Pre-Primary at NAS
Playgroup, Nursery, Junior KG and Senior KG, explained.
Pre-primary is the stage before Class 1. At NAS it means four years of guided play: Playgroup, Nursery, Junior KG (LKG) and Senior KG (UKG), for children of roughly 1.5 to 5.5 years.
Playgroup
Nursery
Junior KG (LKG)
Senior KG (UKG)
Four Stages at a Glance
Which stage is my child in?
Ages are a starting guide. Readiness, the date of birth and the school-year cut-off decide the final fit, and the office confirms it with you before admission.
| Stage | Usual age | What a morning looks like | Programme page |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlaygroupAlso called Mother-Toddler | 1.5–2.5 years | Settling with a familiar adult nearby, sensory baskets, songs, movement and short, predictable routines. |
Playgroup at NAS |
| NurseryThe first full preschool year | 2.5–3.5 years | Stories, pretend play, first friendships, words for feelings and growing independence in everyday tasks. |
Nursery at NAS |
| Junior KGAlso called LKG (Lower Kindergarten) | 3.5–4.5 years | Longer conversations, early literacy and number play with real materials, and small-group problem solving. |
Junior KG at NAS |
| Senior KGAlso called UKG (Upper Kindergarten) | 4.5–5.5 years | Listening, early reading and writing readiness, number sense and the confident habits needed for Class 1. |
Senior KG at NAS |
NAS does not test or assess children at any stage. Session timings and the current fee sheet are shared in writing by the office because they vary by programme and school year.
Early Years Path
Each stage grows through visible experiences.
A parent can quickly see how playgroup, Nursery, Junior KG and Senior KG connect.
Settle
Safety firstYoung children begin with trust, separation comfort and rhythm.
Speak
Language growsSongs, stories and conversation build expression.
Move
Body readinessMovement supports coordination, confidence and attention.
Prepare
Gentle readinessPatterns, listening, counting and independence grow through play.
Programme Journey
One child, changing needs.
A toddler settling in, a Nursery child finding words, a Junior KG child testing ideas and a Senior KG child preparing for the next step all need different kinds of support.
Playgroup / Mother-Toddler
First school experiences are held gently through familiar adults, sensory play, songs, movement and safe routines.
Nursery
Children build language, independence, separation comfort, classroom rhythm and curiosity through play and materials.
Junior KG and Senior KG
Older children strengthen listening, early literacy, number sense, collaboration, problem-solving and readiness without losing joy.
Junior KG is the first kindergarten year, usually for children around 3.5 to 4.5 years. Many Mumbai families and schools call it LKG, or Lower Kindergarten. At NAS it is taught through guided play, stories, real materials and early literacy and number experiences.
Senior KG is the second kindergarten year, usually for children around 4.5 to 5.5 years, and the year before Class 1. It is also called UKG, or Upper Kindergarten. At NAS it builds listening, early reading and writing readiness, number sense and confident school habits.
Playgroup usually begins around 1.5 years, Nursery around 2.5, Junior KG around 3.5 and Senior KG around 4.5. The exact fit depends on the date of birth, readiness and the school-year cut-off, which the NAS office confirms with each family.
In everyday use, yes. Pre-primary, preschool, nursery school and kindergarten all describe the years before Class 1. NAS is a preschool in Grant Road, South Mumbai, that covers all four pre-primary stages.
Each year builds on the one before: settling and routines in Playgroup, language and independence in Nursery, early literacy and number play in Junior KG, and school readiness in Senior KG. Children move up by age and readiness. NAS does not test or assess young children.
Next Step
Find the right early-years fit.
Share your child's age and stage. NAS will guide you on the most suitable programme conversation.
Start an enquiry