Gaia Preschool and Childcare Center

Posted on March 24th, 2008 by Chitra

The Gaia Preschool and Childcare Center is in RT Nagar in Bangalore. Gaia means Earth Mother in Greek. This preschool adapts and integrates the philosophy and principles of Reggio Emilia, Montessori, and Khel-Katha™ - an ancient Indian technique of learning through storytelling and games.

Gaia Preschol

Gaia Preschool: Image Courtesy: Gaia Website

I have spoken to parents whose children go to Gaia. And what I have always noticed is how happy the parents are with the school. They rave about the school’s approach to teaching young children, about the campus, it’s teachers, and most of all their own satisfaction. They are happy that the kids are eager to go to school and stay there.

The school is for kids till 6 years old. And the grouping is as follows:

  1. Toddler - From 1 year and 6 months
  2. K1 - From 2 years and 10 months
  3. K2 - From 3 years and 10 months
  4. K3 - From 4 years and 10 months

After the completion of the program at Gaia, one must look for admissions to first standard in other mainstream schools.

The Gaia website says, “Gaia strongly believes that young children learn effortlessly when presented with the right material and information at the right time. The curriculum has been designed to make children feel triumphant and confident. Children who complete Gaia’s three-year programme also work with over 20 creative and innovative workbooks/sheets that supports and enhances the learning process. From the age of two, children are exposed to a wide selection of music and musical instruments from all over the world. Carnatic music forms a part of the Gaia curriculum for the whole school and develops mathematical function. Gaia has an extensive borrowing library of appropriately selected books to develop the reading habit and has adopted a daily D.E.A.R. time (Drop Everything And Read) to encourage children to become independent readers.

Using Reggio’s approach, Gaia continuously restructures physical space. Classrooms are bright and cheerful with natural light and fresh air circulates through every window. The spacious and airy courtyard incorporates art, collage, 3D construction, a romp and roll gym, carpentry, water play, sandpit, block play, a place for dance, yoga, movement concerts and lunch. Gaia shares an empathetic connection with CUPA - an organisation committed to the rehabilitation of animals thereby allowing children to see and understand this process first-hand.”

Gaia’s term starts from June and ends in May. Gaia is closed for three weeks in a year.

Programme Options for Preschool and Childcare

  1. Long Term - 12 monthly
  2. Short Term – 3 monthly
  3. Daily – per day
  1. Long Term: - registration fee + material and maintenance fee (M&M) + tuition fee
  • Option A : 8.30 am to 12 noon up to 2.6 yrs only (includes breakfast)
  • Option B: 8.30 am to 3 pm extended preschool (includes breakfast)
  • Option C: 8.30 am to 5.30 pm preschool plus childcare (includes breakfast and afternoon snack). I called the school to get an idea of what the tuition fee for this option would be and I was told it was around Rs. 75, 000/-.
  1. Short Term: - registration fee + M&M fee + tuition fee
  • Timings – 8.30 am to 3 pm extended preschool (includes breakfast). The tuition fee for this option would be around Rs. 25, 000/-.
  1. Daily - M&M fee + tuition fee
  • Timings – 8.30 am to 5.30 pm preschool plus childcare (includes breakfast and afternoon snack)

Contact Details

Address and Location Link:

384, 4th Main, 2nd Block
RT Nagar, Bangalore - 50032

Tel:

Administrator: 9341936039 or 32405263/64 - Call Gaia’s administrator on weekdays between 2 and 5 pm to check if seats are available or to make an appointment. You can also call to get a guided tour of the school.

Finance: +91 - 9341936037

School: +91 80 32405263/64

Programme Coordinator: +91 - 9986278802

Email : info@gaiapreschool.com
Website: http://www.gaiapreschool.com

Filed under: RT Nagar, childcare, Gaia, Bangalore North, Reggio Emilia, parents, Khel-Katha, Montessori, Gaia Preschool and Childcare Center, Bangalore living, nursery, Children, Bangalore, pre-school, preschool, bangalore schools, schools, school, Uncategorized


Previous post Next post

29 Responses to “Gaia Preschool and Childcare Center”

  1. Chitra Aiyer | Gaia Preschool and Childcare Center, on March 24th, 2008 at 3:31 pm Said:

    […] Read more here. […]

  2. Nirupama, on March 24th, 2008 at 5:45 pm Said:

    Hi Chitra,

    I have been a visitor to your blog for the past few months. I love your posts - very informative.

