International Pre-School Education in Osaka
The OWIS Osaka Early Childhood (EC) Programme ranges from ages 3 to 5, with EC 2 catering to ages 3-4, and EC 1 catering to ages 4-5.
(Preschool, Pre-K, Reception, Nursery, Early Years Programme)
Every Day is a New Discovery
When children gain social skills, emotional skills, and confidence in the preschool years, academic learning follows naturally. Our certified & experienced teachers nurture students in every area of their development and model positive values of kindness, curiosity, and creativity.
The OWIS Early Childhood Programme sets students up for success in an international school environment as they become familiar with the campus, faculty, school culture, and language of instruction.
The first grade of our Primary School (Kindergarten) is our most in-demand grade. Since places fill up quickly, the best way to guarantee your child has a place at OWIS Osaka is to enrol in the Early Childhood Programme first.
Start Your Child's Success Story, with OWIS
Inquiry-Driven Curriculum
Our inquiry-based Early Childhood programme uses a role-play, real-life, & play-based approach to learning. This style of learning encourages students to explore their environment, ask questions, and solve problems through guided and deliberate trial and error. Inquiry-based learning is known to empower children and instil in them from a young age a sense of self-reliance and skill development.
Early English Language Adoption
Students benefit from an immersive English environment for eight hours a day during their most critical years for language development. The school also arranges basic English language activities that prepare students for an optimal start for life in OWIS Osaka Primary School.
Safe, Happy, & Engaged in Learning
Our certified teachers ensure all children are happy and safe. From checking in on their emotional well-being each day, to doing risk assessments for activities, excursions, and classroom resources.
We have regular teacher training for handling conflicts and teaching children kindness and compassion at every level of the curriculum.
Our classrooms are spacious and engaging, equipped with diverse learning resources and complemented by an outdoor garden, sandbox, and fish pond, fostering exploration and self-discovery among students.
Holistic Development
The culture at OWIS Osaka promotes creativity and independent thinking.
More Reasons to Choose OWIS Osaka for Early Childhood Education?
Nurturing Lifelong Learners
We understand that every child has unique learning needs, and so we adopt personalized methodologies to ensure that every child fosters a love of lifelong learning.
Community & Inclusivity
We foster an environment where people show respect towards other cultures and celebrate diversity. Our group work promotes inclusive thinking and helps develop global citizens of the future.
Multiple Global Locations
GSF’s OWIS brand operates in multiple locations including India, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific regions, so expats have the privilege of enroling their children in schools following the same course structure.
Personalized Attention
We maintain low class sizes of 16 or fewer, creating an optimal student-teacher ratio. This translates into more focused attention towards every student in a comfortable and secure setting.
Reasonable Fees
At OWIS Osaka, we demonstrate our value of inclusivity by giving every child the right to receive high-quality international education at affordable prices.
Government Subsidy
In addition, since our school is eligible for the free preschool subsidy, families who receive certification will receive up to 37,000 yen back in subsidies. Please click here for more details.
What does Early Childhood Mean?
Every country has different academic stages throughout their school systems. As an international school, our age brackets for each academic stage reflect those that are most commonly seen abroad and are in sync with other OWIS Schools in our global network. The OWIS Osaka Early Childhood (EC) Programme ranges from ages 3 – 5, with EC 2 catering to 3-4 year olds and EC 1 catering to 4-4 year olds. In the West, education for the 3-5 age group has many different names, including Preschool, Pre-K, Reception, Nursery, and Early Years Programme.
Check Out Our Curriculum Page to learn more about the different age brackets and academic stages of our School compared to other schools around the world.
Strong Student Protections
Every child deserves a healthy, open and safe school environment to develop their confidence and independent thinking skills. At OWIS Japan, Pastoral Care is carefully incorporated into our curriculum to look after our students’ well-being.
Pastoral Care at OWIS:
- Policy based restorative practices For conflict resolution and resolving bullying
- Modelling Positive Behaviour
- Inquiry-based project work helps students form strong interpersonal connections with others
- Teaching kindness at every level, and empowering students to build healthy relationships with themselves and others,
- Practice of Mindfulness
- Encouraging students to see the fun in learning and not feel judged for their mistakes
Enquire now to find out how your child will thrive in our nurturing school environment.
See What Parents Have to Say About Our Campus
“I really like the teachers here, they are always smiling and are really kind, and it's great to see that they hold a lot of our family’s values. My kids also seem to really enjoy their teacher’s mentorship style. My children have started the PYP curriculum and are learning lots of things that I wish I had learned as a kid. My child loves the gardening classes, the school pet and anything to do with nature. We love to see that the education is very tangible and hands-on.”
