by Sonali Rai
Published On : 7 Dec | 6 min Read
Nursery Admission is one of the most significant milestones in a child’s life. This is the foundation of their academic life. As parents and preschools gear up for the upcoming academic year 2026-27, it is important to understand the age criteria for nursery admission. In this blog, we will talk about the standard age criteria for admission in India and understand why admission at the right age sets the child up for a successful transition to formal schools.
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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1. What is the minimum age for nursery admission according to NEP? |
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2. Why Nursery Admission has an Age Criteria |
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3. Nursery (Pre-school): Bridging Early Learning and Formal Education |
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4. Admission Process and Considerations |
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5. Setting the Stage for Academic Success |
According to the National Educational Policy, schools are to introduce the 5+3+3+4 structure, replacing the old 10+2 system of classes that they had earlier. This sets a bar to the age limit for nursery admission.
Preschool/Nursery admission age starts at 3 years, as per the recommendations of NEP.
At age 3, children become cognitively ready for play-based learning. Therefore, NEP 2024-2025 has finalised age 3 to be the minimum age for preschool admission. So, preschools can be started from 2 to 2.5 years easily for the playgroup children before nursery starts. Schools are expected to align their curriculum and environment accordingly.
Nursery schools or pre/play schools play a very important role in the child’s holistic development, ensuring the child reaches all the milestones essential for their educational and social growth. Though there is no age limit for nursery admission, strictly, there is a good age at which they should reach these milestones!
Interaction with “outsiders”(teachers and peers), away from the familiarity of their family, helps a child with skills like cooperation, communication and confidence.
Activities in the preschools are very well thought out and planned after thorough research in early childhood. Thus, the activities or even games that they play are designed to stimulate their mind, encouraging cognitive development, problem-solving abilities and critical thinking.
Learning to understand and manage their emotions is a big milestone in a child’s life. They have to learn what they are feeling and how to convey that feeling to others. Preschool is a good place to build their emotional resilience as they can learn best here.
Starting nursery school early means that the child gets that much time to get comfortable in a formal learning setting. By the time the child begins formal school, they will be ready to start head-on.
Nursery schools act as a bridge between early childhood and formal schooling for children as they prepare them for high school. The schools provide an accepting and caring environment where the children are allowed to explore, learn and grow through play-based activities. Certain curriculum content areas have been mentioned for the preschoolers by NEP so that they have a standardised education all over the country.
There are certain criteria that parents should consider before the nursery admission of their child.
Make sure you understand the age criteria and that your child meets the specific age for nursery admission in 2026- 27.
You should have all the documents ready for the admission procedure, like:
Schedule a visit to the preschool to better understand the environment and facilities the school can provide to your child. Talk to the coordinator or teachers present and get an idea about the teaching method that is used by the school.
Always ask the school about the curriculum they are following. Parents should be aware if the curriculum provided is providing their child with a holistic and nurturing development.
Check if there is enough time and space provided for the child to have outdoor play time to complement the academic curriculum and ensure gross motor development of the children.
Choosing the right age for putting a child in preschool encourages their social, cognitive and emotional development and also ensures they enter formal school well prepared. Starting nursery school on time helps the child in future academic success and nurtures in the child a positive attitude towards learning.
As children progress from nursery school to progress school, they carry their skills and confidence nurtured in their play school. By understanding the age criteria for nursery admission 2026-27, parents can make informed decisions that would benefit their child from the beginning of their educational journey.
So, we can surely say that starting nursery school on time sets the stage for a fulfilling and successful educational journey from the very beginning.
