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.
Almost always required
- Birth certificate of the child (photocopy; carry the original for verification). This is the age proof every school insists on.
- Passport-size photographs of the child, typically 4 to 6 copies, plus 1 to 2 of each parent for pickup ID cards.
- Address proof: Aadhaar, passport, utility bill, or rent agreement. Schools use it for records and transport planning.
- Parent ID proof: Aadhaar or PAN of one or both parents.
- Filled admission form with emergency contacts and authorised-pickup names.
Commonly asked for
- Immunisation record: the vaccination card or a paediatrician's summary. Good schools genuinely check this; it protects every child in the class.
- Child's Aadhaar, if enrolled. Not legally mandatory for preschool, but many schools request it for their records; a birth certificate works where the child has no Aadhaar yet.
- Medical information sheet: allergies (food allergies especially), chronic conditions, medication, and your paediatrician's phone number. If the school does not ask for this, volunteer it, and note whether they care, because they should.
- Transfer note from a previous preschool if you are switching mid-year. Informal, but helps the new teacher.
For big-school nursery (Delhi NCR and similar)
Formal K-12 nursery admissions add more: proof of distance from school (points systems reward proximity), sibling's school ID if applying under the sibling quota, alumni proof if applicable, and category certificates for EWS/DG seats. Keep notarised copies; these processes are document-strict and deadline-strict.
What schools should NOT demand
- Original certificates to "hold" during the admission, never hand over originals.
- Donations or capitation fees. Receipts for every payment are your right; a school that resists giving one is telling you something.
- Any "interview" that tests a 2-year-old academically. Reputable preschools meet the child informally at most.
One tip
Make a single folder, physical and a phone scan, with everything above. You will reuse it for activity classes, the next school, and eventually Class 1 admission, where the same birth certificate and address proof come back with higher stakes.