    It’s a great resource for someone like me looking to R2 Bangalore in the next few months.

    I was reading your post about Gaia preschool. I have 2 daughters - 3 and 1 and am looking for a place like this. But my husband’s office will be in whitefield and we are thinking of living in sarjapur road - ORR road area.

    Are you aware of any good montessori/childcare schools in that area similar to Gaia? Any input will be welcome.

  3. Pradeep, on March 24th, 2008 at 6:16 pm Said:

    What’s remarkable is how specialised pre-school has become; how carefully teachers plan a child’s development, especially emotional.

  4. Joanna, on March 25th, 2008 at 3:57 am Said:

    Hi Chitra,

    We tried emailing you, but the mail bounced.

    We ( www.chillibreeze.com ) recently noticed your blog topics on Schools in Bangalore – very helpful! Chillibreeze would love to have you in our network and write ebooks or presentations targeted to returning Indians and or expats. Your way of casually writing and getting feedback and sharing what you have learned from others is ideal for getting good information out.

    I am an expat from USA and went through a search for schools. You can read some of my articles at: http://www.chillibreeze.com/articles/ExpatMom.asp because there was so much interest Chillibreeze started a FREE newsletter called Bangalore Breeze http://www.chillibreeze.com/expat/NL-8.html - We have had a variety of ladies anchor the Newsletter and it is a great service to the community and those thinking of returning to India or the expat.

    Do let us know if you are interested in being part of our network and what ideas you might have.

    Joanna (you can contact us through our form so we can get your email id :-)

  5. Which Main? What Cross?, on March 25th, 2008 at 8:35 am Said:

    Interesting idea. However won’t everything you learn here be lost once the child enters a regular school ?

  6. Chitra, on March 25th, 2008 at 4:19 pm Said:

    Hi Nirupama, I know that Neev is spoken of very well also and is in Whitefield. I do not know of any on ORR and on Sarjapur road. But you do have very good schools in that neighborhood that have pre-K and Kindergarten.

    Yes Pradeep, you are right. And I think it is for the better. The pre-1st standard education is extremely important, IMO.

    Thanks Joanna. Will take a look and let you know. :)

    Which Main What Cross, these days, “regular” schools are very varied and offer a wide variety in the way kids are taught. There are many non-traditional, new-age schools that cater to kids of parents who desire for a more one-on-one kind of interaction for their children with the teachers. The student to teacher ratio is considerably lower than before and the teaching methods are newer and different. :)

  7. Sivabalan, on March 26th, 2008 at 8:40 am Said:

    Which Main? What Cross?, & Chitra
    A very important point has been brough up here about “losing learning”
    Indeed I have been caught in this aspect for last 2 weeks and stuck.
    I went to visit Gaia last week. I was fascinated. Thats a wonderful place for play & learn. Everything (place, people, facilitios) is great over there. I would also go further and state there meight no or 1or2 preschools like that in Bangalore. If I rate them 10, the next best I saw was 6.

    Chitra, as u mentioned in your blogs, this is absolutely a place to rave and feel happy about it.

    But then my concern was that how long should I put him here?

    Because bangalore schools actually start at differnt levels. Some from playschool, some from PreKG, others LKG and rest form 1st Std.

    So this brings in a dilemmas as to how long the kid stays in a play school like Gaia. I personally felt that it would have been good for my kid to stay here till the upper level, then move to a school for 1st std.

    So the dilemma I was caught in, was that the potential school I was looking at starts from PreKG. Which means If I try for 1st Std at that school, I have lesser chance.

    Besides I dont have much choice either , because I have zeroed in on CBSE and ruled out ICSE. If I have to put my kid at a montessori till UKG, then I should be open for a ICSE school as well.

    So IMHO, parents should frist decide on what board and school they want thier kid to go to. And then decide on the play school.

    And if someone wants to send thier kids to montessoru, please be aware that longer the kids spends thier time in montessori better the benefit (2.5 to 6 yrs). If you have to pull them out of a montessori/montessori based environemnt makes sure you follow montessori method at home ( check out IMC site)

    With all my hear and soul I want to send my kid to Gaia. But then the target school for kid starts admission at PreKG. Hence I have to pull him out next year. So I setlled for the another one which is not upto Gaia, but good.

  8. Vinutha, on April 16th, 2008 at 9:59 am Said:

    Hi Sivabalan,

    Even i was looking at gaia pre-school. But same issues as you are facing, so i was think ign of putting my daughter in some other per-school, Can you suggest soem other pre-schools other then gaia.

