Pre-Primary at NAS

Mother-Toddler to Senior KG, explained.

Pre-primary is the stage before Class 1. At NAS it means five stages of guided play: Mother-Toddler, Playgroup, Nursery, Junior KG (LKG) and Senior KG (UKG), from 9 months to about 5.5 years.

Book a school visit Fees and timings

Mother-Toddler Playgroup Nursery Junior KG (LKG) Senior KG (UKG)

Five 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
Mother-ToddlerWith a parent or caregiver alongside	From 9 months	Sensory trays, songs, rhymes, movement and floor play at the child's own pace, with a familiar adult always there.	Mother-Toddler at NAS
PlaygroupA first classroom of their own	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

We do not test or rank children at any stage. Nursery, Junior KG and Senior KG run 8:30 am to 12 noon, Playgroup 8:30 to 10:00 am (Mon, Wed, Fri) and Mother-Toddler 9:00 to 10:00 am (Tue, Thu). New: Daycare, 12 noon to 4:30 pm. The current fee sheet is shared in writing by the office, because fees vary by programme and school year.

01 Mother-Toddler

02 Playgroup

03 Nursery

04 Junior KG (LKG)

05 Senior KG (UKG)

Early Years Path

Each stage grows through visible experiences.

A parent can quickly see how Mother-Toddler, Playgroup, Nursery, Junior KG and Senior KG connect.

Settle

Safety first

Young children begin with trust, separation comfort and rhythm.

Speak

Language grows

Songs, stories and conversation build expression.

Move

Body readiness

Movement supports coordination, confidence and attention.

Prepare

Readiness without pressure

Patterns, listening, counting and independence grow through play.

Programme Journey

One child, changing needs.

A baby exploring beside a parent, 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.

Mother-Toddler and Playgroup

First school experiences are built on 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.

Safety

Children settle best when they feel seen, welcomed and emotionally safe.

Language

Stories, songs, conversation and shared reading build vocabulary and confidence.

Readiness

Movement, attention, independence and social comfort matter as much as early academics.

A toddler playing in a sand tray beside a familiar adult — Social comfort grows through shared routines.

Four children matching picture cards and blocks at a table — Hands-on activity turns ideas into visible learning.

A New Activity School classroom with artwork on the walls — A long school memory, renewed for today's children.

Questions Parents Ask

Pre-primary, in plain words.

Read every parent question

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.

Mother-Toddler begins at 9 months with a parent alongside. 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 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 near Kemps Corner, South Mumbai, that covers all five early-years stages, from Mother-Toddler (from 9 months) to Senior KG.

Each stage builds on the one before: a first safe room beside a parent in Mother-Toddler, 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. We do not test or assess young children.

Next Step

Find the right early-years fit.

Share your child's age and stage. We will guide you on the most suitable programme conversation.

Start an enquiry