The KG names, explained

Junior KG, Senior KG, LKG, UKG: what the names mean, and the order.

Different cities and boards use different names for the same two kindergarten years. In Mumbai, Junior KG is the year many schools call LKG (Lower Kindergarten) and Senior KG is UKG (Upper Kindergarten). Here is the sequence, the usual ages, and what each year is for.

Ask NAS Parent hub

LKG = Junior KG UKG = Senior KG Mother-Toddler first Then Class 1

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Illustrative image

What the research says only matters if you can see it in the room.

Junior KG, Senior KG, LKG, UKG

Plain Answer

What you will want to know.

LKG · Lower Kindergarten

The first kindergarten year. Called Junior KG in Mumbai, Jr. KG on many forms, and KG-1 in some schools.

UKG · Upper Kindergarten

The second kindergarten year, the one before Class 1. Called Senior KG in Mumbai, Sr. KG on forms, and KG-2 in some schools.

Ages are bands, not rules

Schools set their own cut-offs. At NAS: Mother-Toddler from 9 months, Playgroup 1.5–2.5, Nursery 2.5–3.5, Junior KG 3.5–4.5, Senior KG 4.5–5.5. The office confirms fit for a date of birth.

Make It Visible

What you would see in the classroom.

Less theory, more of what you can actually notice on a visit or at home.

The order

Mother-Toddler first, then Playgroup, then Nursery, then Junior KG (LKG), then Senior KG (UKG), then Class 1.

At NAS

Mother-Toddler from 9 months, Playgroup 1.5–2.5, Nursery 2.5–3.5, Junior KG 3.5–4.5, Senior KG 4.5–5.5. The office confirms the fit for your child’s date of birth.

On forms

Jr. KG and LKG are the same box; Sr. KG and UKG are the same box. Read the age band, not the label.

Ask for the age band, not the name.

Two schools can use the same label for different ages.

Count back from Class 1.

Senior KG is the year before Class 1; Junior KG the year before that.

Mother-Toddler and Playgroup are optional.

Many families begin at Nursery; the office will say what fits.

Parent FAQ

Answers you can come back to.

The questions parents ask us most, answered the way we would at the gate.

LKG is Lower Kindergarten and UKG is Upper Kindergarten. In Mumbai many schools, including NAS, call the same years Junior KG and Senior KG.

Yes. Junior KG and LKG (Lower Kindergarten) are two names for the same year, the first of the two kindergarten years. At NAS it is for children of about 3.5 to 4.5 years.

Yes. Senior KG and UKG (Upper Kindergarten) are the same year, the second of the two kindergarten years. At NAS it is for children of about 4.5 to 5.5 years.

Mother-Toddler comes first (from 9 months, with a parent alongside), then Playgroup, then Nursery, then Junior KG (LKG), then Senior KG (UKG). After Senior KG a child moves to Class 1.

Age bands differ by school. At New Activity School, Junior KG is for about 3.5 to 4.5 years and Senior KG for about 4.5 to 5.5 years; the office confirms the fit for a child’s date of birth.