Choosing an international kindergarten in Bangkok is one of the most considered decisions a parent can make. And yet, in many schools, the admissions process itself adds to the anxiety rather than reducing it. Vague timelines. Unexplained waitlists. Application forms that ask for information no one explains the purpose of.
Raintree’s approach is different. The process is built to be clear, human, and genuinely low-stress, because parents who feel informed make better decisions for their children, and children whose parents feel confident arrive at school ready to thrive.
This guide explains every step of the Raintree admissions process, what to prepare, what to expect, and what happens after you say yes.
Why Admissions Transparency Matters
Most international schools in Bangkok treat admissions as a gatekeeping exercise. Raintree treats it as the beginning of a relationship.
From your very first enquiry, you are speaking with people who want to understand your child, not assess them against an academic checklist. Raintree accepts children from age 1 through to Kindergarten Year 2 (roughly age 6), and the process reflects the reality that very young children do not sit entrance exams. What matters is fit: whether Raintree’s philosophy, environment, and community are the right match for your family.
Applications are accepted throughout the year. There is no single annual intake deadline, no opaque scoring system, and no unexplained rejection. If a place is not available, you will be told clearly, not kept guessing.
Step 1: Visit the School Before You Apply
The first and most important step is not filling out a form. It is coming to see the school.
Raintree actively encourages all prospective families to book a school tour at either the Sathorn or Sukhumvit campus before submitting any paperwork. This visit serves a practical purpose: it lets you see the classrooms, meet the teaching team, and walk your child through the environment they may soon call their second home.
What you will see on a tour:
- The physical layout of the nursery and kindergarten rooms, including outdoor play areas
- The class sizes (typically 12 to 14 children per group, with a high teacher-to-child ratio)
- The materials, learning stations, and overall classroom atmosphere
- Staff going about their normal day, not performing for visitors
What you should ask on a tour:
Bring your real questions. How is separation anxiety handled? What does a typical Tuesday look like? How do teachers communicate with parents day to day? What happens if my child has a dietary restriction, a language gap, or a developmental need that requires extra attention?
Raintree’s admissions team and teaching staff are used to these questions. Honest, specific answers are the only kind they give.
Tours are available at both campuses and can be booked directly online:
Step 2: Submit Your Application
Once your family has visited and feels ready to move forward, the next step is submitting a formal application.
Each application is completed per child, meaning if you have two children you wish to enrol, you will submit two separate forms. The application is submitted online and can be completed at any time of year, there is no annual window to wait for.
What the application form includes
The form collects standard information: your child’s personal details, date of birth, current or previous school (if any), nationality, and your family’s contact information. You will also be asked about your child’s developmental stage and any specific learning needs.
Supporting documents required alongside the application typically include:
- A copy of your child’s passport or birth certificate
- Recent passport-sized photographs
- Any previous school reports or developmental assessments (if applicable)
- Vaccination records or health documentation
A non-refundable application fee is required at the time of submission. The current fee schedule for both campuses is published transparently on the Raintree admissions page and in the campus-specific fee policy documents available for download.
A note on the non-refundable application fee
This fee covers the administrative review of your application and the placement consultation that follows. It is not a deposit on a place, and it does not guarantee enrolment. Raintree is clear about this upfront so there are no misunderstandings later.
Step 3: The Placement Consultation
This is the step that sets Raintree apart from most international kindergartens in Bangkok.
After your application has been reviewed, you will be invited to attend a placement consultation with a senior member of the Raintree team. This is not an interview in the traditional sense. Your child is not being tested, graded, or compared against other applicants.
The consultation is a conversation. Its purpose is to understand your child as an individual: their personality, their learning style, their social tendencies, their developmental stage, and any areas where they may need additional support or challenge. You will also have the opportunity to discuss Raintree’s educational philosophy in depth and to ask questions that the tour may not have covered.
What gets discussed in the consultation
- Your child’s character and what makes them thrive
- Any previous learning experiences, including home environment, playgroups, or other schools
- Your family’s educational values and what you are hoping Raintree will provide
- Any specific learning needs, speech and language considerations, or developmental factors the school should be aware of
- Practical questions about the programme, the daily schedule, and how Raintree handles transitions
The consultation is equally valuable for the school and for your family. Raintree uses this information to ensure they can genuinely meet your child’s needs, not just fill a place. If for any reason Raintree feels another setting would serve your child better, they will say so honestly rather than enrol a child whose needs they cannot fully support.
This transparency is rare in the Bangkok international school market. It is also the reason Raintree’s parent community tends to be one of strong mutual trust.
Step 4: Offer and Enrolment
Following a successful application and consultation, Raintree will notify you of their decision.
If a place is available and the fit is confirmed, you will receive a formal offer of enrolment. The offer specifies the programme (Nursery or Kindergarten), the year group, the campus, and the proposed start date.
