A ESCOLA DA MARIA

What A ESCOLA DA MARIA does

A Escola da Maria is a Portuguese non-profit association (Associação A Escola da Maria – Desenvolvimento e Educação Infantil para a Inclusão) founded in 2018 in Lisbon by the parents of a child diagnosed with Mowat-Wilson syndrome. The organization operates as an integrated platform of services for children with and without special educational needs, structured around three core operational units: A Creche da Maria (an inclusive nursery for children up to 36 months following multiple pedagogical methods including High Scope, Montessori, and Waldorf), A Clínica da Maria (a specialized pediatric clinic offering speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, clinical psychology, educational psychology, and acupuncture), and a Plataforma Desportiva (a sports platform that connects families with partner clubs for inclusive rugby, swimming, gymnastics, judo, dance, and music activities). The association also offers auxiliary services including Estudo Acompanhado (after-school study supervision with mindfulness), Babysitting Personalizado, and Transporte com Acompanhamento.

The platform is differentiated by its integrated, "one-stop" service architecture — co-locating educational, therapeutic, sports, and artistic offerings under a single non-profit umbrella — and by the authenticity of its founding narrative, which is leveraged through a high-profile ambassador network of Portuguese public figures. All services are delivered through two owned physical facilities in Lisbon (Parque Colombo and Rua Álvaro Benamor) supplemented by a network of partner clubs and institutions. The technology stack is light: the digital surface is a website with pre-enrollment/pre-booking forms, a news/blog section, and a Facebook presence; there is no proprietary app, API, or AI/ML system.

The business model combines subscription-like recurring revenue (annual membership at €24, recurring creche fees, recurring study supervision fees) with professional-services fees from the clinic and sports platform, delivered through a community-led, direct-to-consumer motion. Customer acquisition is driven primarily by earned media (extensive Portuguese TV coverage in early 2019 across RTP, SIC, TVI, CMTV, and Kuriakos TV), word-of-mouth within the special-needs community, ambassador endorsements, and pre-enrollment forms. Strategic corporate partners include Balanças Marques and Grupo José Pimenta Marques, while sports/artistic partners include Federação de Ginástica de Portugal, Instituto do Judo, Clube de Rugby São Miguel, and Companhia de Dança Olga Roriz. The organization is governed as an association with a Board of Directors, General Assembly, and Supervisory Board, with no external investment, parent company, or listed ownership.

Name

A ESCOLA DA MARIA

Legal name

Associação A Escola da Maria - Desenvolvimento e Educação Infantil para a Inclusão

Website

https://aescoladamaria.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A Lisbon-based Portuguese non-profit association founded in 2018 that operates an integrated platform of inclusive services — creche, pediatric clinic, inclusive sports, and study support — for children with and without special educational needs, founded by the parents of a child with Mowat-Wilson syndrome.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inclusive Education and Pediatric Therapy Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Offices of Physicians (62111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Inclusive Infant & Toddler Care (Special Needs / IFSP-Aligned) (EDACAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional Development for Inclusive Practices (General Education Staff) (EDAKABAL)

Keywords

• Inclusive early childhood education
• Special educational needs services
• Pediatric therapy services
• Inclusive sports programs
• Multi-specialty pediatric clinic

Headquarters

HQ city

Carnide

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Fees: Individuals can become members of the association for €24 per year, gaining access to certain benefits and voting rights at general assemblies.
2. Clinic Services: The Clínica da Maria provides private clinical services including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, clinical psychology, educational psychology, vocational guidance, and acupuncture. Also offered in social clinic mode through partnerships.
3. Creche Services: The Creche da Maria provides early childhood care and education services with an inclusive pedagogical approach, serving children from nursery age through 36 months.
4. Study Supervision (Estudo Acompanhado): After-school study supervision services including homework support, tutoring, mindfulness sessions, and recreational activities for children from kindergarten to basic education.
5. Babysitting and Transport Services: Personalized babysitting and accompanied transportation services for families, addressing childcare needs beyond school hours.
6. Sports Platform and Inclusive Activities: Facilitation of inclusive sports and artistic activities (rugby, swimming, gymnastics, judo, dance, music) through partnerships with clubs, with initial assessment and coordination services included.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