    Regards
    VInutha

  9. Sivabalan, on April 21st, 2008 at 9:44 am Said:

    Vinutha (Sorry the delay..was on a long vacation)
    I have admitted by son to Fun’n'Learn. This is situated near AMC in sultanplaya. IMHP this is good.
    Other options available near RT nagar are not so good. (I have heard that there is one good one near BDA complex, havent checked out)

    Ofcourse vidyasagar is there, but closed.
    CherryTree and on Cunningham road are good places.. Again closed for admission.

    When are you going to admit your kid?

  10. Vinutha, on April 29th, 2008 at 3:24 am Said:

    I was planning to put her to pre-school this june. All that you have mentioned are pretty far for me, I stay in malleshwaram. Gaia the seats are full. But some how I felt the person with whom I have been i n contact in Gaia was not friendly and was also not intersted in telling anything about Gaia, which kind of put me in a deliemma.

    I found Neev is opening in Sadhashivnagar, but pretty expesnive..

    Need to look out for more.

  11. Sivabalan, on April 30th, 2008 at 5:22 am Said:

    Vinutha

    During my exploration phase, I had visitecd Gaia in person. The contact person was so friendly and I found that the total environment was good (incl all staffs). It may be the tele - converstaiton that would have given a differnt impression.

    Am sorry I dont know any pre-school in Sadashivanagar. How about Buddhi (http://www.buddhischool.com/). I havent visited this place, but checked out the website.

    Btw, Gaia too would be too far for u, isnt it?

  12. Vinutha, on May 6th, 2008 at 4:44 am Said:

    As you said, it may be true. My husband recently visited to register my daughter there, so that if any vacancies come up.. He had a good opinion. First time i had meet them personally.

    Buddhi school, seems to have a strict cut off age, My daughter would be loosing one year just by 8 days. But anyways I will check out that school..

    Yeah! Ofcourse Gaia too is far, but there are no good ones near.

  13. Archaana, on June 6th, 2008 at 11:41 am Said:

    Dear Sivabalan,

    I totally agree with you for Gaia. However, admissions are closed.

    Where have you enrolled your kid? My son is december born and i get to hear from everybody that he is going to lose 6 months anyway..so can be enrolled next year also…

    Let me know about any other preschools..I have visited Eurokids and found OK. Also Foundations which is close to BDA is good however short of place and good ventilation.

  14. Sivabalan, on June 7th, 2008 at 1:43 pm Said:

    Archanna

    My kid started going to Fun&Learn ( near AMC-Sultanpalya) from last week ( pre school).

    IMHO Foundation is small & I personally feel that kids should have a good environment ( something like Gaia)

    Another option is Bright Kid MOnts. But I would prefer Fnu&Learn over it on various points.

    Or you can consider First steps or Cherry Tree off cunningham road.

  15. Lakshmi, on June 23rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm Said:

    Thanks for the info Chitra. Can you tell me if Gaia is close to Malleswaram? If not, do you know of any good ones in Malleswaram? I am looking for pre-shcool and extended day care for my 2 1/2 year old son.
    I really appreciate the time and interest you have taken to post information on your website.
    - Lakshmi

  16. Anu, on July 6th, 2008 at 5:05 pm Said:

    Hi Chitra,
    I have a 7 year old daughter who is in Grade 2 now. I am not happy with the current school that she goes to. Could you please suggest a school in and around RT Ngr . She is a slightly hyper active child with a little attention Deficit.

    Please could you suggest an alternate school that will address her specific needs

  17. Srini, on September 4th, 2008 at 11:27 am Said:

    Gaia is not really so good as people think, it has changed. You will find what kind of treatment is given to different kinds of kids there.

  18. Swaminathan, on September 15th, 2008 at 9:45 am Said:

    Srini,

    Can u elaborate. We are in the process of deciding on the pre-school.
    Thanks for the advice
    k

  19. nivedita, on September 23rd, 2008 at 4:50 am Said:

    well Chitra, I went to Gaia and realised that it is not only gaia but also bita “gaya-bita”……..there is no curriculum, the kids are wild, teachers keep changing everynow and then………………and the management is the worst…………….saw a woman named Indu………..looks like “cruella”……….is very harsh with kids….she letz the toddlers scream and cry just to make sure that their lungs get stronger……………the course structure is pathetic to be precise….kids of 4-5 yr old don’t even know to write their names…………the only USP of the school is that there are few foreigners who have a bitter tongue…………..i would never send my kid to such a school who pretend to be nice infront of parents!

