FAQ's NURSERY
The optimal age is around six months when children can sit up, explore their surroundings, and interact better with the environment. Another essential element is that they have started weaning so that the 1:8 ratio allows for managing their meals.
The adjustment period lasts for one week. On the first day, you will spend one hour together with your children. From the second day onwards, the duration of stay will gradually increase.
A canvas bag with two complete changes of clothes, non-slip socks, a sippy cup, and a bib.
Certainly, yes. Very young children enjoy being together and learn through collaboration.
In the Puntino nursery, there is one educator for every 8 children.
FAQ's PRESCHOOL
The insertion takes place in a week. The presence of the parent is required only for the first two days, and then gradually lengthens the time spent at school.
A complete change of clothes, a water bottle, and a pair of non-slip shoes.
There is no precise timeline as each individual is different and has their own pace of language acquisition. However, after about a month, our children understand routines and basic words. A few months later, they start speaking their first words in English in response to the teachers.
In our Preschools there is one teacher for every 10/11 children.
FAQ's GENERAL
We rely on specialized catering for preparing food for the children. Daily communication allows us to customize diets even for the youngest ones.
Certainly. We are a small community, which enables us to build strong bonds with families and organize individual meetings with the designated teachers.
Communication is daily, and families receive photographs of the activities offered to the children. There are collective meetings for the presentation of the educational project and individual meetings as needed.
FAQ: Bilingual Schools & Nurseries in Milan | Method, Locations & Services | Il Puntino Colorato
1. What is Puntino Colorato, and what age groups do you cater to?
A: Il Puntino Colorato is a network of 4 schools (2 infant nurseries and 2 preschools) that follow a specialized method focused on natural language acquisition and art as a lens through which to view reality.
2. What are all the locations and services offered by Puntino Colorato?
A: Il Puntino Colorato operates multiple locations across Milan:
PUNTINO SANGALLO (Infant Nursery): Plurilingual for children aged 7 months to 3 years (English, Spanish, Italian).
PUNTINO MASOTTO (Preschool): Full English immersion for children aged 3 to 6 years.
PUNTINO MORA (Infant Nursery): Bilingual for children aged 7 months to 3 years (English, Spanish, Italian).
PUNTINO MORA (Preschool): Full English immersion for children aged 3 to 6 years.
3. How does English language immersion work within the schools?
A: English is our working and vehicular language. All teachers across Puntino schools speak English to communicate with one another. English is introduced starting from the nursery stage as a routine language and used throughout daily activities. Children acquire English alongside their native language in the same natural way—by building trusting relationships with key adult figures (parents, educators). English is not taught as a standalone school subject; rather, it is lived and spoken throughout the entire day as the everyday working language among our educators.
4. What does the artistic curriculum involve at the Via Mora location?
A: At our Via Mora location—which features both a full-English preschool and an infant nursery (7 months–3 years)—daily art workshops are held for both age groups. The studio setting is thoughtfully designed around precise educational objectives. It begins with natural materials that enhance sensory exploration for the youngest children, gradually evolving into structured preschool experiences where future primary school subjects are explored through artistic expression.
5. What are the key features of the bilingual infant nursery at Via Sangallo (7 months–3 years)?
A: The Via Sangallo nursery offers three languages: English, Italian, and Spanish. English serves as the primary vehicular language for the nursery educators. Children are immersed in English and Spanish throughout the day as part of their daily routines. Experiential workshops are held daily to enhance the natural sensory exploration typical of this developmental stage.
6. How is the English Preschool structured at the Via Masotto location (3–6 years)?
A: The Via Masotto Preschool is conducted entirely in English and welcomes children aged 3 to 6. The curriculum prepares children for entry into primary school (whether international or public) while achieving fluency in English. Children who graduate from Puntino are fully bilingual because English is the language of their daily school life and play. Core learning areas and future subjects are taught in English through experiential learning environments.
