School Admissions 2018 - Nursery Vs Montessori and Age Cut-off Criteria
So the time came, finally, for us to start thinking about "school admissions". The questions that were popping in our minds were something like -
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What is the difference between Nursery and Montessori ? Which one is better for us?
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What is Montessori I, Montessori II and Montessori III ?
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What is the right age to enter in LKG ?
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What is the age cut-off criteria of different schools ?
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Which is better - Nursery in mainstream schools or in a playschool ?
With so many questions in our minds, we began to search online and offline for answers. Below are answers relevant for Indian school admissions in 2018 -
What is the difference between Nursery and Montessori ? Which one is better ?
Nursery (pre-K.G.) has the traditional teaching methodology which we all are more used to. Its more teacher centric and has a more structured curriculum.
Montessori is a teaching pattern wherein children have access to many more teaching materials as compared to a traditional pre-primary class. The classrooms are more child-friendly. At the same time, there is a lack of structure as the learning is more child-centred which means children learn at their own pace without being pushed around. Montessori at pre-primary level consists of three classes - Montessori I, Montessori II and Montessori III which correspond to Nursery, LKG and UKG in traditional school terminology.
Now, to the question "which one is better" - it depends. Some parents think that the montessori method will suit their kid's needs well while some go on the traditional route. Some parents put their kids in montessori I and then later shift to LKG in a traditional school thinking that it might be difficult to get admission in traditional school after three years of montessori.
Note - In Bangalore, montessori term is used very loosely. Many montessori schools do not adhere strictly to the montessori methodology. So one would want to ascertain that the teachers are montessori trained and the school has a good amount of teaching material in place.
What is the right age to get admission in Nursery or LKG ? What is the cut-off criteria for age ?
Average age of kids in nursery is 3 years, in LKG 4 years and in UKG 5 years. Though this varies greatly for different schools because all schools have their own age cut-off criteria.
Many schools in Bangalore, specially ICSE schools, seem to follow this criteria - a child seeking admission in LKG should have completed 3 years 10 months as on 1st June of the academic session. Many other schools follow the 3 years 8 months criteria while few schools follow 3 years 6 months or 3 years 3 months or even 3 years too. Find the list of schools with their age criteria here.
Because of above mentioned cut-offs, sometimes parents couldn't get their kid admitted in a school of their choice. For example, a kid born in Oct./Nov. will be 4.8 years at the start of academic session of LKG, if he gets admitted in a school following the "3 years 10 months as on 1st June" criteria. This seems to worry a good number of parents (including me) because 4.8 years looks quite big an age to start in LKG. For such parents there are two different options -
- Find a school having a cut-off criteria favouring your child's age : So what if you could not get your kid admitted in a top branded school. You can always find some schools where the age cut-off allows your child to become eligible at right age. Put your kids in a less sought after school where they get admission more easily.
After all its not the school name that matters most but the school environment.
- Wait till your child is age eligible: If you are not able to find a suitable school where the cut-off criteria is in favour of your child, just wait for another year. So instead of putting your Oct./Nov. born kid at 3.8 years in LKG , put him at 4.8 years. Many parents do that. An year's delay will hardly make any negative effect on your child's development. On the contrary, it will have some benefits -
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The child will be more prepared mentally as well as physically to cope up with school work.
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The older child in a class will perform better in reading/writing etc. because of age advantage. This will be a good confidence booster.
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The older children in a class have lesser chances of being bullied.
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After all its not the age that matters but the intelligence and confidence.
Which is better - Nursery in mainstream schools or in a playschool ?
Nursery in a mainstream schools might be a bit high standard than playschool. In play schools, the environment is supposed to be more playful. The school timings will be around 3 hours in both the cases. Again, the choice depends on an individual. Some parents put their kids in a mainstream school in order to avoid the admission hassles later on (Getting admissions in Nursery is easier). While some parents take it easy and put their kids in playschol and then shift to a minstream school later on i.e., in LKG or UKG level.
More on School admission cut off limit
School admission cut off limit in Bangalore vs Gurgaon
School in Bangalore start during the 1st week of June while schools in Gurgaon start during 1st week of April. In Gurgaon, generally one can get admission for younger age also as compared to Bangalore.
My daughter is jan 26th,2012 born.the cut off age for UKG admission is 4yrs-6 mnths by june 2016.She is 2 months short.We are confused to put her in LKG or UKG.
My son's birth date is 09-12-2013. We are planning to put him in (Nursery/Montessori 1) this year. He will complete 2.6 yrs in June 2016. But some of them are telling put him in Pre-Nursery. So got confusing. Need you valuable suggestions. Thanks is Advance.
Iam from pondicherry. My daughter was born on 13th September 2013. As of now she is around 2.4 yrs old. What kind education should i start right now?..play school or nursery? Or stiil time is there... please advise..
In 2016-17 year plz rply
My son DOB is 6-11-2011, now hez studying in LKG, in a Montessori school, for next academic. I'm planning to admit him in a traditional school,CBSE. There the age criteria for UKG is 4.10 yrs. He'll be only ,4.8 yrs to June. Will They say I have to put him again in LKG. As he is only 4.8
What is the right age to get admission in nursery as my daughter's date of birth is 4th march 2013. I am ver confused. Please suggest.
