Frequently Asked Questions
When will A Place To Be open?
We’re in the process of setting up this wonderful project and are looking to open our doors in spring 2024. Please subscribe to our Newsletter on the Homepage to be notified of any updates and early bird possibilities. Thank you for your support and patience.
Is APTB a school?
No, APTB is not a school and we have no intention of being one. We provide the optimal environment for children to learn and don’t see the need to call it a school.
Children learn from anything and everything they see. They learn wherever they are, not just in special learning places. John Holt.
Does APTB include methods such as Montessori, Steiner or Waldorf schools?
We diffirenciate outselves from these schools in the following way:
we don’t follow a curriculum
rather than focussing on children’s developmental milestones, we give children the freedom to develop in their own individual way and time, in their own nature
we don’t do any type of assessment or evaluation of the children’s progress or growth
Why do you charge a sign up fee?
At A Place To Be, we are dedicated to building lasting friendships and relationships, and we warmly welcome families to our community, even if they don't reside in Madeira and encourage them to come back every year.
Our approach to membership is akin to that of a golf course or private club. Those who join us make a small investment towards creating a space that not only offers exceptional services but also fosters a sense of community, provides networking opportunities, and opens doors to potential business collaborations.
We kindly ask our members to honor and respect our facilities and policies. While no deposit is required for renting a dome or utilizing our facilities, it's important to note that if a family reserves a dome for a discounted six-month period for example, but decides to leave after just one month, we have the sign-up fee that can cover the shortfall caused by their early departure. In such cases, we may temporarily suspend their membership until the outstanding balance is settled.
We are excited about the possibility of having you join our vibrant and welcoming community at A Place To Be and look forward to the opportunity to create wonderful memories and experiences together.
Can I pay the sign up fee in instalments?
No, we don’t offer instalment plans. All fees need to be paid in advance.
Will there be Wifi available?
Yes, every apartment and yurt has access to Wifi. Also the coworking space and library will have an internet connection.
What if I need peace and quiet to work in the Coworking space when children are allowed in all the time?
One part of the coworking space is marked as ‘A Place to Be Working QUIETLY‘. Everybody in this area must remain silent and not disturb parents working there and children know that people working in there have no task to offer. The other area is for everybody to share projects, tasks and information. If you need absolute privacy due to a private session for example or to shoot a video, we recommend to do this in your apartment or dome.
Do I HAVE to stay at APTB as a parent?
Only if one or more of your kids are under 4 years old. We also encourage parents to stay on the premises until the child(ren) feel good about being without their parents. After that you can choose to stay to work, relax in nature, talk to other parents, do anything else you feel like or leave.
Can we do a trial phase to see whether APTB/unschooling is the right thing for us before committing to a membership?
No, we don’t offer trials, neither do we give guarantees or refunds.
What if my child is being homeschooled and follows a curriculum? Will the Partners teach him/her the content?
If you homeschool your child and he/she is following a curriculum your child will be in charge of his/her learning process. He/she will always be able to ask Partners and children questions, however, their role is not to try and put information into the children’s head but simply provide support when the kids ask for it. Anything you find necessary for your child to know you can teach at home, but during the time spent at APTB children are free to do and learn what they choose to.
My kids go to school. Can we come to APTB in the afternoons or during holidays?
No, we’re a community of unschoolers and some freedom-based homeschoolers and our Partners are only available from 9am till 3pm.
What kinds of areas of interest/classes will you offer?
In the beginning we will have a very basic repertoir and will focus on getting to know each other. However, later we’ll provide an extensive offer of what everyone likes. You can read the full list of what your children are going to be able to explore freely here: Blocks. We will do our best to provide children with resources for their individual passions.
Do you have a policy to prevent child sexual abuse?
Yes we do. Our children’s safety comes first and we give every family, staff member and visitor a briefing about these policies:
Every person has body-safety-rules
‘I’m the boss of my body and I say No when somebody touches me in a way that I don’t like.‘
‘Nobody is allowed to touch or take photos of my private parts‘
We don’t keep secrets. Surprises and confidentiality are ok but secrets are not
Can I get a refund if I don’t want to continue coming to APTB?
The sign up fee is non-refundable once we have inaugurated and after 2 weeks have passed after you’ve registered. The monthly fee is non-refundable.
Which age groups are present at APTB?
There is no age limit at APTB. However, parents pay for children between 4 years and 18.
How much does it cost?
The one-time joining fee per family is 4000 Euros (2000 Euros for Youngster’s Club, then 150 Euros per month, per family). After that, for the Blocks, you pay 750Euros per child, per month for your first two children, for every other child you pay 500 Euros per month. Lodging will be charged separately if you´re staying on the land. As we don´t have them available yet, we don´t have prices to show so far. Click here to register
Where are you located?
Once we have obtained a suitable piece of land and set up there, we can tell you the exact location. It will be around Funchal (15-20min. drive from the city centre).