by Nursery Admissions Open: Admitting a child in a nursery school requires careful consideration on the part of their parents. After all, guardians want the best for their children when it comes to education. Hence, for parents, having some basic knowledge about the nursery admission process always helps. So, here we have mentioned some important pointers to consider when you, as a parent, are seeking to enroll your child in a nursery school in India.
Nursery Admissions: Age Criteria
Children between the ages of 3 years and 4 years are eligible for nursery admission in schools across the country. Nonetheless, different states and schools have their own criteria for enrolling children, which is why you must check the age criteria details before you consider admitting your child to a particular nursery school.
| Criteria | Standard Requirement/Details | Important Note |
| Age Eligibility | 3+ years as of March 31st of the academic year. | Varies by State/School: Some states/schools may use a December 31st or June 1st cut-off. Always confirm the specific date with the target school. |
| Class | Nursery, Pre-School, or Balvatika-1 | This is the first year of the 3-year foundational pre-primary stage (Nursery, LKG, UKG). |
| Session Start | Typically April or June of the admission year. | The admission process usually begins in November/December of the preceding year. |
Nursery Admissions: Admission Dates
Almost all nursery schools in India start admitting children between September and December of the preceding year. Hence, start to prepare to accept your child in nursery school early. Make sure to also be updated about the nursery admission dates of the different nursery schools and make your preparations accordingly.
Nursery Admissions: Application Process
Some nursery schools in India conduct interviews or interactive sessions with the children and parents as part of the application process. This helps the school authorities understand the family’s educational background and values system.
There are various considerations when it comes to selecting children for nursery admissions. These include a points system (which includes points being assigned based on distance between home and school and siblings admitted in school, among others), a lottery or draw system, and performance during the interview session.
Parents are also advised to apply to multiple nursery schools to secure admission for their child in a good nursery school, given the competitive nature of nursery schools.
Various nursery schools, particularly the government ones, have reservations for different categories. These include Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Economically Weaker Sections, and other backward classes.
You can learn about the admission dates, required documents, admission criteria, and the application process via the official websites of the nursery schools. Some nursery schools also put advertisements in local newspapers about their application procedure.
Nursery Admissions: Fee Structure
The fees of nursery schools vary as per the facilities provided and the reputation and location of the school. Local or government-run nursery schools have reasonable fee-based structures while international or premium schools levy higher fees in comparison.
Nursery Admissions: List of Mandatory Documents
There are various documents that parents have to submit to admit their child to a nursery school, as seen below:
- Copy of child’s birth certificate
- Copy of Address proof; for this Aadhaar Card, telephone bill, and electricity bill are permissible
- Recent passport-sized photos of parents and the child
- Copy of child’s vaccination card of the child
Apart from these documents, parents are also required to submit caste certificates, residential proof, or income proof for their child’s nursery admission.
| Document Category | Specific Documents | Purpose |
| Child’s Identity & Age | Birth Certificate (issued by Municipal Corporation) | Essential proof of age and name. |
| Child’s Aadhaar Card (if available) | For unique identification (often required for UDISE+ database). | |
| Recent Passport-size Photograph of the child | For the application form and school records. | |
| Residential Proof | Aadhaar/Voter ID/Passport of either parent | To verify residence (used for distance criteria). |
| Domicile Certificate of child/parents | May be required in some states. | |
| Utility Bill (Electricity/Water/MTNL) or Registered Rent Agreement | In the name of a parent, as secondary proof of address. | |
| Parents/Guardians | Passport-size Photographs of both parents/guardians | For the school ID and records. |
| Parents’ PAN Card or other valid Photo ID | For identity verification. | |
| Other (If Applicable) | Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC) | For reserved categories/quotas. |
| Income Certificate (EWS/DG category) | For Economically Weaker Section/Disadvantaged Group quotas. | |
| Proof of Sibling studying at the school (Latest Fee Bill) | To claim sibling preference points. | |
| Alumni Proof (Parent’s Class X/XII Certificate) | To claim alumni preference points. |
