for learning, we offer a Bridging Programme that focuses on:

  • Reading fluency and phonics – supporting early decoding and spelling skills

  • Building number confidence – working with numbers up to 100 in fun, hands-on ways

We also offer daily Mandarin or French lessons, designed to fit your child’s background and interests.

  • Children from Mandarin–English bilingual programmes can continue developing their Mandarin skills.

  • Those who feel drawn to French or the Dutch language can join classes at beginner, intermediate, or native level.

Our world-class language programme ensures every child is both challenged and supported at the right level.

A Family’s Experience: Max’s Story

Take Max, for example (name changed). His parents weren’t sure if HIS was the right fit at first. But once they met our friendly teachers, saw the small class sizes, and felt the warm, welcoming atmosphere, they knew they had found the right place.

At home, Max spoke both German and Mandarin, but English was his main school language. HIS provided daily English language support to strengthen his reading and writing, helping him reach the standards of our UK curriculum in no time.

The small homeroom and Mandarin classes made his transition seamless. His parents especially loved our Dutch-inspired holistic approach, where collaboration, creativity, and soft skills are woven into every part of the school day.