  20. swati, on September 23rd, 2008 at 4:58 am Said:

    hey nivedita,

    u r absly right…..even i thot Gaia would be grt for my 3 yr old daughter but when i went to see it with my hubby….i found all the teachers and staff with a plastic smile…………i then decided to stay for the day and found that there are some kids with mild PDD but the staff refuses to agree, i mean they shd be given sum special care but no, only those kids who r smart and outspoken will benifit in Gaia, others will just be treated as lambs.
    i realised one thing, u can’t expect the best even if u pay more……..it looks very artificial to me.

  21. Chitra, on September 23rd, 2008 at 8:00 am Said:

    Thanks Sivabalan for answering Vinutha’s and Archanaa’s queries. :) If you can elaborate your experience with Fun & Learn, that maybe of help to our readers. :)

    Lakshmi, Gaia is about 4-5 kms from Malleswaram 18th crs.

    Anu, I am sorry but I wouldnt really know what would fit well for your child.

    Thanks Srini, Nivedita, Swati for your comments. I am sure they will help the others who are looking at Gaia. I had only heard raving reviews. And have no personal exprience with the school. Thanks for writing to us here.

  22. Bala, on September 25th, 2008 at 6:22 am Said:

    It is true ……..it is arificial, plastic smile, staff is bad, there is descrimination. It is run according to ones will and wish, no transparency. They never encourage your negetive feedback. There are few good things about this school initially, but overall more bad things takes over if you observe for a long time. You need to pay for all year at the start and bear if it is good or bad after.

    Swamynathan, I do not suggest Gaia personally, the tender years are important for a child….you checkit…

  23. nivedita, on October 2nd, 2008 at 5:53 am Said:

    i agree with all the abv all things …..the kidz are given treatment like lams and the whole things is very negetive…. they put an artificial talk and smiles and full of descrimination ……..the parents and foreigners who are giving raving and ranting reviews are useless …….i mean they don’t know much about indian preschools and how they shd be…..they go there because fees is not so highlike others similar type school…… my own child write her name at three and half years and he overall gets more hand-writing practise….. much better than what gaia curriculum offers …checkit

  24. neelam, on October 4th, 2008 at 12:57 pm Said:

    i went to pupil tree, benton town today, found it good, hey parents, can u tell me more abt it incase ur kids have been there?

  25. avantina, on October 4th, 2008 at 2:13 pm Said:

    i am still searching for a good playskool in an arounf R T Nagar, didn’t like Gaia at all, almost all kids have running nose, being in school for the whole day without shoes/socks didn’t seem a good idea, plus there is something really very artificial abt that skool. please help me parents, Neev is very costly………

  26. Anita, on October 6th, 2008 at 1:43 pm Said:

    I went to gaia pre-school last week to enroll my child for Oct but they are completely full with many children on wait-list.

    I have registered my son for June 2009 as there are no more seats available for 2008. He will be 2yrs 4mths in June but I am prepared to wait till the next session in 2009. Maybe they will confirm by Feb 2009. There have fixed seats for each class and they follow good ratio.

    I spent full day and met many parents and staff of gaia pre-school and the atmosphere is superb and program is excellent. Children and parents are very happy and friendly. Mostly I liked the mixture of children coming from different parts of the world.

  27. megha, on October 11th, 2008 at 12:09 am Said:

    ha anita, so u fell for Gaia’s bait even after reading these reviews…………….i wd just wish and ur kid goodluck…………..

  28. Rashi, on November 13th, 2008 at 8:44 am Said:

    Hi all, the above was a great read. I have also recentely moved to Malleshwaram in bangalore and have been pre school hunting. The above is of great help. What are reviews on Euro Kids and Kidzee?
    Also I recenbtely visited another new play school on Montessori pattern names as teh Earth School it is in St thomas town near RT nagar. It is new one must check it.
    Chitra,
    I have another concen I am a full time working mother my 2 year daughter comes from play school at 12 and after a nap needs more activity. Are there any play groups etc….

  29. Shashi, on November 21st, 2008 at 8:12 am Said:

    Hi All,

    Am looking for a pre-nursery or a playhome for my daughter who will be completing her 2nd year in march in and around mathikere and malleshwaram area. Please suggest some of the good ones…………

Leave a Reply

Previous post Next post

  • Ads