When can a child start LKG?
I have had many queries about the age group for Kindergarten children here in Bangalore. Typically, each school has its own cut-off for when a child can start Kindergarten classes. On a broad scale, what I can say is that a child must be 4 to go to Lower Kindergarten, 5 to go to Upper Kindergarten, and 6 to go to First Standard.
The only thing is there are some schools that are extremely particular about their cut-off dates. For example, at Viday Sagar, the child MUST have completed 4 yrs as of May 31st, to start LKG on Jun 1st of any given year. But, there are lot of schools where they are not very particular and take in even 3 and 10 month olds into LKG. So, if you have a Jun born child, you do have to figure out how to go about the admission process; some of the schools may take in your child for LKG even if your child is completing 4 only in Jun and other schools may not.
In our case, our older one was born on Jun 1st ‘03. One of the reasons we moved in Oct ‘06 was to start her schooling here from Jun ‘07. The process in Bangalore is fairly long, what with schools giving out applications as early as Oct/Nov. Most of the schools are done with the admission process in Dec/Jan. And the important thing to know is, it is easier to get seats at LKG level than at any other. All of the seats are available, unlike for other standards when only a few seats are available for ‘outsiders’. A lot of the good schools also restrict the number of students per class, so unless some kids choose to leave school, typically there aren’t any seats available at higher classes. First Standard would be next bet, since some schools open up another section to accommodate more students. But from First Standard onwards, the kids have to go through aptitude tests etc to “qualify”. So, R2Iing for LKG seemed like a sane choice. Please do share your experiences if you have gone through something similar.
PS: I have been so flickred, it is unbelievable! I have avoided flickr for a long time, because I knew how addictive it could be for the likes of me. But, now with the DSLR, flickr is such a default hang out. Sheesh!
I have not been active here, but I will. I promise I will.
Filed under: kindergarten, schools, nursery, Children, R2I, Bangalore
Lovely pics
Ah..so we are in luck then. Our son is born in March, and by the time we return he would have just completed four years..:)
Awesome pics….starting to wonder what more talents you got.
t is a little strange in bangalore though. For instance in Chennai, you can enroll your kid in LKG when they are 3+ even in CBSE schools.
to Mahipal: Your kid can actually enroll in UKG if you were in Chennai
That said, the general impression all along is that in India kids study one grade higher for the same age compared to US and this is true in most cases except Bangalore. The anamoly arises because in some schools in Bangalore the cutoff date is actually sometime in November or December which makes little sense given that your school year starts in June. In California, the cutoff date is Dec 10th (or 1st) but the criteria is the kid must be 4 yrs and 9 months when the school starts (in Aug/Sep) to start Kindergarten that year. Remember US has only 1 year of kindergarten. It doesn’t translate quite as easily considering in India the school year starts in June. One way to argue for it would be to say that all kids born in the same calendar year would go to the same class but even that would not be true since kids born in December would be left out in the race.
As with any cutoff dates, some win some lose
S, thanks!
Mahipal, thanks! Like Vidya says this post is very Bangalore specific. I know you are planning on R2Iing to Hyd. And I am not aware of how it is there. But, I do know, Karnataka has by far some of the oldest kids for any particular class in India.
Thanks Vidya for your inputs.
PS: I have added another para to the post.
hey i just came here via another mommy blog! i live in blore too and have a 4 year old and a 2 year old. and while i didnt R2I (i was here all along!), i did plenty of research on the stuff you write about too - mainly schools of course.
will be gald to share info…
d
Ah, so that’s where you’ve been ! Lovely pictures ! Malleswaram ? Awesome my most favorite area, the part that’s still the Bangalore I know/remember.
BTW you’ve been tagged as a Thinking Blogger by me ! So stop taking pictures and come write
My kids got into Std 2 and pre-nursery. Most schools had closed their admission in NOvember and December but when we spoke to them and mentioned that we arrived in May, they were more than willing to accomodate us and give my son a test. It was extremely simple. He did not know the language part( I was looking at a non-international school), but they were willing to over look that. My son did great on all his aptitude tests and I picked an ICSE school close to home. The only thing is we didn’t have more time to see more schools since opening date was getting very close. If you have no choice and you cannot be here in NOv/Dec,a lot of schools are still willing to give your kids a chance to take a test. All the tests seemed quite easy for their level. I was shown the tests once he finished them.
