Jeddah - Post Report Question and Answers
Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
Yes, they're available, but relatively expensive and have limited hours, from what I've heard. I had no personal experience. Most schools do not provide before- or after-school care, although some may have clubs or sports offered. - Oct 2022
I have not heard of any daycare and is an issue over the summer months for duel working parents. - Aug 2022
Partial-day preschools are available generally from Age 3-5, with only limited spots for age 2 only at BISJ. There were no full-day preschool options. Nursery/daycare for infants/toddlers of school employees is available, but it is not open for paid childcare. Sierra Village compound has a small English-speaking daycare. Suitable western daycare is virtually non-existent for kids under age 3. Those needing childcare for small children should plan ahead to identify nanny support. - Nov 2020
Preschools are available, and many of them are in English. The expense varies. We used a compound preschool which was very good and very inexpensive, and only available to those living on the compound. US diplomats are allowed to use the day-care facilities at AISJ. Their facilities are very good, very well-staffed, and the kids are very happy. It tends to be more expensive, and the hours aren't as flexible since their primary function is to serve the teachers at the school and not the public. - Oct 2019
There are some pre-schools; one of the compound runs its own, and there are other pre-schools in town. We are at a compound pre-school 4 hours a day, 5 days a week and have been pretty happy with it, as it seems to have more structure than just a four-hour play time. Most people who need before/after school care hire nannies. - Mar 2019
Preschools at the international schools are available. The French school is the cheapest. There is also a well-loved daycare on Sierra Compound that is well priced. - Jan 2019
This is a reason to not come. The American school is unaffordable, they charge around US$4500 for capital fees per year plus around US$1000 per month. There is a nursery in the Sierra that people says is OK and is affordable, but again, they are going to move families to the consulate's compound where the American school is located. - Nov 2015
This is a problem here. The american school charges for PK 4500 usd of capital fee, and around 1000 usd of monthly fee. There is a little nursery at the compound, but again, We will not live at the compound anymore, so if you have PK aged kids, this is not your place. - Oct 2015
Yes, but they are very expensive. - Oct 2015
There is one in the compound, while not great in the past, the new administration is better. The American school has a nursery for kids of the teachers and they now allow consulate families to take the kids there as well. The nursery has a 8:00am to 3:00pm schedule, and there are 1 adult for every 3 kids. It's about US$ 320 per month. - Feb 2014
Our housing compound has a preschool/daycare. We don't use it but I haven't heard complaints about it. - Dec 2013
The international schools all offer preschools, and you can find independent preschools as well. Rather than daycare, most expats simply hire a nanny. - May 2013