My son is born on 29th March 2013, now he is 2.8years. I have not joined him to pre-nursery or nursery yet. So i am in dilemma whether should i join him to prenursery or nursery now and join him for LKG on 1st june 2016? Please advice me what is the proper steps to be taken.
Thanks and Regards,
Kishan
Need you help/suggestion regarding the admission to pre nursery for my daughter. When is the right time?
As now we are out of country and she is reading in junior infants.
Pls advise if I can admit my son to a branded school who is taking him for LKG. Contrary I also have another school which is as well branded in the same locality however are stating to take him for Pre-KG. Kindly advise what could be done.
My son's birth date is 18th June 2013. I want the suggestions, when I can put him to Nursery?
any suggestion please
We want to admit him in nursery in 2016-2017 session. Is it right to do so. Please reply soon.
Regards
naveen kumar
My son born on 4 August 2013.and jst completed his 2 years. Plz suggest me whether to put in in playschool dat r upto class 8th or further or the schools that r upto Lkg only.
So is it right time to put him on nusery for 2015-16 batch.
Plz suggest.
i would like to know about schools admission for UKG in and around jayanagar area , Bangalore
Thanks
We are staying in Noida and have son who is turning 6 years on 23-September 2015. I am working in IT firm and just back from US assignment. He finished his Pre-K from there and was to go KG. In US, he was a year late because my son birth is in September (cut-off age for KG: 5 years for kids born before 31-August). I have two queries: Please help.
1. Which class should I can put him in India to avoid loosing his years.
2. Please suggest decent schools for his grades.
Thanks in advance,
Mukesh
My son's birth date is 20th June 2013. I want the suggestions, when I can put him to Nursery?
Will I be able to get his admission to LKG by 2016?
Regards,
Jyothsan G.
What is the correct age for LKG?
My son is 2.6 years old and i put him play group, can you please sugeest is it a right age to put him play group. his born is 15 nov 2012. please reply. my mail id is rani_panwar@infosys.com
When is right age to join in nursery? either this 2015 or 2016?
My daughter is December 31, 2012 born. I intend to admit her to Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) for her schooling. as per the guidlines of KV a child can be admitted to 1st grade on completeion of 5years by 31st Mar of the academic year of admission. As per this she would be eligible for admission in 2018 (as she would be 5years 3 Months then). Now my doubt is will we be able to admit her to Nursery in this academic year (i.e. 2015). Going by your post it seems impossible. Pls suggest.
Regards,
Aryan
My daughter is 2011 july born. So she will be 3yrs 10 months by june 2015 I wanted to get her admission in bishop cotton girls school where cut off age is 4yrs so should I wait for 1 more year to get admissions there? I Feel 4.14.14yrs 10 months is big for lkg..Please suggest me on this
My son is born on 26th Aug 2012, was initially looking for nursery admissions in smaller schools like Euro kids etc , came across age criterion and how strict it is in schools in Bangalore. Son 2yrs 9months Jun 2015. I am planning to send him to play school/play group this academic year, he has not been to playschool before and apply for nursery in NPS/NHPS Indiranagar (as I stay within 1 km from both schools) in 2016-2017. Guess sending him to nursery the next year will ease pressure on him and prepare him more mentally and physically that school and studies pose. Is this the right decision? (at least keeping NHPS and NPS in mind)
My daughter is Oct 2011 born. Kindly suggest me should i get her admitted in nursery or LKG.
My daughter was born on 14th August 2013, can I take her admission for Play group & then next year he admission to KG
plz suggest
debasish.palchowdhury@yahoo.com
My daughter was born on 10th apr 2013, I am planning to put her in nursery icse board in 2016-2017. She would be 2 yr 11 months 21 days when icse board starts in apr.. would like to know if she would be eligible for admission in nursery for the yr 2016-2017? Kindly help
Is he eligible for ukg now?)
If i admit in Nursery next year, he will be 6 years 7 months during 1st standard admission. But i read something below. Is that ok ?
First Standard admission– Child must attain Minimum 5 years maximum age permitted is 6 years 6 months
She will be 3.3 years in June 2015. If I wait another year she will be 4.3, in June 2016. Please advice me .would be a great help
Thanks
Ranith
Is it ok to continuing her in LKG now as she recently entered LKG in 2015- 16
What is you suggestion?
sir / madam...
i think age for admission is must be above 3yrs of kid..
kyonki jindigi bhar padhai hee karni hai,, thoda kids ko bhi free mind jine do....
When is good time to start LKG, the Academic year 2016 - 2017 (3 years, 9 months, 25 days by june 2016) or will 2017 -2018 (4 years, 9 months, 25 days by june 2017) be too late to start LKG
My son is oct 2013 born. Should i put him in nursery next year 2015-2016 or oin 2016-2017. I am worried as he is not saying a single word now, will he be talking next year to go to nursery...
