Nord Anglia International School Shanghai Pudong

Located in Pudong New District at 2888 Junmin Road, the school sits in a suburban area of east Shanghai (postcode 201315) with easy taxi access and a downloadable taxi card to help drivers find the campus. It is about 20–30 minutes from central Pudong areas such as Jinqiao and Lujiazui, and serves families from nearby neighbourhoods including Kangqiao; the school publishes directions and contact details for visitors.

NAIS Pudong is divided into Early Years (ages 2–5), Primary (ages 5–11), Lower Secondary (ages 11–14), IGCSE (ages 14–16) and IB Diploma (ages 16–18). Admissions and curriculum pages list these phases and the associated programmes.

The school is a co‑educational day school for ages 2–18; NAIS Pudong does not offer boarding. It follows an international/British school model and operates as a private international school.

The school provides EAL (English as an Additional Language) classes and a dedicated Learning Support Coordinator who oversees additional learning needs; individual cases may lead to an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Additional or specialist SEN support is considered case‑by‑case and any extra provision and costs depend on the student's needs—families are asked to discuss requirements with Admissions.

NAIS Pudong is a British international school by heritage and curriculum (English National Curriculum, IGCSE and IB Diploma) but it is an independent international school rather than formally affiliated to a national government.

The school does not have a religious affiliation; it welcomes families of all nationalities and backgrounds.

Gates open at 08:00 with supervised play; registration is typically between 08:15–08:30 and lessons usually start around 08:40. The taught day normally finishes at about 15:15; the school runs compulsory after‑school activities (ASAs) on Monday–Wednesday (buses depart ~16:15) and optional ASAs on Thursday–Friday (bus departures at ~15:15 and 16:15).

The school operates a dedicated fleet of school buses serving families across Shanghai; each bus is supervised by a bilingual monitor (a school teaching assistant) and buses are fitted with seat belts which students are required to wear. Routes are adjusted annually to meet community demand and the service is optional (there is a published school‑bus fee). Admissions can provide current routes and pick‑up information for your address.

NAIS Pudong's curriculum runs from Early Years to Upper Secondary: Early Years Foundation Stage (ages 2–5), Primary (5–11), Lower Secondary/Key Stage 3 (11–14), IGCSE (14–16) and the IB Diploma (16–18). Early Years (2–5) follows the British EYFS framework with seven areas of learning and purpose-built indoor and outdoor provision. Primary (5–11) is based on the English National Curriculum adapted for an international context using the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). Lower Secondary (11–14) is delivered through Key Stage 3 of the English National Curriculum; at 14–16 students follow Cambridge IGCSE courses with core requirements including English, Mathematics, Global Perspectives and a second language (Mandarin, French, German or Spanish). Upper Secondary (16–18) offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), with the six subject groups and the core components: Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and CAS.

The school states its core values as developing students who are creative, confident and considerate and links those directly to curriculum and wider activities. NAIS Pudong runs a broad pastoral and PSHE programme and promotes student leadership through elected School Councils, Head Students and other roles to build social and emotional skills. Students take part in extensive co-curricular activities and global collaborations (for example with Juilliard, MIT and Nord Anglia's Global Campus) which the school describes as designed to develop resilience, teamwork and communication. The school also highlights curriculum approaches such as Talk for Writing and structured leadership opportunities in news items as part of this broader SEL provision. These points are described on the school website and in school news pages.

NAIS Pudong describes itself as an inclusive school and says it can support students with additional needs where appropriate; specialist staff will meet parents during admissions to determine required support and to engage any external specialist teams if needed. The school asks families to provide relevant documents such as Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or medical documentation as part of the admissions discussion. The fees page notes that the cost of additional SEN support depends on the individual student's needs. The school's public pages do not list a definitive catalogue of specific SEN diagnoses it accepts nor do they describe the school as a specialist SEN institution; availability is confirmed on a case-by-case basis. For details and case-specific confirmation the school directs families to contact admissions.

NAIS Pudong publishes a dedicated English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme that it says is student-centred and aligned to CEFR-like scales; the EAL team provides both pull-out intensive sessions and in-class language support. The school states secondary learners are grouped by year and English ability and that EAL learning is integrated into the mainstream curriculum with formative assessments and progress checks in terms 2 and 3. The FAQs and admissions pages specifically state EAL support is provided at no additional cost to parents. The school's EAL news article and FAQs describe the department working closely with SEN and classroom staff to plan interventions and monitor progress.

The school reports a whole-school wellbeing approach that includes pastoral care, PSHE, and both in- and out-of-school counselling services and support, and it marks events such as World Mental Health Day as part of awareness work. NAIS Pudong has published articles referencing external partnerships and guidance on child wellbeing (for example material referencing the Anna Freud Centre) and describes campus design and activities intended to support students' emotional health. The school also highlights staff wellbeing initiatives and a staff wellbeing award, which it presents as part of a broader culture supporting student learning and wellbeing. For specifics about counselling provision, referral pathways or clinical support the school directs families to discuss individual cases with school staff.

The school states that safeguarding and child protection are priority areas and that staff receive continuous professional development in safeguarding best practice. NAIS Pudong says its safeguarding documents draw on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Taskforce on Child Protection, and Keeping Children Safe in Education, and it emphasises the principles that the welfare of the child is paramount and confidentiality is respected where possible. The school page on safeguarding also describes efforts to make processes visible to pupils and staff (for example through displays that indicate who students can talk to about bullying or abuse). For detailed procedural documents, designated safeguarding lead names, or formal child-protection policies the school's safeguarding page directs readers to contact the school or consult published policy documents if available.