A Escola da Maria is a non-profit association operating an integrated platform of inclusive services for children with and without special educational needs. The platform encompasses A Creche da Maria (inclusive nursery/daycare for ages 0-36 months), A Clínica da Maria (pediatric multi-specialty consultations and therapies), a Plataforma Desportiva (inclusive sports and arts via partner clubs), Estudo Acompanhado (study supervision with mindfulness), Babysitting Personalizado, and Transporte com Acompanhamento. Services are delivered through owned facilities in Lisbon and a partner-club network.

Product overview

A Escola da Maria is a non-profit association providing an integrated platform of inclusive services for children. The organization operates through distinct service units: A Clínica da Maria (specialized pediatric clinic with medical consultations and therapies), A Creche da Maria (inclusive nursery following multiple pedagogical methods), and the Plataforma Desportiva (sports platform connecting children with partner clubs). Additional services include Estudo Acompanhado (study support with mindfulness), Babysitting Personalizado, and Transporte com Acompanhamento. All services are designed for children with and without special educational needs, promoting true inclusion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A Creche da Maria: Inclusive nursery/daycare service for children from infancy through 36 months, offering pedagogical activities based on multiple educational methods.
• A Clínica da Maria
• Plataforma Desportiva

Products and services

• A Creche da Maria Inclusive nursery/daycare service for children from nursery age through 36 months, with age-specific rooms (nursery, infants 0-24 months, toddlers 24-36 months). Follows multiple pedagogical methods (High Scope, MEM, Waldorf, Montessori, Project Pedagogy) and integrates children with and without special educational needs in the same environment. Serves families in the Lisbon metropolitan area.
• A Clínica da Maria Specialized pediatric clinic offering medical consultations across multiple specialties (developmental pediatrics, neurology, rehabilitation medicine, genetics, psychiatry) and therapies (speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, clinical psychology, educational psychology, vocational guidance, acupuncture). Also offered in social clinic mode through partnerships to broaden accessibility. Serves families in Lisbon.
• Plataforma Desportiva (Sports Platform) Sports platform managed by professionals that connects children and youth with and without special educational needs to inclusive sports and artistic activities through partner clubs. Covers rugby, swimming, gymnastics, judo, dance, and music, with initial assessment and coordination services included.
• Estudo Acompanhado After-school study supervision service for children from kindergarten to basic education, including homework support, tutoring, recreational-educational activities, snacks, and weekly mindfulness sessions for emotional intelligence development.
• Babysitting Personalizado Personalized babysitting service providing trusted, dedicated care with emotional support for children during parents' absence.
• Transporte com Acompanhamento Transport service with accompaniment for children, addressing childcare transport needs beyond school hours. Listed as available shortly.
• Desporto Inclusivo (Inclusive Sports and Arts) Inclusive sports and arts activities including rugby, swimming, gymnastics, judo, dance, and music lessons delivered through partnerships with sports and artistic clubs for children with and without special educational needs.
• Annual Association Membership Annual membership of the A Escola da Maria association at €24 per year, granting voting rights at general assemblies, participation in association activities, and access to member benefits.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Balanças MarquesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Listed as a strategic partner of A Escola da Maria. Balanças Marques is a Portuguese company providing weighing equipment and solutions.
• Grupo José Pimenta MarquesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Listed as a strategic partner of A Escola da Maria. Grupo José Pimenta Marques is a business group operating across multiple sectors.
• Federação de Ginástica de PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partner and sports partner providing gymnastics activities. Partnered for inclusive gymnastics programs.
• Clube de Rugby São MiguelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports partner delivering inclusive rugby activities. The project's first inclusive sports activities were delivered through partnerships with clubs like this one.
• Instituto do JudocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports partner providing inclusive judo activities, focusing on concentration, self-esteem, cooperation, and discipline.
• Clube Oriental de LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports partner providing inclusive gymnastics activities in the Lisbon region.
• Clube Parque das NaçõescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports partner providing inclusive gymnastics activities in the Parque das Nações area of Lisbon.
• Companhia de Dança Olga RorizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtistic partner providing inclusive dance activities. Ambassador Olga Roriz, renowned Portuguese choreographer, is a public supporter of the project. Space was provided at Palácio Pancas Palha.
• Escola de Dança KlassikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtistic partner providing dance education activities as part of the inclusive arts program.
• AMAC (Academia Musical dos Amigos das Crianças)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic partner providing music lessons as part of the inclusive arts and activities program.
• AdaNoraminorOthersStructure partner listed on the partners page, contributing to the project's infrastructure needs.
• Glow designminorOthersDesign partner providing creative services for the project.
• Barbini ArquitectosminorOthersArchitecture firm contributing to the physical space planning of the project.
• Pares AdvogadosminorOthersLaw firm providing legal support. Described as associating with a project that supports special children and helps them grow in an environment adapted to their individual needs.
• Ana Lima ComunicaçãominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunication and marketing firm that supports the project both commercially and through social responsibility, contributing to awareness and outreach.
• IncentiveminorOthersStructure partner listed on the partners page.
• BluesignminorOthersStructure partner listed on the partners page.
• Nova EtapaminorOthersStructure partner listed on the partners page.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa: Large Lisbon-based social institution running creches, clinics, senior care and inclusion programs. Comparable as a broad incumbent providing integrated early-childhood education, health and social services in Lisbon.
• Centro de Reabilitação de Paralisia Cerebral Calouste Gulbenkian: Established Lisbon-based pediatric rehabilitation center offering multi-specialty clinical and therapeutic services. Comparable as a larger incumbent providing the type of multidisciplinary clinical/therapeutic services that Clínica da Maria also delivers.

