Short answer: shortlist preschools within 15 to 20 minutes of home, get the all-inclusive annual fee in writing, and check that each class has no more than about 10 children per adult (fewer for two-year-olds). Then visit on a normal working morning. How the adults treat children matters more than the method on the signboard.
Choosing a preschool is the first big education decision most parents make, and it is easy to drown in brochures. This guide gives you seven steps to get from a long list to two or three schools, then explains each item on our 13-point visit checklist so you know what you are looking for when you walk in.
Before you start: the 2026-27 timeline
Forms filled between October 2026 and early 2027 are for children starting in spring or June 2027. Many city preschools open admissions between October and December, and popular centres can fill by February. Neighbourhood preschools usually admit through the year.
Check which class your child is eligible for first. Most schools now want 3+ for nursery, 4+ for LKG and 5+ for UKG on their cut-off date, because the Ministry of Education has asked every state to admit children to Class 1 at 6+ years. The school admission age calculator does the arithmetic for 31 March, 1 June and 31 December cut-offs. Dates, documents and state rules are in our preschool admission guide.
1. Start with distance, not brand
A preschooler should not spend more than 15 to 20 minutes each way in a van or on a scooter. A "better" school 45 minutes away is worse than a good school around the corner, because a tired child learns little and a long commute makes sick days and early pickups hard.
Draw a circle of three to four kilometres around home (or your workplace, if you will do pickups) and shortlist inside it. Your city page lists preschools by area: for example Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai.
2. Set a budget from real numbers
Advertised monthly fees are rarely the full cost. Our indicative fee benchmarks for 2025-26 (ranges estimated by the Preschools Club team from published fee information, not quotes from any one school) put mid-range annual tuition at:
| City | Mid-range tuition a year | Typical one-time admission fee |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | ₹1 to ₹2 lakh | ₹35,000 |
| Bengaluru | ₹90,000 to ₹1.8 lakh | ₹30,000 |
| Delhi | ₹80,000 to ₹1.6 lakh | ₹25,000 |
| Hyderabad | ₹80,000 to ₹1.5 lakh | ₹25,000 |
| Chennai | ₹70,000 to ₹1.3 lakh | ₹20,000 |
| Kolkata | ₹60,000 to ₹1.2 lakh | ₹20,000 |
| Lucknow | ₹50,000 to ₹90,000 | ₹15,000 |
These are indicative ranges, not quotes, and they exclude kits, uniforms and transport. See every city and tier in Indian preschool fees by city, or use the preschool fee estimator for your city. When you visit, ask for the all-inclusive annual figure in writing: admission fee, tuition, kit or material charges, uniform, transport, annual day and any "activity fee".
3. Understand the method labels, but don't over-weight them
- Playway: learning through games, rhymes, art and activity. Most Indian chains run a version of it.
- Montessori: self-directed work with specific materials in mixed-age rooms. Ask whether the teachers are Montessori-trained, not just the signboard.
- Reggio Emilia and Waldorf: project-led or rhythm-led, less common and usually premium.
India's national framework for ages 3 to 8, the NCF for the Foundational Stage (2022), puts play at the centre of all of them. Our guide to Montessori, playway and Reggio Emilia explains what each looks like in a real classroom. Execution matters more than philosophy.
4. Count the teacher-child ratio yourself
India's National ECCE Policy 2013 sets a minimum of one adult per 20 children aged 3 to 6, and one per 10 for children under 3. That is a floor, not a target. We suggest parents look for about one adult per 10 children aged 3 to 5 and one per 5 or 6 for two-year-olds, counting trained helpers ("didis") who stay in the room.
Ask "how many children and how many adults are in this room for the full session?", then count heads at the door. Our teacher-child ratio guide has the benchmarks by age.
5. Treat safety basics as non-negotiable
The NCF for the Foundational Stage (section 8.2) is specific about safety, and it gives you a fair standard to hold any preschool to:
- children are visible to an adult at all times, including breaks and playtime;
- a working first-aid kit, and teachers trained to use it;
- parents told immediately after an accident or medical emergency;
- no physical punishment, shouting or demeaning labels;
- staff who understand child protection under the POCSO Act, 2012.
Add the practical checks: a named-person pickup system, CCTV in classrooms and play areas (ask who can view it), child-height washrooms with an attendant policy, and an attendant in every school van.
6. Visit on a normal working morning
A scheduled tour shows a school at its best. Ask to come during regular hours and stay long enough to watch a transition, such as tidying up or lining up for snack. That is when you see how teachers speak to children when they are not performing for a visitor.
A good day has a rhythm. The NCF for the Foundational Stage gives a sample day for ages 3 to 6 with circle time, free play and activity corners, a snack break, music and movement, story time and outdoor play. If a school's day is mostly worksheets, notice it. Take our 15 questions for a preschool tour with you.
7. Talk to current parents
Stand outside at pickup time and ask two or three parents one question: "Would you choose this school again?" Five minutes of honest conversation beats any brochure.
The 13-point visit checklist, explained
Our free visit checklist has 13 items in four groups. Tick them on your phone as you walk around. Here is why each one is there.
| Group | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Safety and hygiene | CCTV in classrooms and play areas | Coverage and a clear viewing policy deter neglect and help resolve incidents |
| Safety and hygiene | First-aid kit, staff trained in first aid | The NCF asks for both; ask who is trained by name |
| Safety and hygiene | Child-height washrooms, visible hygiene routine | Toilet independence and handwashing are part of the day at this age |
| Safety and hygiene | Transport: attendant, GPS, speed policy | The van is the least supervised part of many children's day |
| Teachers and ratios | Count the teacher-child ratio yourself | Brochure ratios are often the best room, not your child's room |
| Teachers and ratios | How long the class teacher has been here | High turnover is a strong warning sign |
| Teachers and ratios | What happens when a teacher is absent | Merged classes double the ratio overnight |
| Programmes and play | Outdoor area with soft flooring and shade | Daily outdoor play is part of every sound programme |
| Programmes and play | Meal or tiffin policy, drinking water source | Hunger, allergies and water hygiene affect the whole day |
| Programmes and play | A typical day plan with free play, not only worksheets | Play-based learning is the national framework, not a perk |
| Parent communication | Daily updates and how detailed they are | You should know what your child did, ate and how they slept |
| Parent communication | All-inclusive annual fee in writing | Avoids surprise kit, activity and annual day charges |
| Parent communication | Written policy on sickness, refunds and withdrawal | You will need it, usually at an awkward time |
Red flags that should end the visit
- Tests or written homework for three-year-olds. The NCF for the Foundational Stage calls explicit tests and examinations "completely inappropriate" at this stage.
- No written fee breakup, or pressure to pay the full year today "to hold the seat".
- A vague answer about pickup, such as "we know all our parents".
- Children sitting and copying letters for long stretches while adults watch.
The one-question test
If you can only ask one thing, ask: "What does a normal Tuesday look like here?" Schools that answer with specifics (circle time, free play, snack, story, outdoor time) run real programmes. Schools that answer with adjectives are selling you a brochure.
Revised October 2026: updated for the 2026-27 admission season with current entry ages, city fee benchmarks, the official ratio floor and NCF safety standards, and a full explanation of the 13-point visit checklist.