Andersen School was founded in 2001 as an English speaking international school for pupils of all nationalities.

Andersen is a primary school for boys and girls aged from eighteen months to eleven years. (Currently up to Year 3) The school is authorised by both the Italian and British Governments and is a provisional member of COBIS.

The Nursery class bases its day on developing children through the Birth to Three Matters programme, a programme which is followed by English nurseries. Children from three to five follow the Foundation Stage of the English National Curriculum, working towards the Early Learning Goals in the six areas of learning: personal, social and emotional development; communication, language and literacy; mathematical development; knowledge and understanding of the world; physical development; creative development.

From the age of five pupils follow the English National Curriculum, with an assessment at the end of Key Stage 1 (age 7). In order to ensure parity with English schools the KS1 assessments are moderated by the Essex Curriculum and Assessment Authority, with the children's papers being sent to England for assessment. Pupils from the age of five also have a daily Italian lesson and are prepared for the annual Italian schools assessments from the age of six or seven. In this way children should transfer easily into an English or Italian school at the age of eleven.

The aim is to employ qualified, mother-tongue-English teachers with trained assistants to help the teachers of the youngest children. A qualified English-as-an-Additional-Language teacher works within the school. When appropriate, teachers visit England for relevant training courses.

The school is situated in a pleasant residential area of Milan, which has frequent buses to the central area. In addition parents may send children on one of the school buses.

Andersen School is housed in a purpose build building, set in pleasant grounds. The children have a delightful outdoor adventure play area with climbing apparatus and trees which provide shade from the hot summer sun. Part of the area is used us a playing field for PE lessons and organised sports such as football. The classrooms are large and the children have access to a well used library and computer suite. A dining room and a gymnasium provide the space for PE, dance, music, drama and other activities.