Preschool - Ages 3 to 5

Bilingual and Active Learning at Butterflies PreSchool in Sintra-Cascais
Welcome

As School Directors and educators, we believe every child is born to lead their own journey—with curiosity as compass and empathy as guide.

Bem-vindos à Butterflies School,

At Butterflies, we believe that the early years are the foundation of a lifelong journey of curiosity, growth, and discovery. As School Directors, we are honoured to lead a community where every child is valued as a unique individual, empowered to explore, create, and thrive in a nurturing bilingual environment.

Our preschool offers a a child-centred approach where learning is an adventure. Our children engage in hands-on experiences, outdoor explorations, and collaborative projects that ignite their natural curiosity and resilience. We prioritize integral development, fostering cognitive, social, emotional, and creative skills through a balanced blend of play, reflection, and structured learning.

Bilingualism lies at the heart of our ethos. By weaving Portuguese and English organically into daily interactions, we cultivate confident communicators and global thinkers. Our dedicated educator duos partner with families to ensure each child’s journey respects their individuality while promoting values like empathy, autonomy, and leadership.

Situated in the serene Quinta da Beloura, our preschool embraces nature as both a classroom and a teacher. From our outdoor discovery zones to the Horta Pedagógica (Educational Garden), children connect with the environment, developing a deep appreciation for sustainability and teamwork.

We invite you to join our Butterflies family—a place where children grow, equipped with the skills and confidence to shape tomorrow. Together, let’s inspire a passion for learning that lasts a lifetime.

Warmly,

Teresa de Gruyter
Nejal Acevinkumar

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WHY BUTTERFLIES SCHOOL

  • Natural Bilingual Environment
  • Dedicated Teaching Duos – enhanced learning approach
  • Play-Based Learning & Daily Outdoor Discovery
  • Enriched Preschool Programme
  • Unique Pedagogy
  • Modern, Inspiring Spaces

DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION

Co Teaching Duos – Power of collaboration

Step into Butterflies Preschool, where bilingualism naturally enrich your child’s world. Guided by co-teaching duos—Portuguese and English speaking teachers—children hear and use both languages through play, stories, and projects, modelling clear communication and cultural exchange.

Bilingualism begins with belonging. Thanks to our teaching duos, children learn languages naturally through meaningful interactions, benefiting from closer guidance and truly personalised attention. Our co-teachers provide clear language models and tailored support, fostering confident communicators who navigate both languages with ease, see differences as strengths, and grow into global citizens ready for adventure.

CHARACTER EDUCATION

At Butterflies Preschool, we believe true education begins with kindness, curiosity, and connection. While academic foundations matter, our ambition is to cultivate children who approach the world with empathy, resilience, and a sense of responsibility—to themselves, others, and the planet. Through guided play, storytelling, and outdoor adventures, preschoolers learn to navigate emotions, celebrate differences, and take brave “first steps” — whether sharing, comforting a friend, or planting seeds in our garden.

Character grows best in community. We partner with families to create a space where every child feels seen, heard, and inspired to shine. Together, we model honesty through simple choices, courage through trying new things, and joy through collaborative projects—like building houses in the outdoor or creating art for local seniors. Here, preschoolers don’t just prepare for school; they practice how to be human: kind, curious, and endlessly capable of wonder.

Play is the language of childhood—and at Butterflies, it’s how we write stories of courage, creativity, and connection.

Joana Querido

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

At Butterflies Preschool, play is not just fun—it’s the foundation of lifelong learning. Our  spaces buzz with opportunities for little explorers to dig into mud kitchens, build towering block cities, and invent fantastical worlds. Through these adventures, children develop essential skills: negotiating roles in pretend play strengthens empathy, solving puzzles together sparks problem-solving, and experimenting with art materials fuels creativity. Every giggle, splash, and “what if?” question is a step toward confidence and cognitive growth.

We design play with purpose. Guided by our educators, preschoolers turn puddles into science labs, storytime into empathy lessons, and collaborative projects into teamwork triumphs. Outdoor learning—whether hunting for bugs or time in our Horta (educational garden)—connects them to nature’s rhythms, while bilingual starts cultural curiosity. Here, learning it’s discovered, shared, and celebrated—a journey where every child thrives as a capable, creative, and compassionate learner.

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ENRICHED PROGRAMME

  • Labs Program (5 years)
  • Music
  • Arts
  • Physical development
  • Gardening
  • Cooking
  • Early Phonics Program (5 years)

SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE

Preschool prepares children with essential skills that will serve them for life—confidence, empathy, collaboration, and critical thinking. As they approach the next stage of their education, we introduce activities that spark their natural interest in reading, writing, and mathematics.

Through phonological awareness exercises and logical reasoning games, we lay the groundwork for literacy and numeracy, ensuring a smooth transition to primary school. These activities are integrated with opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, fostering confidence in a child ready to embrace the challenges of the future.

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"At Butterflies, our programme empowers teaching duos to nurture little hands, curious minds, and big hearts. Through play, collaboration, and guided exploration, we lay the foundation for confident problem-solvers and lifelong learners"

Joana Querido – Head of Teaching and Learning

OUR PEDAGOGY

At Butterflies, we have opted for an educational practice that is based on the diversity obtained from participatory and alternative pedagogies in which the child is both the subject and the agent of their own educational process.

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DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM LEADING PEDAGOGIES

At Butterflies, we believe that learning should inspire curiosity and self-confidence. Our approach is centered around active learning through hands-on experiences that connect abstract concepts to the real world. Children engage in a reflective learning cycle – plan, do, review – which helps them develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Regular outdoor learning experiences, in contact with nature, further enrich their development. Our educational values autonomy, active participation, and individual growth, create an inclusive and stimulating learning environment where children are seen as the protagonists of their own learning journey.

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"We blend the magic of play with intentional learning, creating joyful spaces where children discover, question, and grow."

Nejal Acevinkumar – School Director

MODERN FACILITIES

Our 3,000 m² building offers dynamic learning spaces designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and well-being. These spaces include dedicated classrooms, a library, a canteen offering nutritious meals, and inviting indoor and outdoor play areas.

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INNOVATIVE DESIGNED SPACES

Our spaces have been designed to be more than functional:
they inspire both children and educators.

With stimulating spaces, both indoors and outdoors, our Pre-School is designed to inspire wonder and exploration, offering opportunities for learning through discovery.

The outdoor environment includes a pedagogical garden and a “mud kitchen,” where children can connect with nature and engage in sensory play.  These spaces complement our thoughtfully designed interiors, creating a balanced and inspiring environment.

As Head of Learning, I am committed in selecting and developing exceptional teachers

My two decades of experience in education, in Portuguese and International Schools, has shown me the transformative power of a dynamic learning environment.

That’s what we’ve created at Butterflies. Our bilingual, active learning curriculum, exceptional facilities, and dedicated teaching duos – each a partnership between experienced Portuguese and English teachers – work to ignite a passion for learning and empower every child to reach their potential.

Joana Querido

JOIN US AT TO VISIT OUR SCHOOL

The best way to experience what life is like at Butterflies is to join us at an Open Morning, where you will have the chance to talk to pupils and teachers about what makes our school such a special place, and to answer any questions you have about life here.

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