My son would be 3yrs 9 months on 1st June 2015. We are in dilemma in whether to put him in L KG now or next year
My child has completed 4 years in mar-2015(dob:mar-2011), can I admit in LKG.
thanks in advance
My son is December born, he will be 3.7 as on Jun,2015. He is going to Playgroup, when inquired in the about putting him on LKG, got school management response that, it is not wise to skip nursery, its not about age, but the portion of the curriculum is missed, as in LKG the expectation is kid know how to write alpha/number as they dont repeat this in LKG. Is't not the area of concern, other than worrying about age?
Please provide your comments on this particular aspect.
Thanks,
Raja.
I am staying in Hyderabad,My daughter is born on 12 may 2013.can you please advice me right age for my daughter Nursery Admission.
Thank you.
When should i get admission done for my child, as she born on 12th may 2013.please advice me
When should i get admission done for my child, as she born on 12th may 2013.please advice me
My daughter s born on 12-12-2012
As per norms for 1st STD will be 6yrs to be completed as on June 1st, my daughter will be 5.6 completion as on June 1st and she should not get any problem in her 10th STD.
Kindly suggest....
My Son was born 4 Nov 2012.I have tried for admission 2015 - 2016 academic year. Many schools are not ready to give admission due to less age. Suggest which is better option to wait for next year or try for this year.
- Should I let her do nursery from playschool (less fee and very near to home) and then try for LKG admission in next session in Noida.
OR
- Should I manage the high fee for one year and get her admitted to this Mainstream school in Delhi.
Will "nursery from playschool" impact negatively i.e. do schools in Noida (or in general) not prefer students from playschool?
We r not able to decide that we it him in play school or wait for tym till he turns 2.5 for getting admission in main school
I mean which is better option play school for completing mont or main school
Please advice how to proceed
We r not able to decide that we it him in play school or wait for tym till he turns 2.5 for getting admission in main school
I mean which is better option play school for completing mont or main school
Please advice how to proceed
or
He will be completing 3yrs 45 days on 1st June 2016.Still it is advisable to put him in Pre-kg /Montessori education for 2016-17.
Kindly advise me.
What would you suggest
My son was born on 13th Nov 2011, pls suggest if I can put him in Montessori I or to LKG. He will be 3.7 in June 2015.
Regards,
Prem
Hello
Our Child is born as on 5th Jun 2012 & would be complete 3 Yrs by Jun 15., Can be seek admissions for LKG this Jun 2015.
LKG : 3Yrs
UKG 4
1st 5
2 6
3 7
4 8
5 9
6 10
7 11
8 12
9 13
10 14
10th Completion 15
Regards
Ref. School Admissions., I am Highly Looped into on my Child Admissions into LKG but find the Cut-Off Dates Very Confusing & the Time Running Out.
Have Come Across Schools with Cut-Off Dates as 31st May, few as 31st June across CBSE & ICSE Schools, some are OK with my Kid Joining LKG & some Not.
Would my Kid face any issues during this 10th Exams & his Eamcet Exams considering the Age....
He is born on 26th Jun 12 & we wish to see the possibilities of putting him into LKG... Kindly Advice
3.9 years for LKG is not very early..many schools will take her. But if you want to put her at 4.9 years that is also fine. Many other schools take kids of that age. See the other post for age criteria of different schools - http://www.humfamily.com/schools/bangalore-schools-age-cut-off-criteria
I am not sure how it works in delhi, but I suppose there will be some schools who have a different age criteria than the standard mentioned above by you. If you want to put her next year only, you need to find out such schools. If there are no such schools, its better to put her this year only.
I am been informed, Kid should be min 5.5 Yr old before moving to 1 Std. so looking into same criteria my daughter will be short by a year .
So should i put her in Nursery afer play group. Won't it be late like 4 yr 2 month in 2016 to put her in LKG. Or shall we put her in Nursery in 2015 when she will be 3.2, then 2016 LKG ( 4.2)
UKG (5.2) and 1 STD in 2017 ( 6.2)
3.2 years is too early for LKG as per bangalore standard. There will be very few schools who will take her in LKG at 3.2 years or in 1st standard at 5.2 years . Its better you put her in nursery in 2015.
My son is born on 21st of October 2012. Currently he is 2.1 years and going to the play home. Could you please suggest when should we put him for nursery in a main stream school. Should we put him 2015-2016 academic year (He will be 2 years 7 months in June 1st, 2015) or should we wait for one more year i.e 2016-2017 academic year (He will be 3 years 7 months in June 1st, 2016). Please suggest. Waiting for your valuable reply
Thanks and regards,
Debasish
Both options are open to you and there will some pros and cons of both. If you put him in nursery in 2015-2016 academic year, he will be among the youngest in his class always and if you plan to transfer him in some big school later on , he might have to repeat a year because many schools have age cut-off criteria of greater than 5.8 years for grade 1, on June 1st of that academic year. If you put him in nursery in 2016-2017 academic year, he will be among the oldest in his class always which becomes an advantage most of the times.
Based on what I read on internet I would prefer to wait for one more year and put him to Nursery in June 2016, but my concern is is there any upper cut off for age in any/some of the schools?
We are actually thinking of trying NPS / Brigade / Vidya sagar / Vidyasheel. Pls reply if you know off any age cut off details.
Thanks