Jeremy Carlson
Parent of Students in Early Childhood and Primary School“OWIS’s legacy and big brand presence were a focal point for us. Our son has really enjoyed the strong exposure to science, and today, I saw his presentation on economics. He knows so much more about economics than even I do, and he is just 10 years old!“
Rahul Kaushik
Parent of Students in Early Childhood and Primary School“Each day we have been greeted by teachers with warm smiles and genuine kindness - this left a deep impression on us. What touched us even more is how many teachers already remembered my son Eric & Ethan's names. Their homeroom teacher, Ms Mariko & Ms Michelle, have offered consistent encouragement and recognition, which has deeply reassured both our children and us as parents. We truly believe th111ey will continue to thrive with this kind of support”
Arrow Xia
Parent of Students in Early Childhood and Primary School“You guys ROCK! Thank you so much for supporting Food Bank Kansai and spreading the word.”
Keizo Yamada
Executive Director of the American Chamber Of Commerce Japan (ACCJ)FAQ
The OWIS Osaka Early Childhood Education (International Preschool) is an international preschool education programme designed for children aged 3 to 5 years.
Programme Structure:
EC2 Class: For children aged 3–4 (equivalent to Preschool / Pre-K)
EC1 Class: For children aged 4–5 (equivalent to Reception / Nursery)
At OWIS, we adopt an inquiry-based curriculum that emphasises learning through role play, real-life experiences, and play-based activities. Our qualified and experienced teachers support each child’s social, emotional, and confidence development, while providing the ideal preparation for entry into the OWIS Primary School.
The OWIS Early Childhood Programme (Preschool) offers unique features designed to provide an international education from the very beginning:
Language Environment
- Full-day English immersion (8 hours per day)
- Provides the optimal environment for English acquisition during the critical early years
- In comparison, Japanese kindergartens and nurseries primarily use Japanese for daily activities
Educational Approach
- International, inquiry-based learning
- Small class sizes: fewer than 16 students per class, allowing for personalised attention
- In contrast, Japanese facilities often focus on group-based childcare approaches
School Readiness
- Priority admission to OWIS Primary School
- Early adaptation to an international learning environment
- Eligible for government subsidies (up to JPY 37,000 per month)
OWIS Osaka Preschool is designed for children aged 3 to 5 years.
Class Structure by Age:
EC2 (Early Childhood 2): For children aged 3–4
EC1 (Early Childhood 1): For children aged 4–5
Key Points about Preschool Admission:
Priority admission to the OWIS Primary School
Ensures a smooth progression, as Primary is one of the most in-demand entry points
Age placement follows the international preschool system
The same preschool curriculum structure is implemented across all OWIS campuses worldwide
Early childhood is a crucial stage for language development. At OWIS Preschool, children build the foundation for lifelong learning and growth in a fun and engaging environment.
At OWIS Osaka, we provide high-quality preschool education at a reasonable cost.
Tuition & Fees (per term):
Tuition: JPY 458,640 (before discounts)
Facility fee: JPY 32,760
Total per term: JPY 491,400 (tuition + facility fee)
Since the school year consists of three terms, the annual total is JPY 1,474,200.
Other Fees:
Learning materials & excursion fee: JPY 50,000 per year (non-refundable)
Application fee (one-time, upon enrollment): JPY 80,000 (non-refundable)
For more details, please see the [OWIS Osaka tuition page].
Government Subsidy Programme:
OWIS is recognised as an eligible preschool under the Japanese government’s Early Childhood Education and Care Subsidy Scheme.
Families who qualify can receive up to JPY 37,000 per month in subsidies.
This significantly reduces the effective cost of education.
For more details on the subsidy, please visit [this subsidy page].
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via the [inquiry form].
Yes, absolutely! Many children join the OWIS Early Childhood Programme (Preschool) with no prior experience in English and make remarkable progress.
OWIS Support System:
- Full-day (8 hours) English immersion environment for natural language acquisition
- Individualised learning guided by qualified teachers
- Fun, play-based approach to learning English
- Foundational English activities that prepare children for a smooth transition into OWIS Primary School
Features of the OWIS Preschool Learning Environment:
- Small class sizes (16 students or fewer) for personalised attention
- A safe, joyful, and engaging setting where children can focus on learning
- Daily health monitoring to ensure well-being
- Teachers trained to nurture kindness and empathy
Early childhood is the most effective stage for language development. With the expert guidance of the OWIS Preschool, your child will gain the confidence to communicate naturally in English.
Yes, we welcome campus visits at any time! This is a wonderful opportunity to experience our learning environment firsthand.
What you can expect during a visit:
Tour of our spacious classrooms and well-equipped learning resources
Exploration of our natural outdoor areas, including the garden, sandbox, and pond
Conversations with our IB-certified teachers
Observation of an actual preschool class following our inquiry-based curriculum
From our parents:
“The teachers are always warm, friendly, and respectful of our family’s values. Our children truly enjoy their teaching style.”
– Jeremy Carlson, Parent of Preschool & Primary School students
How to book a Preschool visit:
Please complete the registration form on our [School Tour page].
A member of our team will contact you within one business day.
Preschool (kindergarten and nursery) children at our school may also use the school bus service. However, please note that child seats are not available on the bus, and we ask for your understanding when using this service.
If you have questions beyond the preschool, we encourage you to take a look at our FAQ page for more details.
Our Early Childhood Programme Teachers
Katie Melin
Mariko Okamura
Mikomi Ogawa
