Childcare on Koh Tao.

Running since 2008 in Mae Haad, this is the island's main dedicated early-years option, mixing Thai, Burmese-migrant and expat children in an early-years curriculum for babies, toddlers and nursery/reception-age kids. It's the natural first stop for most relocating families with a child under school age.

Founded in 2015, KTIP is a community/charity primary school that has educated Thai, Burmese-migrant and expat children together on the island, offering full-time and part-time attendance across a morning and afternoon session covering Thai language, literacy, numeracy, science, art, music and sport. Some families use it alongside or after Playskool as children move toward primary age.

Koh Tao has local Thai-language public schools that expat children can technically attend, but the Thai-medium curriculum, limited English instruction and different academic calendar make this a poor long-term fit for most relocating families planning to return to an English-medium system later - more relevant for very long-term or mixed Thai-foreign households.

With the island's dive-industry community often working irregular hours, hiring a Thai nanny (phi liang) or live-out helper is common and flexible for babies and toddlers, often used alongside Koh Tao Playskool for part-day cover.

Koh Tao's compact, close-knit foreign community - concentrated around dive shops and resorts - supports informal playgroups and word-of-mouth referrals for nannies and part-time care, useful given how few formal settings exist island-wide.

Mae Haad is the island's main pier and town area, home to Koh Tao Playskool & Daycare and the widest everyday services - the most practical base for families prioritising childcare access.

Sairee is Koh Tao's longest beach and busiest expat and dive-industry hub, with the biggest concentration of foreign families and the most active informal community networks for nannies and playgroups, a short ride from Mae Haad.

Chalok Baan Kao, on the island's southern side, is quieter and more residential, popular with dive-industry families wanting distance from Sairee's nightlife while still being a short scooter ride from Mae Haad's childcare options.

Both Koh Tao Playskool & Daycare and KTIP generally accept children on a flexible, rolling basis rather than a fixed international-school-style admissions cycle, reflecting the island's small, practical approach to childcare and schooling.

Expect to provide your child's passport and birth certificate, immunisation records, recent photos, and a parent passport with proof of your Koh Tao address. Paperwork at both Playskool and KTIP is lighter than at a formal international school, since neither operates as one.

DTV, LTR, retirement, marriage and other visa families - as well as the island's many dive-instructor and dive-industry households - all use the same settings and pay out of pocket, with no visa requirement tied to enrolment.

Koh Tao's foreign community is small and close-knit, largely centred on the dive industry. Asking other parents in the island's expat Facebook groups is typically the fastest way to get an honest, current read on availability and fit at Playskool or KTIP.

With only two dedicated island-wide options, visiting Koh Tao Playskool & Daycare and Koh Tao International Primary in person - and talking to other parents - is the most reliable way to judge fit for your child's age and needs.

KTIP covers roughly up to age 12, but Koh Tao has no secondary school. Families generally plan for homeschooling, an accredited online curriculum, or a move to Koh Samui or the mainland once children reach secondary age - factor this into your longer-term plan even while your child is still young.

Many resident families work in or around the dive industry with irregular or shift-based hours. Combining Koh Tao Playskool's day-care hours with a part-time nanny is a common pattern for covering early mornings, late afternoons or weekend work.

Neither Koh Tao Playskool nor KTIP publishes fees in the way a formal international school does - confirm current rates, hours and part-time options directly with each before committing.

Two dedicated settings cover most of the island's needs: Koh Tao Playskool & Daycare in Mae Haad (running since 2008, ages 0-7) and Koh Tao International Primary or KTIP, a charity school founded in 2015 covering roughly ages 0-12 with full-time and part-time attendance. Beyond these, local Thai government schools and hiring a nanny round out the options - there is no branded international nursery chain on the island.

Neither Koh Tao Playskool nor KTIP publishes fees the way a formal international school does, so confirm current rates directly with each. As a general guide, a full-time live-out Thai nanny runs roughly THB 8,000-14,000 a month, and Thai government school is low-cost or near-free, though a poor fit for most relocating families' longer-term plans.

No. KTIP covers up to roughly age 12 and there is no secondary school on the island. Families generally plan ahead for homeschooling, an accredited online curriculum, or relocating - fully or partially - to Koh Samui or the mainland once children reach secondary age, the same gap the island's broader schools market faces.

Mae Haad is the most practical base, home to Koh Tao Playskool & Daycare and the island's main services. Sairee Beach has the largest expat and dive-industry population and the most active informal parent networks. Chalok Baan Kao, on the quieter south side, suits families wanting distance from Sairee's nightlife while staying a short ride from Mae Haad.

Not formally, but the island's practical, informal approach suits families with irregular dive-instructor or resort-work schedules - many combine Koh Tao Playskool's daytime hours with a part-time nanny to cover early mornings, late afternoons or weekend shifts, arranged through the island's close-knit expat community rather than a formal agency.