Outdoors, every day
A terrace on the East River, with outdoor play every morning and after lunch.
The British International School of New York
Early Years · Nursery (3s) and Pre-K · Ages 3 to 5
Private Preschool in Manhattan, NYC
Your child's first school.
A small international preschool on the East River, where every teacher knows your child and how their day is going.
- Nursery (3s) and Pre-KAges 3 to 5. Nursery to Reception in British terms.
- Reading begins in Pre-KPhonics at four, a year earlier than in most American schools.
- Half day or full dayHalf day until 12:30 with lunch. Late Club until 5:30.
- Straight into KindergartenChildren continue here without applying again.
Small by Design
Who will be looking after my child?
The same teachers, every day.
Adults who know how they slept, what they will not eat and who they played with yesterday.
A class teacher who follows their progress and wellbeing and is your first point of contact.
Known beyond the classroom, by the older children in their House and the teachers they will meet in years to come.
A day in Early Years
Learning through play, with a rhythm children can count on
- 8:15 to 8:40 · Drop-offA familiar face at the door, every morning.
- Morning · purposeful playStories, songs, counting, building, painting, questions, guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage, the British framework for ages 3 to 5.
- Lunch and snacksPrepared at school and included in tuition.
- Afternoon · outdoors and languagesOutdoor play, French and Spanish through songs and stories, quiet time.
- 3:20 · Home timeOr Late Club until 5:30 if you need it.
Purposeful Pathways
Small steps every day, and who they will be at five
At this age, confidence matters more than speed, and play always has a direction.
- Early Years · EYFSNursery3s · from age 3
- Early Years · EYFSPre-KReception · age 4 · reading begins
- Next · Lower SchoolKindergartenLower School · age 5
By the end of Pre-K, most children can:
Read their first words, starting with phonics
Count past twenty and spot patterns
Speak in full sentences, and say hello in French and Spanish
Run, climb, balance and hold a pencil properly
Wait their turn and make a friend
See themselves as someone who can learn
At BISNY
At most New York preschools
Reading by phonics begins in Pre-K, at four.
Reading instruction usually begins in Kindergarten, at five.
French and Spanish from age 3, through songs and stories.
One language, usually English.
Lunch and snacks prepared at school and included in tuition.
Lunch often packed from home.
Pre-K leads straight into Kindergarten here, then all the way to Grade 12.
Many preschools end at 4 or 5, and families apply again.
See an Early Years morning for yourself.
Why families choose BISNY at 3
A first school they can grow up in
An international start
An international preschool from day one: classmates from around the world, and French and Spanish from the very first year.
Small on purpose
Leadership is accessible and families are partners.
Part of something bigger from the first day
Every child joins a House when they arrive. Houses run the whole length of the school, so a three-year-old is cheered on Sports Day by students who are seventeen.
It is the simplest way to explain what being known at BISNY means: your child starts as the youngest member of a school that already knows them.
Getting here
A quiet corner of Manhattan, on the East River
- 20 Waterside Plaza, at 23rd Street, minutes from Kips Bay, Gramercy, Murray Hill and Stuyvesant Town, on the East Side of Manhattan, New York.
- 15 minutes of free parking for drop-off and pick-up.
- Subway to 23rd Street, then the M23 bus. The M15 stops a short walk away and the M34A stops right at campus. The East River Ferry stops at 34th Street.
- From Kindergarten, eligible Manhattan families can use the free DOE school bus.
Admissions for Early Years
Joining BISNY starts with a conversation
Introductions
A short online form, then a call from our admissions team to get to know your family.
Tour BISNY
A visit on a typical school day. Early Years tours are for parents and guardians.
Application
Online, with an Early Years teacher recommendation and, for Pre-K, past school reports. $125 fee.
School visit
Your child spends time in an Early Years class, with an interview with our Admissions Team and the Head of Early Years Programme.
The offer
A formal offer, and our help settling in once you accept.
Children can join Nursery (3s) at any point in the year once they turn 3, and join Nursery and Pre-K independently toilet trained. Inquiring is free and commits you to nothing.
Questions families ask
Our preschool, in five answers
What age does preschool start at BISNY?
At 3. Children can join Nursery (3s) at any point in the year once they turn 3, and Pre-K at 4. The age cutoff is September 1. After Pre-K, children continue into Kindergarten here without applying again.
What is the difference between Nursery and Pre-K?
Nursery is our nursery school class for 3-year-olds, and Pre-K is the 4s class, called Reception in British terms. Both follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, the British framework for ages 3 to 5. Reading by phonics begins in Pre-K.
Is Early Years half day or full day?
Both. The full day runs from 8:15 to 3:20. The half day runs from 8:15 to 12:30 and includes lunch. Late Club looks after your child until 5:30. See the full school day, lunch and uniform.
How much does Early Years cost?
Full year tuition for 2026-27 is $45,600 for Nursery and $51,000 for Pre-K, with lunch and snacks included. See tuition and fees, including the deposit and payment options.
Can we visit the preschool before applying?
Yes. Early Years tours are for parents and guardians, on a typical school day. Start with the inquiry form and our admissions team will call you to arrange it.
Your child's first school should know them
Tell us about your family and we will take it from there: a call, a visit, and a first school where your child is known at three, and leaves at five confident, curious and ready for what comes next.