Direct peers

• Fundação Liga: Portuguese foundation supporting children with cancer and their families through integrated educational, recreational and psychosocial support. Comparable as a non-profit offering integrated child and family services beyond purely medical care.
• Special Olympics Portugal: Portuguese branch of Special Olympics, delivering inclusive sports programs through partner clubs for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Comparable as the closest direct overlap with A Escola da Maria's Plataforma Desportiva model.
• APPDA Lisboa: Associação Portuguesa para as Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e Autismo — Lisbon chapter. Comparable as a Portuguese association serving children with developmental disorders through therapeutic, educational and family-support services.
• CERCILisboa: Lisbon-based cooperative providing educational, therapeutic and inclusion services to children and adults with disabilities. Comparable as a Portuguese non-profit delivering an integrated mix of education, rehabilitation and community programs.
• APPDM Lisboa: Associação Portuguesa de Portadores de Deficiências Mentais — Lisbon branch. Comparable Portuguese NGO delivering inclusive education, therapeutic support and family services to children with intellectual disabilities.

Emerging players

• Acreditar: Portuguese association supporting children with cancer and their families, with casa de acolhimento and volunteer-driven programs. Comparable as a Portuguese non-profit combining direct services, awareness, and volunteer/partnership mobilization around a child-focused mission.
• Specialisterne Portugal: Portugal branch of Specialisterne, focused on employment inclusion for people on the autism spectrum. Comparable as a thematic peer sharing the inclusion-of-people-with-disabilities mission and partnership-based delivery model.

Others

• Operação Nariz Vermelho: Portuguese non-profit bringing hospital-clown programs to children in pediatric wards. Comparable as a Portuguese non-profit organization building awareness, partnerships and volunteer support around a child-health mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ACrecheDaMaria
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-escola-da-maria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about A ESCOLA DA MARIA