Private Schools in Estepona: Montessori in Sotogrande [Guide]

Every year, dozens of families in Estepona face the same question: should they enroll their children in one of the private schools in Estepona or look for alternatives outside the town? Traditional education has its merits, but a growing number of parents are opting for the Montessori pedagogy, a child-centered approach that respects individual rhythms and fosters independence.

About a 20 to 25-minute drive along the A-7 highway, in Sotogrande, is International Montessori School Sotogrande (IMS), a school with Spanish-English dual immersion and French from Children’s House, accredited by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). IMS offers a prepared environment for children from 4 months to 12 years, making it a real option for families residing in Estepona, Alcaidesa, San Roque, or even Gibraltar.

What sets private schools in Estepona apart from an authentic Montessori?

Most private schools in Estepona follow national or international curricula that, while valid, do not always place the child at the center of learning. In a Montessori school, the student is the protagonist. There are no exams, rows of desks, or teachers delivering lectures. Each morning, children freely choose their work from scientifically designed manipulative materials, while the guide observes and accompanies them according to their developmental plan.

At IMS Sotogrande, the Nido (0-3), Children’s House (3-6), and Workshop (6-12) environments are meticulously organized to meet the sensory, linguistic, and social needs of each stage. This freedom within limits builds real autonomy, something rarely found in conventional private schools in Estepona.

Why families in Estepona choose IMS Sotogrande for their children

Word of mouth in the Campo de Gibraltar has turned IMS into a benchmark for those seeking an education that looks beyond academic records. Families who initially searched for private schools in Estepona ended up crossing the bridge to Sotogrande after discovering the IMS project. Some compelling reasons include:

• Guides with AMI certification, the most demanding in the Montessori world.
• Real trilingual program: Spanish and English through immersion, plus French from Children’s House.
• Monthly Learning Walks connecting learning with nature and the community.
• Bright prepared environments above Mercadona, with easy access from the highway.
• International community: over 40% of students come from expatriate or mixed families.

As founder Olimpia Tardá recalls: “At IMS, your child will grow up feeling heard, valued, and safe, ready to change the world with their own voice.”

Book a personalized school visit and see for yourself why so many families in Estepona trust our method.

Prepared environment and the role of the guide: the Montessori difference

The prepared environment is the third teacher. At IMS, each classroom is a learning laboratory where order, beauty, and accessibility invite the child to explore. There are no toys, but original Montessori materials: pink towers, number rods, continent maps, sandpaper letters… The guide does not teach. They awaken. They observe which sensitive period each child is going through and present the right material at the right time.

A child does not need to be filled, but to be ignited. This philosophy clashes head-on with the exam culture prevalent in many private schools in Estepona. UNESCO has highlighted in multiple reports the importance of student-centered methodologies for developing 21st-century skills.

Programs, ages, and schedules at IMS Sotogrande (2026-2027 school year)

IMS organizes its cycles according to Montessori’s planes of development:

• Seeds (0-3 years) : 9:00-12:00
• Nido / Infant Community Roots (0-3) : 9:00-13:00
• Nido / Infant Community Wings (0-3) : 9:00-15:00 (extendable to 17:00)
• Children’s House Roots (3-6) : 9:00-14:00
• Children’s House Wings (3-6) : 9:00-15:00 (extendable to 17:00)
• Workshop 1 (6-9 years) : 9:00-16:00 (extendable to 17:00)
• Workshop 2 (9-12 years) : 9:00-16:00 (extendable to 17:00)

All monthly fees include bilingualism through immersion, yoga, music, art, family workshops, and a balanced diet. There is also a one-time family enrollment fee and an annual registration fee, with sibling discounts and a discount for full annual payment before July. You can check the current fees on our admissions page.

When you compare with other private schools in Estepona offering international programs, look at what each fee includes, as well as the AMI accreditation and the guide-to-child ratio.

International and bilingual school: much more than languages

For expatriate families landing on the Costa del Sol looking for an international school near Gibraltar or a bilingual school in San Roque, IMS is a logical choice. But even for Spanish families from Estepona, the English proficiency children gain through dual immersion is an undeniable competitive advantage.

IMS’s bilingual Montessori program is co-financed with European funds, and French is introduced from Children’s House. Students leave IMS speaking English and Spanish with native fluency, and with solid foundations in French. Additionally, the Growappy and Clickedu platforms keep families connected to daily classroom life, something parents who searched for private schools in Estepona and didn’t find that level of transparency often value highly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there private schools in Estepona that follow the pure Montessori method?

Currently, no school in Estepona has AMI accreditation, the highest standard of Montessori fidelity. However, about 20 to 25 minutes away by car, IMS Sotogrande offers a complete Montessori program faithful to Maria Montessori’s principles, backed by AMI and NEASC.

How much does a private Montessori school near Estepona cost?

Fees vary by stage. At IMS Sotogrande, the monthly cost depends on the program and the schedule you choose, and you can check the current fees on our admissions page. There are no hidden costs: the family and registration fees cover all materials for the year. When comparing with private schools in Estepona with an international profile, consider what each fee includes and the added value of the Montessori method.

Do you accept children throughout the year?

Yes. Although the admissions process for the following school year starts in March, IMS accepts applications at any time of the year, subject to availability. The first steps are a visit to the facilities and an interview with the management.

What is the difference between Infant Community and Children’s House?

The Infant Community (Nido) welcomes children from 0 to 3 years and focuses on motor, sensory, and oral language development. The Children’s House, for ages 3 to 6, introduces materials for practical life, sensorial, language, mathematics, and culture. Both environments are bilingual and guided by AMI professionals.

Do you offer school transport from Estepona?

We currently do not have our own route, but many families organize carpooling. The location, in the center of Sotogrande with easy access from the A-7, means the journey from Estepona takes about 20-25 minutes.

Key Takeaways

Choosing between private schools in Estepona and a Montessori center like IMS Sotogrande is not just about distance. It’s about deciding what kind of adult we want our child to become: someone who follows instructions or someone who thinks, questions, and creates. Montessori pedagogy, with its prepared environment and AMI guides, offers a proven path to the latter.

If you live in Estepona, Alcaidesa, San Roque, or anywhere in the Campo de Gibraltar, we invite you to visit IMS in person. Nothing beats seeing a 4-year-old pouring water independently or a group in Workshop solving equations with the chessboard. Email us at admissions@ims-sotogrande.com or call +34 653 04 17 39. We are located at Carr. de Cádiz, Edif. Sotocentro planta 1, above Mercadona.

About Tamara Muñoz: Head of School at IMS Sotogrande and Emotional Intelligence educator. Psychology graduate from the University of Málaga, coach certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Positive Discipline Educator accredited by the American Positive Discipline Association, with training in Montessori leadership and management. Full profile.