In the year 2000, Jill Hichwa opened up a small early childhood environment. Within five years, word had spread and more families enrolled their children to attend what was considered as a "home away from home" where children felt welcomed, valued, supported and loved. 'Jill's Place' was born!

Each child's development was measured not only by their intellectual, physical, artistic and musical progress but also through developing their attitudes in terms of kindness, friendship, collaboration and perseverance. The goal has always been to provide an innovative, joyful and balanced learning environment, in which the development of individual character was given the highest priority.

Since 2008, Jill has attended several conferences at the Harvard Graduate School of Education where she learned directly from Dr. Howard Gardner about his well renowned theory of "Multiple Intelligences". Jill's regular contact with the leading educational researchers continues to influence the heart of our learning environment.

Between 2009 and 2024, Jill's Place went through a period of restructuring and development to ensure best educational practices supported by equally effective business practices. This enabled us to introduce an international curriculum and to attract teaching staff with international standards and experience.

Since September 2024, Jill's Place has become known as EGI International (Educating Global Innovators) - a candidate Cambridge International School. We are thrilled that Robert Taylor, as our Leader of Education, will be guiding us into the future. Our focus is to build upon the very best foundations and develop an international school environment on brand new, purpose-built premises surrounded by nature in Barcarena, Oeiras.

EGI will cherish and uphold the core values that JPI has always prioritised, providing a personalised educational programme in English for children from 18 months through to 11 years of age, using a Project-Based Learning approach to complement the Cambridge International Curriculum for Early Years and Primary..