For parents moving to Cascais, Lisbon or the Ericeira area
Choose the school first. Then the house.
Find the right school for each child. A step-by-step guide and a family workbook for parents with one, two or three children of different ages.
You work out which kind of school suits each child. You build a short list. You see the real first-year cost for your whole family. You apply in the right order. Then you choose where to live.
- PDF guide, 12 chapters
- Google Sheets workbook
- Instant access after payment
- Payment processed securely by Stripe
Instant digital delivery. By buying, you agree to get your files straight away and you understand you lose your 14-day right to cancel once they are delivered.
Illustration of the guide and workbook. The workbook rows are an example.
What the guide links to
- 60school and nursery profiles, one page each
- 3areas: Cascais, Lisbon and the Ericeira area
- SourcedFees and dates link to the school's official page, with the date we checked
- IndependentA family project, not linked to any school
The problem
Sound familiar?
You have a dozen school websites open.
Each one shows its fees in a different way. Some mention a waiting list. Some say nothing at all.
One child is a baby. One is five. One is twelve. They are not all looking for the same kind of school, and you are starting to wonder whether one school can do the lot.
Meanwhile, everyone tells you the same thing: find a house first.
You are not doing anything wrong. This really is scattered. And it gets harder with every extra child.
The method
Flip the order
Most families start with the house. Then they look for a school nearby.
Around Cascais and Lisbon, that can go the wrong way. Schools set their own year groups, application dates and deadlines to say yes. A good house in the wrong place can mean a school run that eats your mornings, for two or three schools at once.
1
School first.
Choose a kind of school for each child, then a short list of schools that fit.
2
Cost second.
See what year one really costs, child by child, before you commit.
3
House third.
Live where the school run works.
That is the whole idea. This guide walks you through it, one small step at a time.
What's inside
What you get
You get three things. They work together.
1. The guide (PDF, 12 short chapters)
It explains the method: the steps, the checklists, the questions to ask and the emails you can send. It does not go out of date when fees change, because it holds no fees and no dates.
2. The workbook (Google Sheets)
It does the sums and keeps your family's search in one place. You make your own copy, and it lives in your Google account. We cannot see it. Use "Child A, Child B, Child C" if you like. Month and year of birth are enough.
3. The website
The facts that change, such as school profiles, fees, open days and enrolment dates, live on portugalschoolguide.com. Each chapter tells you which page to open. Each page shows the date it was last checked.
The guide tells you what to do. The website tells you what is true today. The workbook holds your own numbers.
Inside the guide
- Start here: how to use it in three evenings
- Your school-search timeline: 12 months out, plus a mid-year version
- Choosing a curriculum: a short worksheet for your family
- Children of different ages: one school, a nursery plus a school, or different schools, and how siblings are treated
- Shortlisting schools: how to filter, score, visit and ask the right questions, plus three more for families with more than one child
- Applications and waiting lists: how the different lists work, what to do if you are waitlisted, and five emails you can send
- Your children's documents: a tick-list for each child, including joining from abroad
- The true first-year cost: what goes into a school bill, what is one-off, and what to ask
- Areas and the school run: plan your home around two or three school runs
- The first term: weeks 1 to 4 and months 2 to 3, with questions for the class teacher
- Life admin, where to look: short pointers to official sources and when to ask a professional
- Official sources and how we work
Inside the workbook
- Start: how to use the workbook, in a few minutes
- Family: each child, their stage and the school year they would join
- Shortlist: compare your schools side by side on what matters to you
- Calculator: first-year cost per child and for the whole family, using the figures you enter. Where a school does not publish a number, you mark it "ask the school" instead of guessing
- Tracker: every application in one place, with each answer deadline
- Timeline: a plan counted back from your first school day
Two small extras
- A calendar builder, so you can set up your own open-day and deadline dates from the live website
- A one-page family school plan you can print and stick on the fridge
Getting started
Your first evening
You do not need to read it all at once.
- Evening 1. Add each child to the workbook. Map their stage for next September. Choose a curriculum for each. Build a short list.
- Evening 2. Enter your own figures and see the true first-year cost, for each child and for the family.
- Evening 3. Build your calendar and log your applications. Test the school run for every child.
Evening 1 is all about one job: choosing a kind of school for each child and building a short list to work from. Nothing else needs to happen yet.
Is it for you?
Who it is for
- Parents moving to Cascais, Lisbon or the Ericeira area with one, two or three children
- Families with children at different stages, for example a nursery-age child, a primary-age child and a teenager
- Parents who are three to twelve months out, or arriving mid-year
- Anyone comparing international schools, Portuguese colégios and nurseries
- Parents who like a clear order and want to do the thinking at their own pace
Who it is not for
- You want someone to secure a place for you. This is not a placement service. Nobody can promise your child a place, and we do not.
- You want legal, tax or immigration advice. This guide is general information to help you plan. It is not legal advice. For visas, residence and tax, please speak to a qualified lawyer or adviser. The guide points you to the official sources and helps you know what to ask.
- You are looking for a ranking of "the best school". We do not rank schools. The right school depends on your child and your family.
- You are only after relocation help. This guide is about finding schools. The Renting & Paperwork Pack below covers the next step.
Trust
How it stays current
The method does not change from year to year. How to choose a curriculum, build a short list, read a fee sheet, plan for siblings and apply is the same every autumn.
The facts do change. So we keep them on the website, not in the PDF.
We re-check the facts on the website regularly, and each page shows the date it was last checked.
The school always has the final word. Before you travel or pay, confirm the figure with the school, in writing. The guide shows you how.
How we handle facts
- We use official sources: each school's own website and fee documents, and Portuguese government sources.
- We describe patterns, not promises. Your school may do it differently, so we show you what to ask.