Once an offer is made, your family has a defined acceptance window to confirm the place. This period is communicated clearly at the time of the offer. Missing the window does not automatically remove your child from consideration, but the place may be offered to another family in the interim.
What enrolment requires
To confirm your child’s place, you will be asked to:
- Submit any outstanding supporting documents
- Pay the non-refundable registration fee as specified in the campus fee policy
- Complete any additional onboarding forms related to your child’s health, allergies, dietary needs, and daily routines
The registration fee is separate from and in addition to the application fee. It secures your child’s place in the programme and triggers the onboarding process described in the pre-first-day guide.
What Happens Between Enrolment and the First Day
Enrolment is not the end of the process. It is the beginning of the transition.
Once your place is confirmed, Raintree’s team begins the preparation work that makes the first day smoother for your child. A detailed child profile is compiled from the information you provided during the application and consultation. This profile is shared with your child’s class teacher before Day One.
You will also receive:
- A welcome pack covering the school calendar, daily schedule, uniform requirements, and what to bring each day
- An invitation to a familiarisation visit, where your child can explore the classroom in a low-key setting before the official start date
- Contact details for your campus admissions liaison, who remains your primary point of contact for any questions in the lead-up to the first day
No parent should feel alone between signing the forms and standing at the gate. Raintree’s team remains actively in contact throughout this period.
Can I Apply Mid-Year?
Yes. Raintree accepts applications at any point in the academic year, which is particularly important for expat families relocating to Bangkok outside the standard August intake.
If you are moving to Bangkok in November, January, or March, you do not need to wait until the following academic year to enrol your child. Subject to place availability, mid-year enrolments follow the same four-step process and receive the same level of preparation and onboarding support.
For families arriving with little lead time, Raintree’s admissions team is experienced at moving quickly when needed. Contact the campus directly to discuss your timeline, and they will advise on what is realistic given current availability.
How Far in Advance Should I Apply?
The honest answer: earlier is always better, but later is not necessarily too late.
Popular year groups and age groups at both campuses do fill up, particularly at the Nursery level (ages 1 to 3) where places are limited by the stringent teacher-to-child ratios required under the British Early Years Foundation Stage framework.
As a general guide:
- If you are planning an August intake: Apply by February or March of the same year to give yourself the most choices.
- If you are relocating mid-year: Contact Raintree as soon as your move date is confirmed, even if documents are still being gathered.
- If you are exploring options for next year: A school tour now costs you nothing and tells you everything. Book it, even if you are not ready to apply.
There are no hidden waitlists at Raintree. If a year group is full, you will be told directly, and you will be informed of realistic timelines for when a place may become available.
Applying to Sathorn vs. Sukhumvit: Is There a Difference?
Both campuses follow the same British EYFS curriculum, the same admissions process, and the same educational philosophy. The primary difference is location.
- Raintree Sathorn is located at 126 Nanglinchi Road and is the school’s head office campus. It is well-suited to families living or working in the Sathorn, Silom, or riverside areas of Bangkok.
- Raintree Sukhumvit is located on Sukhumvit Soi 26 and suits families based in the Sukhumvit corridor, Thonglor, Ekkamai, or Phrom Phong areas.
Each campus has its own admissions contact and its own fee schedule, both of which are published on the Raintree admissions page. If you are unsure which campus makes more practical sense for your family, the admissions team at either campus is happy to help you think through commute and logistics.
Common Questions About the Raintree Admissions Process
No. Raintree does not conduct academic entrance testing for children at the nursery or kindergarten level. The placement consultation focuses on understanding your child’s developmental stage and needs, not on testing academic ability. Children aged 1 to 6 should not be required to demonstrate academic readiness; that is the school’s job.
Raise this during the school tour and be specific during the placement consultation. Raintree’s team will give you a clear and honest assessment of whether the school is equipped to support your child’s specific needs. This is a much better outcome than discovering a mismatch after enrolment.
Both the application fee and the registration fee are non-refundable, regardless of circumstances. Make sure you have received and reviewed the full fee policy before paying either. The fee policy documents for both campuses are available to download on the admissions page.
Yes, and Raintree encourages it. When both parents or caregivers are present, the conversation is richer and the school gets a fuller picture of the family’s situation, values, and questions. If only one parent can attend due to travel or work commitments, the consultation can still proceed.
Start With a School Tour
The admissions process at Raintree begins with a conversation, not a form. If you are researching international nurseries or kindergartens in Bangkok, the single most useful step you can take right now is to visit a campus and see the environment for yourself.
School tours are available at both Sathorn and Sukhumvit and can be booked online in minutes.
If you have questions before you are ready to visit, the admissions team at each campus is reachable by phone and email during school hours. There is no obligation, and there is no sales script. Just answers.
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