As for the language, with some help my son writes and reads Kannada now. He starts Hindi in school in std 3. Overall it was not so difficult as I thought it would be. so far so good!!
That’s a nice post. Something to think about and be prepared.
Can you write about comparison of CBSE, ICSE and State Syllabus schools? I studied state syllabus and know only about that. During my school days, CBSE kids were seen as smart kids and I think the fees for CBSE/ICSE was also more.
Great pictures !
Not really sure, but checkout: Jones Soda 7 if you want to partcipate in the little picture promotion thingy they have.
Keep Flickering and Blogging !
Welcome to my blog, D. Sure, you are welcome to share your info and research. Thanks for your interest.
Thanks Poppins! You think I am a thinking blogger!!! Thanks! Sure, will write.
Yadu, I am so glad things worked out so well for you. Helps immensely in settling down post R2I.
The reason I mentioned about Oct is ‘coz then we have the choice. Some of the popular schools do not bend the rules.
Thanks Nags, I have been thinking about the syllabus differentiation too.
Pallavee, welcome to my blog. Thanks! Sure will check it out.
Hi very useful post as usual. With all this struggle for good schools, cut off dates, lateral entry and what not - I am so glad I do not have small kids now!
Don’t understand half of these things. Are parents planning their kids’ birth keeping in mind the academic requirements? (lol)
Beautiful Pictures on Flickr!!
keep posting.
wow. this is great info - we will most be r2i-ing to bangalore in oct! have a 7 yr old and a 2 yr old. fingers crossed re schools!
wondering if i can home-school my 7 yr old till from oct to next june. basically if she isnt allowed to enter a school mid-session in october but given admission for the next academic year, i would prefer not to admit her in a 2nd school just for the few months in between.
do you have any idea how open schools in bangalore would be to home-schooling? i know its fine in schools in other places (like singapore for instance).
thanks in advance.
I am sure this is a useful post. When I (rather my son) was at that stage, we were in Hyderabad. But it’s tragic that in India lower education is inaccessible and much more expensive than higher education.
Hey you, you’re tagged
hey u have great shots in your flicker and thank you for this useful and informative post.
Thanks for penning down your experiences. Very informative. Saw you on flickr (u’ve a great collection). Will keep visiting your blog and you photo stream.
~Nalini.
Thanks Usha! For your last question, anything is possible now.
Hirisave, thanks! ‘Coz it is especially coming from you!
namvor, all the best! It is not too bad. But, if you are particular about the schools, then just work towards that.
As for home-schooling, I have not heard of that here. I don’t know if the schools would be willing to consider that option. Would you want me to call and check?
Pradeep, thanks! What you say is true like always!
SS, alright!
Nanditha, welcome to my blog. Thanks!
Nalini, welcome to my blog. Thanks for your kind words! I have marked on flickr too.
hi chitra,
thanks for offering to find out. after i wrote that comment i called couple of schools in bangalore but they didnt seem to be very aware of the concept (as you’d indicated). they did say we could work on it once we landed there and if we were mutually interested, which iguess is fair. if you come across anything relevant meanwhile please let me know.
thanks a lot again.
(will e-mail and share my id)
I too am R2Iing to Bangalore by the end of March, 08.I have a 4 year old and she will be 4 yrs and 8 months by May end.I am looking for a ISCE syllabus school in North B’lore area as I am put up in Vidyaranyapuram .
Seriously seeking advice and guidance on good schools in that area, admission process and cutoff dates.If anyone can post some info or lead me to a good info site..would help me a lot..
Thanks in advance !
Hi,
My son is going to start LKG in India in June. He goes to a Montessori here in the US. Can you tell us what all is taught in nursery in Bangalore. Specifically if they need to know addition, subtration, how much of counting is required,what spellings he should know and how much of science etc is required?