1. Make an enquiry and book a tour or virtual meeting. Be ready when you enquire to give basic family and child details (name, date of birth, preferred entry date, current school and curriculum) so the school can advise on age placement and documentation you will need. (Source: NAIS Pudong admissions and enquiry pages).

2. Visit the school (in-person or virtually) and meet staff. NAIS Pudong offers in-person tours, Virtual Discovery Meetings and open days so you can see facilities and ask curriculum- and welfare-related questions; parents should use this opportunity to discuss English language support (EAL), any special educational needs (SEN), and school-bus coverage. If you are not in Shanghai you can request a virtual meeting; when you visit, bring up specific start dates and campus logistics (bus routes, lunch menus, uniform shop) so there are no surprises later. (Source: admissions/FAQs).

3. Complete the online application and upload required documents. Applications are submitted through the school's online form (you can save and resume) and the portal lists the documents to upload — passport/ID scans, parents' work permit and household book where applicable, recent school reports, medical information and preferred start date. Note there is a non-refundable application fee (RMB 3,500) payable when you submit the form; keep scans sized within the portal limits and allow time for references to be requested from your child's current school. (Source: online application form and tuition-fees page).

4. Assessment, language screening and references. NAIS Pudong assesses all prospective entrants so the school can place and support students appropriately: Early Years candidates usually take part in classroom observations; Primary and Secondary applicants sit entrance assessments (written or online) and older secondary applicants may be invited to an interview. All applicants are also screened for English as an Additional Language (EAL) needs and possible learning support; if your child has additional needs you should declare them on the application so the Learning Support Coordinator can discuss suitability and any potential Individual Education Plan (IEP). (Source: entry requirements and FAQs).

5. Application review, offer and acceptance. Completed applications are reviewed by the school leadership (the site notes principal review) and the school aims to make a decision quickly — in many cases the offer is made the same day as assessment and otherwise within 48 hours. If you receive an offer you will be sent an invoice and asked to accept the place; acceptance requires payment of the non-refundable enrolment fee (RMB 4,000) and other onboarding fees as invoiced (see step 6). Confirm exactly what the invoice covers and the deadline to secure the place so you don't lose the offer. (Source: admissions, application and tuition-fees pages).

6. Fees, deposits and pre-start arrangements. Be prepared for the one-off and ongoing costs the school publishes: application fee RMB 3,500, enrolment fee RMB 4,000 (non-refundable), a resourcing fee (RMB 16,000 — refundable on satisfactory exit conditions), term-by-term tuition amounts and optional services such as school bus or lunch. Full-year tuition fees (2025–26) are listed by year group on the school site, and the school offers a 3% Early Bird discount when annual tuition is paid in advance (available typically in the summer — confirm exact deadline). Before your child's first day you will also usually complete medical forms, order uniforms, sign parental agreements and arrange bus routes or lunch accounts. (Source: tuition-fees page and application form).

7. Starting at school and ongoing communication. After fees are settled and paperwork completed, the school will confirm your child's start date. Expect induction activities: settling-in reports, contact channels with teachers (the school uses platforms such as Microsoft Teams and other parent communications), and termly reporting; if your child needs EAL or SEN support, the school will work with you to set up the required support plan. Keep contact details for admissions and the main school office to hand in case any pre-start issues arise. (Source: FAQs and school contact info).

Yes — NAIS Pudong operates a formal scholarship programme and publishes the categories, eligibility and application process on its scholarships page. Key points you should know:

- Who can apply: Candidates must not already be enrolled at NAIS Pudong and scholarships are open to students eligible for entry in Years 1–12. Applications are limited in number each year. (Source: scholarships page).

- Scholarship categories and partners: Scholarships are offered for Academic, Sports, Performing Arts and Leadership. The school emphasises development through its external collaborations (for example with Juilliard, MIT and IMG Academy) within those pathways. (Source: scholarships page).

- Value, duration and review: Awards run for up to three years and provide a variable tuition discount of up to 50% depending on assessment performance; there is an annual review of the scholar's progress and conduct, and continuation of the award depends on that review. (Source: scholarships page).

- How to apply and selection process: You must download and complete the scholarship application form, submit a short personal statement (the school prefers the student to write this where possible), and attach supporting documents (certificates, reports, references). Applications are reviewed by a Scholarship Committee; candidates may be invited for interviews with the Principal and relevant staff, and will be notified of the outcome (the site states notification usually within two working days of the committee meeting). Send completed scholarship applications and supporting documents to the Admissions email listed on the site. (Source: scholarships page and downloadable form).

If you would like, I can extract the exact 2025–26 tuition table, list the one‑off fees and optional charges in a short table, or draft an email template you can send to admissions asking about waitlist status and scholarship deadlines. (Contact details on the pages: admissions@naispudong.com; +86 (0)21 5812 7455 ext.1015).

No formal public waitlist policy is published on the NAIS Pudong admissions pages. The school's public admissions and FAQs detail a quick decision process (offers often made the same day as assessment or within 48 hours) but do not set out a standard waiting‑list or pool procedure on the website. Because NAIS Pudong does not publish a waitlist policy, practical outcomes (for example whether you can be placed on a waiting list for a specific year group, any registration fee to hold a place, or the order in which places are offered) are handled case‑by‑case by Admissions — you should ask the admissions team directly for the current position on availability for your child's year group. Suggested questions to ask admissions: “Is there currently a waiting list for my child's year group?”, “If placed on a waiting list, what priority rules do you use (date of application, sibling priority, legacy/Nord Anglia connections)?” and “Is any registration deposit required to hold a place if one becomes available?”. (Source: NAIS Pudong admissions and FAQs — absence of published waitlist details).