Community Q&A

The questions every parent actually asks

Researched, plain-language answers on fees, admissions, ages, ratios, and daycare. No school wrote these, and no school paid for them.

All questions Fees & costs Admissions Age groups Curriculum Safety & ratios Daycare Choosing a school

Fees & costs

How much do preschools cost in India in 2025-26?

The honest answer: it depends far more on your city and locality than on the brand on the signboard. Here is what parents actually paid in the 2025-26 academic...

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Age groups

What is the right age for playgroup, nursery, LKG and UKG?

Indian preschools follow a fairly standard age ladder, and since the NEP 2020 push most states now also enforce a minimum age of 6 for Class 1, which anchors...

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Safety & ratios

What teacher-child ratio should a preschool have?

Ratio is the single most reliable quality signal in early childhood education, and the easiest one to verify on a visit. The benchmarks to look for - Playgroup...

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Curriculum

Montessori vs playway vs Waldorf: which curriculum is right for my child?

Curriculum labels in India are marketing first and philosophy second, so understand what each one means and then check whether the school actually practises...

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Admissions

When do preschool admissions open in India? A month-by-month timeline

Unlike big-school nursery admissions, preschool (playgroup and pre-nursery) admissions in India are mostly rolling: you can usually join mid-year if a seat is...

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Admissions

What documents are needed for preschool admission in India?

Preschool paperwork is light compared to big-school nursery admissions, but arriving with a complete folder saves you a second trip. Here is the standard list....

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Daycare

Daycare vs preschool: what is the difference, and can one place do both?

Parents use the words interchangeably; the industry does not. Knowing the difference helps you ask the right questions. Preschool: a program A preschool runs a...

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Safety & ratios

What safety and CCTV questions should I ask before choosing a preschool?

Safety is the one area where you should be politely relentless. A good school will answer everything below without flinching; discomfort with these questions...

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Age groups

How do I handle separation anxiety in the first weeks of preschool?

Crying at drop-off is the most normal thing in early childhood. Almost every child does it, almost every child stops within two to four weeks, and how the...

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Choosing a school

Franchise chain vs independent preschool: which is better?

India has both in huge numbers: thousands of franchise outlets (Kidzee alone claims 2,000+) and tens of thousands of independent preschools. Neither model wins...

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Fees & costs

Are preschool admission fees, deposits and advance fees refundable?

The uncomfortable truth: usually not, unless you push, document, and know which category of payment you are talking about. Separate the three kinds of money....

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Fees & costs

Can you negotiate preschool fees in India? What actually works

Yes, more often than parents assume, but only on some components and only if you ask the right way. Preschools are local businesses with empty seats to fill;...

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Choosing a school

How far should a preschool be from home? The commute question

Closer than you think. Distance is the most underrated factor in preschool choice, and the one parents most often regret compromising on. The benchmark For a...

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Daycare

Half-day vs full-day preschool: which should I pick?

The half-day program (roughly 9 am to 12:30 pm) is the actual preschool; the "full day" is preschool plus daycare hours stitched on. Choosing between them is...

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Age groups

Is preschool actually necessary before formal school in India?

Strictly necessary, no. Strongly advisable in today's India, yes, for reasons that are partly developmental and partly bluntly practical. The developmental...

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Choosing a school

What questions should I ask on a preschool visit?

A preschool tour is a sales meeting. Your job is to convert it into an inspection. Ask these, in roughly this order, and pay attention to how questions are...

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Admissions

How does nursery admission work in Delhi NCR? Points, dates and strategy

Delhi is the one place in India where getting a three-year-old into school resembles a competitive exam, except the exam is for the parents' paperwork. Here is...

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Fees & costs

What do preschools cost in Bengaluru, and which localities are priciest?

Bengaluru is India's densest preschool market, thousands of centres, every national chain, and a strong independent Montessori tradition, so prices span a huge...

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Want numbers instead of prose?

See the city-wise fee benchmarks for 15 cities, or take the interactive visit checklist on your next school tour.