Thanks in advance
That was very useful info Chitra. Thanks a lot !
I have a 15mon son, and am yet deciding on a date to relocate.. I heard on the grapevine that most of the popular schools (like Kumarans or DPS) are making it kinda compulsory that the kids must have a 2-yr Montessori… my son is in a good daycare here, but am not sure if they give any kind of certificates ! Do you have any info on this ?
That was very useful! Thanks Chitra!
I have a 15mon kid.. and am still deciding on a date to relocate.. I heard that the so-called popular schools(like Kumarans or DPS) kinda emphasize on a “mandatory” Montessori pre-schooling.. my son’s with KinderCare here, but am not sure he’ll be given any kind of certification on that! Any info, if you’ve heard abt that?
Oops ! sorry for the double posts
Stunning photographs!
previous post meant for the ones of flickr
Hi Chitra,
I am new to blogs and am not sure whether i am typing in my question at the correct place in your blog. I just saw your blog and understood that you are the best person to answer my queries. I am currently in Ohio and gave birth to my second son here 4 months back. We may return back to india anytime. What will be his future in india? I read in all sites that if he gets PIO card, then he will be treated as an NRI. How is the education system for a NRI status? Will there be so much of fees? Will it be difficult to get admission in schools and colleges? Will he have problems when he is grown up? Indian consulate has a process of registering the birth so that he will be indian citizen. Is it worth doing it? We have already applied for US passport. I am in a big confusion, as we didn’t think about all these earlier. Please help me.
Regards
Shanthi
Hi Shanthi,
Congrats on your second kid!!! Dont panic….Your kid(s) though born in US will be treated as other Indian born kids in the school when it comes to admission, fees, treatment, etc….There will be no special fees like NRI quota or anything. Once you get a PIO card and go to India, you US born kids will be treated the same as other kids there. Once he or she attains 18 years, then comes the time to make big decision, whether he/she would like to be Indians or Americans. Until then they are treated as Indians. Coming to getting admission in schools, all it matters is the kid’s age. If you satisfy the schools requirements of cutoff date for admission, you get a seat (though fees vary from school to school). To your another point, there is no policy in India to get citizenship for US born kids until they are 18 years.
Hi Chitra
talk about panicky preschool mums and I’m right there! I checked out Akshara for my 3 and a half yr old and really liked it. But it bugs me that they are not affiliated to a particular syllabus like ICSE etc. The prospect of them taking up the NOS syllabus is also scaring me cz what if we’re transferred out of Bangalore. I’m not sure OS will have any value. I don’t want my kiddo 2 go to a high pressure ”mugging lessons” school either.Kya kare?!
so interesting
Hi Chitra,
I have a daughter who was born in December 2005. She is being taken only for Pre nursery. Today families being mobile, if we relocate to other places like Chennai, She would be too old in the class she joins. Do you know why the Karnataka government has 6 years as the age of admission to the first standard when the CBSE board admits at age 5+ itself? Here is an article in the Hindu where the chairman of the CBSE board has requested the schools to set the age in Karnataka to 5+. Do you know if anything has progressed in this front? Is there anything we as citizens can do about this?
http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/10/stories/2008021055340500.htm
Sorry, My daughter is being taken for Pre-KG, i mistakenly typed Pre-nursery. I want her to go to LKG since she would be 3.5 years old in june 2009.
We are trying to get LKG (ICSE) admission for our daughter.
She will be 3 years 6 months as on June 2009
However the School has set 3 years 10 months as the age limit.
In case if we still managed to get a seat,
What will be the impact of overlooking this 4 months gap w.r.t.
1. Coping with her friends in her Class (majority of them could be elder to her).
2. Coping with ICSE Syllabus being 4 months under aged than prescribed.
As of now she has attended Montessori for 1 year
I dont mind getting her admitted to 2010-2011 academic year if that is the appropriate age for LKG ICSE Syllabus.
Most of the good schools insisted on completing 3 years 10 months.
What age is appropriate for LKG ICSE Syllabus.
By next admission that is for 2010-2011 she will be 4 years 6 months as on June 2010 for LKG
Kindly post a brief regarding this.
