The EducationWorld India Preschool Grand Jury Awards were introduced in 2018 to encourage and felicitate pre-primaries which have introduced contemporary pedagogies and practices in early childhood care and education (ECCE), especially in smaller non-metro towns and cities. To shortlist progressive preschools countrywide for the EW Preschool Grand Jury Awards 2019-20, we invited nominations from educationists, individuals and schools themselves supported by evidence of best practices in 11 categories — teacher-parent-student engagement, reading culture, campus design, nature-friendly environment, innovative pedagogy, outstanding leadership, innovative ICT use, health and safety, future-ready preschools, best teaching-learning resources and brand building.
The nominations were assessed by a jury comprising eminent educationists Fatema Agarkar, co-founder of KA EduAssociates, Mumbai; Swathi Menon, director, The Educator Development Academy, Mumbai; Dr. Maalathi K.R, founder and CEO, Aurro Educational Services, Chennai, Sumathi Ravichander, a Hyderabad-based K-12 education consultant, and Charu Bajaj, CEO, Skills And You, Delhi.
League tables ranking Top 10 preschools in each category and photo essay are presented in the pages following.
Teacher-parent-student engagement – EW Preschool Grand Jury Awards 2019-20
These awards are for pre-primaries which encourage and facilitate interaction and exchange of ideas between teachers, parents and children to enable holistic development of early learners.
1. Genius Gems — A Learning Centre, Adani Shantigram, Ahmedabad
2. Educon Kids, Baner, Pune
3. Podar Jumbo Kids, Frazer Town, Bangalore
3. Presidency School, Bangalore South
4. Heguru Right Brain Development India, T Nagar, Chennai
5. Ryan Shalom Montessori, Govindpuram, Ghaziabad
6. Rockwell Preschool, Gachibowli, Hyderabad
7. Gurukul International Kindergarten, Mumbai
8. Podar Jumbo Kids, Krushi Nagar, Akola
9. Prestige International School, Mangalore
10. Podar Jumbo Kids, Chalisgaon
Reading culture – EW Preschool Grand Jury Awards 2019-20
Preschools which actively promote reading culture and love of books within young children are ranked in this category.
1. Budding Blossoms, Malad, Mumbai
2. Just Kiddin’ International Preschool & Daycare, Powai, Mumbai
2. Adelie International Preschool, Girinagar, Bangalore
3. The Gaudium Preschool, Nanakramguda, Hyderabad
4. Witty World, Bhilwara
5. Peepal Tree Early Childhood Education, Akshayanagar, Bangalore
5. Vidhyashram Public School, Jodhpur
6. The Elegancia Playschool, Vasanth Nagar, Hyderabad
7. The Bangalore School, Whitefield
8. Aptech Montana International Preschool, Kandivali (E), Mumbai
9. Arise ‘n’ Shine International Preschool, Periyar Nagar, Chennai
9. Presidency School, Mangalore
10. Planet Kids Playschool & Daycare, Andheri (West) Mumbai
Innovative pedagogy – EW Preschool Grand Jury Awards 2019-20
Preschools ranked on their success in creating innovative, child-friendly and age-appropriate pedagogies and curriculums.
1. Kai Early Years, Whitefield, Bangalore
1. Oi Playschool, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad
2. Heritage Xperiential Learning Centre, Sector 50, Gurgaon
3. Fountainhead Preschool, Parle Point, Surat
3. Glendale Edufun, Somajiguda, Hyderabad
4. Budding Blossoms, Thakur Complex, Mumbai
4. Navrachana & Vidyani Pre-Primary Section, Sama Road, Vadodara
5. Little One, The Jaipuria Preschool, Chander Nagar, Ghaziabad
6. Aura Learning Mantra, Sama, Vadodara
6. Sadhbhavana Little Scholars, Cheranallur, Ernakulam
7. Touch Sky The International Preschool, Surapet, Chennai
7. Little Pearls Nursery School, Wardhaman Nagar Branch, Nagpur
8. The Shiishyaa School, Pune
8. Oi Playschool, Botanical Garden, Hyderabad
9. Birla Open Minds Preschool, Yelahanka, Bangalore
9. Happy Minds International, Nahar, Mumbai
10. Perfection International Kids Preschool, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai
10. Kangaroo Kids Rashbehari, Tollygunge, Kolkata
Nature-friendly preschools – EW Preschool Grand Jury Awards 2019-20
Pre-primaries providing environment-friendly campuses and promoting classes/activities in outdoor green spaces.
