The honest picture
Surat Thani isn't an expat childcare hub the way Bangkok, Phuket or its own island neighbour Koh Samui are — but as the province's mainland capital and a genuine relocation destination, it has real, working options: the default Thai nursery/anubaan system, an English-enrichment programme layered onto a Thai school in the city itself, and the early-years sections of all three mainland international schools — two of them inside Mueang district and one out at Kanchanadit. Worth knowing upfront: several schools that market themselves under the "Surat Thani" name are actually on Koh Samui, a ferry ride away — we call that out clearly below so you can plan realistically. For the full picture on those three schools, including where each one stops, see the Surat Thani international schools guide.
Types of childcare
Four real options for families in Surat Thani:
| Option | Typical ages | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Thai government/private nursery & anubaan (อนุบาล) | A few months – 6 yrs | The default option most Thai and long-term expat families use — full-day care and Thai-medium early education at government-subsidised or low private-school pricing. English exposure is minimal unless the school runs an add-on programme. |
| Bilingual English-enrichment programme within a Thai school | 3 – 6 yrs (kindergarten) | Super English operates inside Thidamaepra School in Mueang Surat Thani, adding structured English classes to an otherwise Thai-medium school day — a genuinely local, in-city option for families who want English exposure without a full international-school switch. |
| International school early years — in the city | From age 2 (STIS), Early Years Foundation Stage (BISS) | Both of Mueang district's international schools take children well before primary. Suratthani International School runs an EY Prep framework for ages 2–3 in a dedicated space, feeding into its IB Primary Years Programme, and includes lunch in tuition; Balance International School runs the Cambridge Early Years curriculum, which it describes as play-based and drawing on Montessori and Reggio Emilia. |
| International school early years — outside the city | Pre-nursery upward | Daniel International School in Kanchanadit District (east of Surat Thani city on the Tapi River, on the corridor toward the Don Sak ferry piers) takes children from pre-nursery, teaches trilingually in English, Chinese and Thai, and is grounded in Christian values. Opened August 2023. It is the only school here with a host-family programme for children whose home is outside the city. |
| Nanny / childminder (พี่เลี้ยง) | Any age | A live-in or daily nanny (phi liang) is a common, comparatively affordable option across Thailand, including in Surat Thani. Quality and English ability vary widely — vet and reference-check carefully. See BAANLYY's general guide to domestic helpers in Thailand. |
What it costs
Thai nursery pricing isn't centrally published, so treat that range as indicative. International-school fees we deliberately do not print — see the note in the table for why.
| Type of care | Fee (guide) |
|---|---|
| Local Thai nursery / anubaan (full day) | Typically THB 3,000-10,000 / month — confirm directly, pricing is not centrally published |
| International school early years (STIS, BISS, DIS) | Not published here. We do not print per-school fees anywhere on this site — and in Surat Thani the circulating figures for the same school disagree by well over a hundred thousand baht a year depending on the directory. Ask each admissions office for its current schedule in writing. |
| Full-time live-in nanny (phi liang) | THB 12,000-25,000 / month, indicative — get direct quotes |
The Koh Samui asterisk
If you search for "international kindergarten Surat Thani," you'll find schools like Oonrak International Bilingual School, IPC Green International Kindergarten, Panyadee/PBISS and Kiddie Garden nursery — all genuine, established schools, but all physically located on Koh Samui (mostly in the Bo Phut/Maenam area), part of Surat Thani Province administratively but not the mainland city. They're reachable via ferry from Surat Thani's Don Sak pier, typically 1-1.5 hours, which rules them out as a daily commute from Surat Thani city itself. They're worth knowing about if you're weighing a move to Koh Samui instead, or want a wider comparison set — just plan around the real crossing, not the province name.