7. What kind of educational path does the English Preschool at Via Mora offer (3–6 years)?
A: The Via Mora Preschool is conducted entirely in English and welcomes children aged 3 to 6. The curriculum prepares children for entry into primary school (international or public) while achieving fluency in English. Children who graduate from Puntino are fully bilingual because English is the language of their daily school life and play. Core learning areas and future subjects are taught in English through experiential learning environments.
8. Who is the bilingual infant nursery (7 months–3 years) at Via Mora designed for?
A: The Via Mora nursery offers three languages: English, Italian, and Spanish. English serves as the primary vehicular language for the nursery educators. Children are immersed in English and Spanish throughout the day as part of their daily routines. Experiential workshops are held daily to enhance the natural sensory exploration typical of this developmental stage.
9. Are Puntino Colorato preschools and nurseries officially recognized or licensed?
A: Yes. Puntino Colorato Preschools are officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR), while the infant nurseries across our locations are licensed by the Municipality of Milan and operate in full compliance with regulations set by ATS and the Municipality of Milan. Families are eligible to apply for the Italian “Bonus Nido” financial support.
10. How are families involved in the educational journey?
A: Puntino schools believe in active collaboration with families. Parents are invited to participate at multiple points throughout the school year—beginning with the annual educational plan presentation (POF), followed by individual parent-teacher conferences, school and nursery celebrations, and daily photo updates from workshops to share the children’s experiences and foster a seamless connection between home and school.
11. How are individual differences among children respected and valued?
A: The Puntino method deeply respects each child’s cultural background and individuality. Children are never pressured to copy peers or perform rote, standardized tasks. Each child’s path honors their unique pace, personality, and preferences while guiding them toward healthy social coexistence.
12. How does the adaptation (settling-in) process work for the nursery or preschool?
A: The settling-in period is a gradual process that respects the emotional timeline of both the child and the family. It is planned collaboratively with the educational staff to ensure a smooth separation and build a strong foundation of trust with the new school environment. Following an initial hour spent together at the school or nursery, subsequent daily schedules are coordinated with the families. The adaptation process typically lasts about a week or slightly longer.
13. Do children need to know English prior to enrollment?
A: No prior language knowledge or prerequisites are required. Children possess a natural predisposition for language acquisition—beginning with the affectionate, bonding dimension of the early months and evolving into verbal expression around age two. By age six, all children graduate from Puntino schools fully bilingual.
14. How can I book a visit or an informational interview for the locations?
A: You can contact the Puntino Colorato administration by filling out the contact form on our official website or by calling directly to schedule an informational interview and tour the facilities at Via Sangallo, Via Masotto, or Via Mora.
15. How does art support bilingual learning in the nurseries and preschools?
A: Art acts as a universal, concrete language. Through tactile manipulation, painting, and sensory exploration, children spontaneously associate English words and concepts with direct physical experiences, making bilingualism natural and long-lasting.
16. Are the art workshops tailored to specific age groups?
A: Yes. All workshop activities are carefully calibrated to the children’s developmental stages, ensuring appropriate motor, cognitive, and creative stimuli for both the youngest nursery toddlers and the older preschool children.
17. What are the benefits of a bilingual path starting from the first months of life?
A: Exposing children to a bilingual environment starting from the nursery makes them significantly more receptive to learning languages throughout their lives. Infants naturally acquire the language of their caregivers because they form an emotional bond that precedes and supports oral communication. Introducing a second language during this window works in the exact same way: the educator becomes an emotional point of reference for the little ones and, consequently, a natural carrier of their native language.
18. How do school schedules accommodate working parents?
A: The calendars and educational activity schedules across our Via Sangallo, Via Masotto, and Via Mora locations are structured to meet the needs of working families, ensuring consistency and reliable support. The academic calendar follows the official Lombardy Region school calendar.
19. Where can I find administrative forms and service information?
A: All useful communications can be found in the dedicated sections of the official Puntino Colorato website. There is also a download area providing accessible documents (menus, authorized pickup lists, calendars).