Thanks and Regards
It’s the same in Hyderabad as well. What is more exasperating is that there’s no standard amongst schools regarding the age for admission in LKG. Bhavan’s allows a 3 year kid to get into LKG whereas most CBSE schools want them to be at least 3 yrs and 9 months. I settled in Hyderabad in 2002, but never bothered to inquire about schools. Can someone tell me the good schools in Secunderabad/Hyderabad (CBSE and ICSE)? I studied from DAV Ranchi and I must tell you that it’s better than any school here in Hyderabad! Ranchi has some really good schools. I’m getting worried about the education of my son… after visiting these schools.
Hi, Thansk for information on Vidyaship, vidyasagar, vidyaniketan schools can you specify that is these schools are having different sections or class rooms for girls and boys.
I am really sorry, but I dont seem to be able toreply to all comments here.
Lokesh, if I were you, I would not have her with older kids. I would only go for a class where her age limit is within the school’s requisite.
Suresh, please visit http://zeeksha.com for more information about schools in Hyderabad.
Yamuna, Nope no separate class for girls and boys in these schools. But I am curious - why do you ask?
My daughter is now having 3 years and 5 months.last year she was in play group. so I want to know that how many years wants to put in LKG admission for CBSE, ICSE and other syllabus studies. I am confused about somebodies saying 3.10 years wants to put in LKG.Please give me a suggession for my daughters admission
Hi all,
Any one from Bangalore know, what i sthe age limit for a kid to join in First standard. This is becasue my son completes only 2 yrs 9 mnths by this June
Pradeep
Before that - the kids have to go through UKG/LKG or the Montessori stream (M0/M1/M2). Getting admissions at this stage is a lot easier than getting into 1st grade.
Good luck.
-Ganapathy
could any one help me to know the minimum age for admission to LKG in icse schools?
Hi All,
I was just looking out on the discussion and thought may be I can give little info about the research I had done on Bangalore Schools. My daughter is May born and 4 years old and she is in LKG studying in the CBSE Syllabus. See normally you have good schools even in State / CBSE/ ICSE Boards. for ex State board schools like Poorna Pragna take only 3 year completed kids for there pre-KG. so that makes 6 years for the 1st standard. But what I recognised is that even ICSE / CBSE schools r also asking for the same or +- 3.6 years.
Regarding the syllabus, I found CBSE syllabus to be the best. State board is average , but if you go to Good state board schools the methodology is good bcoz I myself is from a very good reputed state board schools and have fared well in my Engg and am presently working as a Techie in a reputed firm in Bangalore. I had the previlege to teach students of ICSE and CBSE students. one thing I noticed is ICSE syllabus is more into the theory and is a burden for that age. However comparitively I found CBSE better and has more practical approach. I feel CBSE kids have more problem solving skills.
Regards,
jyothi
Interesting topics and discussion abt the schools. Thanks for Info.
need some info from experienced parents
What is the eligiblity creteria for the kids to get admitted in LKG? Is Play schooling and Nursery education mandatory for the admission??
Please share your experience
Hi All,
My son is now 2.3 yrs old .I have enrolled him in Eurokids- Hyderabad.
Next year , we r relocating to Blore.
Can anybody plz let me know the minimum age for LKG admission in CBSE schools?
Hi,
We are planning to relocate to B’lore from NJ by the end of July. I have a daughter who will turn eight this August. We do have an idea of settling down somewhere near Sarjapur Road. I would like to know info abt CBSE schools in B’lore.
1. Will she be joining 3rd std?
2. Is there any slight chance of getting an admission in good schools at this time of the yr?
3. When do they start second languauge?
4. Is there any good montessori for my 2 and half yr old son? (Oct born)
Thx.
In bangalore, I believe the minimum age for joing LKG is 3 ys 10 months. But would schools agree to admit a child to LKG who would be a year more? What are the implications of child joining school a year more than recommended?