- If a school does not publish something, we say "not published". We never fill a gap with a guess.
- If two documents from the same school disagree, we say so.
- We are not affiliated with any school.
We're an independent family project, not linked to any school. Our facts come from each school's own official sources, and no school can pay to change them. If we ever show featured or sponsored listings, we'll label them clearly.
About us
We're an international family with three children in Cascais. We built this guide because we needed it ourselves. More about us.
Price
Choose your option
Choose one. Both include the full guide and the workbook. The only difference is the Renting & Paperwork Pack.
Option 1: The guide
€39
- The PDF guide, 12 chapters
- The Google Sheets workbook
- Your private delivery page, with both, and the live facts on the website, linked from every chapter
Option 2: The guide + the Renting & Paperwork Pack
€54
- Everything in option 1
- Plus the Renting & Paperwork Pack, for families moving from abroad (details below)
Which one is right for you? If you already live in Portugal, have a home lined up, or someone else is handling the rental, the guide on its own is all you need. If you are moving from abroad and will be searching for a rental yourself, the Pack puts those pieces together for you.
Please read before you buy: instant digital delivery, no refund for a change of mind once your files are delivered.
Tick the box above to continue.
Instant digital delivery. By buying, you agree to get your files straight away and you understand you lose your 14-day right to cancel once they are delivered.
Payment is processed securely by Stripe.
Checkout opens at launch. This is a preview, so these buttons don't take payment yet.
After you pay, you go straight to a private page with your PDF and your workbook copy link. Please bookmark it. If you lose it, email hello@portugalschoolguide.com with your receipt.
The Renting & Paperwork Pack (the second choice)
Moving to Portugal from abroad? Choose the guide + Renting & Paperwork Pack for €15 more.
Choosing a school is one step. Finding a home and getting your first official numbers is the next one.
This short companion to the guide explains:
- how renting works for newcomers
- which documents landlords usually ask for
- how to spot the warning signs of a rental scam
- the first official steps in a sensible order (tax number, bank, address, school and health registration), with a link to the official page for each one
It also has viewing questions, a 10-point contract checklist and a first-weeks checklist for every family member.
It has no prices or dates that go out of date. It gives you the method and links to the official sources. General information, not legal advice.
Good to know
Before you buy
This is a digital product. You get the PDF and the workbook straight after you pay, so there is no refund for a change of mind once your files are delivered. Before you buy, you tick a box to confirm you want your files straight away and understand you lose your 14-day right to cancel once they are delivered.
If a file is missing or does not open, email hello@portugalschoolguide.com and we will fix it. This does not affect your legal rights.
You can see what is inside on this page, and the free guides on the website show how we write and check facts. If you have a question before you buy, email us first.
Questions
What exactly do I get?
A PDF guide with 12 chapters, and a Google Sheets workbook you copy into your own Google account. You get both on a private page right after you pay.
What format is it? Does it work on a phone?
The guide is a PDF you can read on a phone, tablet or laptop, or print. The workbook works best on a laptop. If you use Excel, you can open the workbook in Google Sheets for free.
How does delivery work?
You pay with Stripe. Then you go straight to a private page with your PDF and a "make a copy" link for the workbook. Please bookmark the page. Stripe's receipt email does not carry the files. If you lose the link, email hello@portugalschoolguide.com with your receipt.
Does it include school fees and dates?
No, on purpose. Fees, open days and deadlines change every year, so they live on portugalschoolguide.com, each with the date it was last checked. The guide tells you which page to open, and the workbook does the sums with the figures you enter.
How does it stay current?
The method in the guide does not go out of date. The live facts are on the website. We re-check the facts on the website regularly. The school always has the final word, so confirm any figure with the school in writing.
Is it only for Cascais?
No. It covers choosing schools around Cascais, Lisbon and the Ericeira area. Cascais is our main focus. The method works for any school search in Portugal, but the live pages cover those three areas.
Will it work if my children are different ages?
That is what it was built for. One chapter is about planning for children at different stages: one school, a nursery plus a school, or different schools. The workbook keeps each child's path in one place.
Do you rank schools? Will you tell me which school to pick?
No. We do not rank schools. We help you choose the kind of school that fits each child, then compare real options on your own list. The choice stays with you.
Can you get my child a place?
No. Nobody can promise a place, and we do not contact schools for you. The guide gives you the emails and the questions so you can do it yourself.
Do you cover visas and tax?
Only as pointers. The guide tells you where the official sources are and when to ask a professional. It is not legal, tax, immigration or financial advice. For your own situation, please speak to a qualified lawyer or adviser.
What is the difference between the two options?
Only the Renting & Paperwork Pack. The guide and workbook are the same in both. The Pack is a short companion for families moving from abroad: renting, landlord documents, rental scam signs, and your first official steps in a sensible order. The school guide works on its own.
Can I get a refund?
This is a digital product you get straight away, so there is no refund for a change of mind once your files are delivered. You confirm this with a tick box before you buy. If a file is missing or does not open, email hello@portugalschoolguide.com and we will fix it. Your legal rights are not affected.
Is my family's information safe?
Your workbook copy lives in your own Google account, and we cannot see it. You do not need to enter your children's names. Use "Child A, B and C", or initials.
Your first step
You do not need to have it all worked out.
You only need an order.
School first. Cost second. House third.
Open the workbook on your first evening. Add each child, choose a kind of school for each, and start your short list. That is the whole first step.
Payment is processed securely by Stripe.
Not ready yet?
Start with our free pages: the schools directory, the open days and enrolment calendar and the first-year cost guide.
General information to help you plan. Not legal, tax, immigration or financial advice. Please speak to a qualified professional about your own situation.
Portugal School Guide is not a school or a placement service. We are not affiliated with any school.