What to look for when you visit
Always tour in person and see the actual rooms, not just the office:
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Staff-to-child ratio | Lower is better for under-3s — ask how many carers per child in each room. |
| Safety & hygiene | Secure entry, clean kitchens, a sick-child policy, first-aid-trained staff. Ask to see the actual rooms, not just the office. |
| Language of instruction | Full Thai-medium, an English-enrichment add-on, or full English-medium — decide how much Thai vs English exposure you want at this age. |
| Hours & flexibility | Full-day vs half-day, term-time vs year-round, and whether holiday cover is offered. |
| Licensing | Reputable nurseries are registered with the Ministry of Education or the Department of Social Development and Welfare — ask about registration directly. |
| Distance & commute | Surat Thani has no rail transit of any kind and only one of the three international schools publishes any transport at all. Kanchanadit District (Daniel International School) sits east of the city centre on the road toward the Don Sak piers, not south — drive your route at 07:00 before committing. |
Enrolment & documents
Contact your shortlisted school or programme directly to check availability — Daniel International School, being newer and smaller than a big-city international school, is generally easier to enrol into than Bangkok or Phuket equivalents, but confirm current intake dates. Expect to provide your child's passport and visa/entry stamp, birth certificate, immunisation records and recent photos, plus a registration fee and deposit. Thai nurseries and anubaan schools generally enrol year-round with more flexible timing; Daniel International School follows a standard academic-year calendar. Confirm hours, calendar and any holiday cover before committing.
Sources & References
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
Surat Thani childcare questions
What childcare options actually exist in Surat Thani?
Four real tiers: Thai government/private nurseries and anubaan schools (the affordable, Thai-medium default), the Super English bilingual programme operating inside Thidamaepra School in Mueang Surat Thani for English exposure without leaving the Thai system, the early-years sections of the three mainland international schools — Suratthani International School from age 2, Balance International School's Cambridge Early Years, and Daniel International School from pre-nursery — and a nanny (phi liang), which is common nationwide.
Is there an international kindergarten in Surat Thani city itself?
Yes, two. Suratthani International School runs an EY Prep framework for ages 2–3 feeding into its IB Primary Years Programme, and Balance International School runs the Cambridge Early Years curriculum — both in Mueang Surat Thani district. Daniel International School, which also takes pre-nursery children, is not in the city: it is in Kanchanadit District, east of the centre on the corridor toward the Don Sak piers. Several other schools that market themselves using the "Surat Thani" province name — including Oonrak, IPC Green, Panyadee/PBISS and Kiddie Garden — are actually located on Koh Samui, not the mainland, reachable only by a ferry crossing from Don Sak.
How much does childcare cost in Surat Thani?
Thai nurseries and anubaan schools are not centrally price-published but typically run far below Bangkok rates — confirm directly with each school. We publish no per-school international-school fees anywhere on this site, and Surat Thani is a good illustration of why: the figures circulating for the same school differ by more than a hundred thousand baht a year between directories, and the three schools include very different things in tuition. A full-time live-in nanny is roughly THB 12,000-25,000 a month, indicative — get direct quotes.
Should I consider a school on Koh Samui instead?
If you want a larger choice of established international schools with early-years sections, yes — Koh Samui (reachable via ferry from Surat Thani's Don Sak pier, roughly 1-1.5 hours) has several, including Oonrak, IPC Green and Panyadee/PBISS. This only makes sense for families based near the coast with a realistic daily or weekly-boarding commute in mind; it is not a practical daily commute from Surat Thani city itself.
What is the Super English programme in Surat Thani?
Super English is an English-language enrichment programme that operates inside Thidamaepra School in Mueang Surat Thani District, adding structured English classes — including at kindergarten level — to an otherwise Thai-medium school day. It's a genuinely local, in-city way to add English exposure without switching to a full international school.
Can I use a nanny instead of a nursery in Surat Thani?
Yes — a live-in or daily nanny (phi liang) is a common, comparatively affordable choice across Thailand, including in Surat Thani, and works well for babies or families wanting home-based care. Quality and English fluency vary widely, so reference-check carefully. See BAANLYY's guide to domestic helpers in Thailand for the wider picture.
This guide is general information for relocation planning, not childcare, medical or financial advice. Fees, ages served, curricula, licensing and enrolment rules change — confirm current details directly with each nursery, school or programme.
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