Dear Archana,
Good to know that you are re-locating to Bangalore from Hyd. According to my research in Major Bangalore Schools, the cut-off age for LKG CBSE is 3.6 years. Please let us know the area in Bangalore u r re-locating so that we can suggest good school in that particular area. As far as syllabus is considered the main things that is taught in LKG-CBSE which my daughter is learning is A-Z Capital Letters, Numbers 1-100 Writing and converse, along with counting the numbers, lots of colouring and craft activities to increase the gross motor skills, Lots of Rhymes, Story Telling, Picture Talk, Moral Science , Parts of the body etc……
If anyone wants to know the detailed syllabus, contact me back….
Dear Jyothi,
Could you please give me the name of the school(CBSE) where 3.6 yr kid are admitted for LKG….my daughter is turning 3 this month and she will be 3.7 in june so i am looking for the schools..
Thanx in advance
Seema
hi,
my kid is into pre-nursery now and he was 2.3 while he was enrolled into pre-nursery.the teachers said that he is only 3 months short as the age for joining in pre-nursery in cbse was 2.6.In this june,he will go to LKG and he will be 3.3 then.i just wanted to know whether there will be any problems for him when he is studying 10th std.
hi,
sorry, my kid is into pre-kg now and he was 2.3 while he was enrolled into pre-kg.The teachers said that he is only 3 months short as the age for joining in pre-kg in cbse was 2.6.In this june,he will go to LKG and he will be 3.3 then.i just wanted to know whether there will be any problems for him when he is studying 10th std in bangalore. Our native is chennai.i also wanted to know whether should we experience the same problem in chennai also.
My son was born on march 19 2007. He is 2.8 now and he is studying pre-kg in AECS Magnolia Maaruthi Public School(CBSE), Arekere, Bangalore.While admitting him in pre-kg,they said that he is only 3 months short (for the 2.6 age criteria for pre-kg in CBSE syllabus)On june 2010,he will be 3.3 and will be going to LKG.I just wanted to know whether he continues like this,i.e.,(LKG starts at-3.3,Ukg-4.3,Ist Std-5.3,……10th Std-14.2,11th Std-15.2,12th Std-16.2),will he be eligible to write his board exams?By the time he is writing his 12th exams on march 2023,he will be completing his 12th std.Is 17+ eligible to apply for medical,engineering,IIT’s,law.e.t.c.
Karthika, if I were you, I would make sure my child was at least 4 when starting LKG. I am personally just not for my child being the youngest in class.
Since your son is March born, he is perfect for LKG in 2011. IMHO.
Folks, I havent been able to reply to a lot of the comments here. I am sorry. Please also use the forums at zeeksha.com for your school queries.
i think its a bit too early to start kg….. it might help if u wait a yr..as the kid has to be atleast 15 to appear for the 10th boards
hi karthika
my daughter is also studying in aecs maruthi magnolia arekere.she is in lkg now .she was born on march 5 2006. she was 3.3 when she joined LKG.that puts me & u in the same dilemma. when she goes to 1STD she will b 5.3 only………
is the age criteria same for cbse & icse syllabus. can anyone clarify?
Hi Chithra, My daughter is Dec 2005 born. We are thinking of getting back to India by next academic year. June 2011. Which grade will she be admitted to at that time? I am so confused!!!
Please do let me know when you get a chance.
my daughter is born on 19/11/2005. now she is in LKG - hyderabad. learning A-Z and a-z cursive, 1-100, spelling of 1-20, an, am, it , to. up etc + rhymes, stories etc.She is catching up.. No issue.
Can anyone guide me which school(CBSE) in bangalore gives admission to UKG in 2010june
Is it too late now.
If so , can I try for std1. in year 2011. When i should start.
Thanks in advance
What is the age crieteria for 1st std? Any one can help me out!!
thanks; arock
i am looking for LKG admision for my son, can any help on the schools information in North Banaglore
it is good school. pleas keep some more photos
We are trying to get UKG (ICSE) admission for our daughter.
She will be 4 years 7 months as on June 2012
However the School has set 4 years 10 months as the age limit.
In case if we still managed to get a seat,
What will be the impact of overlooking this 3 months gap w.r.t.
Thanks and Regards
Vijay