1. Siate Felici, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad
2. i2Global School, Medavakkam, Chennai
3. Little One, The Jaipuria Preschool, Kakadeo, Kanpur
4. Podar Jumbo Kids, Sikandarpura, Baroda
4. DPS Castle of Dreams, Nipania, Indore
5. The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet (Pre-Primary)
6. Podar Jumbo Kids, Avadh Road, Rajkot
6. Cambridge Montessori, Ryan International School, Kandivali (E), Mumbai
7. Podar Jumbo Kids, Ramnagar, Jalna
8. Ryan Christian School (Montessori section), Borivali (W), Mumbai
9. Podar Jumbo Kids, Gondia
10. Pragathi Central Kids & Juniors, Hyderabad
Campus design excellence – EW Preschool Grand Jury Awards 2019-20
League table of preschools which have built attractive and conducive campuses to enable children to learn joyfully.
1. Kai Early Years, Whitefield, Bangalore
2. The Ardee School, New Friends Colony, New Delhi
3. Neev Preschool, Hajipur, Vaishali
4. Beaumont HFSI Pre-Primary, Powai, Mumbai
5. Mount Abu Junior School, Rohini, Delhi
5. Little Angels, City Centre, Gwalior
6. Sunshine World, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Ludhiana
6. DPS Kidszone, Rau, Indore
7. Beansprouts Preschool, Sector 50, Gurgaon
7. Birla Open Minds Preschool, Manikonda, Hyderabad
8. Podar Jumbo Kids, Wakad, Pune
9. Aga Khan Preschool, Khojavad, Ranavav (Gujarat)
10. Podar Jumbo Kids, Raipur-2, Mahadev Ghat Road, Raipur
Outstanding leadership – EW Preschool Grand Jury Awards 2019-20
Low-profile and newly emergent preschools with extraordinary leaders.
1. Legacy School, Pre-primary Section, Hennur, Bangalore
2. Atelier International Preschool & Childcare, Hadapsar, Pune
2. Podar Jumbo Kids, Sector 12, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai
3. Sunbeam School, Lahartara, Varanasi
3. Garodia Preschool, Ghatkopar (East), Mumbai
4. The Chintels Preschool, Ratanlal Nagar, Kanpur
4. Little Chipper International, Agra
5. Ryan International School, Sector 40, Gurgaon
6. Elpro First Steps, Chinchwad, Pune
7. Children’s Nook, Gamdevi, Mumbai
8. Mayurhir’s Achiever’s Kinderland, Vadodara
9. DPS Juniors, Bharuch
10. Youngin’ International Preschool and Child Care, Vikhroli (W), Mumbai
Health & safety – EW Preschool Grand Jury Awards 2019-20
Preschools ranked for providing safe and healthy learning environments, comprehensive safety procedures and emergency care facilities.
1. Oi Playschool, Nizampet, Hyderabad
2. EuroKids, Palam Colony, Delhi
3. Saraswati International School, Dharampur Road, Valsad
3. Neldrac, Nallagandla, Hyderabad
4. Podar Jumbo Kids Plus, Nallagandla, Hyderabad
4. DPS Kidszone, Bhadbhada Road, Bhopal
5. Vedant International Preschool, Maninagar, Ahmedabad
6. Amarjyoti Saraswati International School, Pre-primary Section, Bhavnagar
7. Podar Jumbo Kids, Bambhori, Jalgaon
8. Ryan Shalom Preschool, Andheri (E), Mumbai
9. Podar Jumbo Kids, Wagholi, Pune
9. DCM Presidency School, Elementary Campus, Ludhiana
10. Podar Jumbo Kids Plus, Vile Parle (E), Mumbai
10. Dr. Shivajirao S. Jondhle Kindergarden, Asangaon
Future-ready preschools – EW Preschool Grand Jury Awards 2019-20
League table of newly promoted pre-primaries which have demonstrated high potential to quickly adopt and integrate 21st century ECCE best practices.
1. SAI Angan, Bhubaneswar
2. Indus Altum Early Learning Centre, Belgaum
2. The Little Oaks, Amritsar
3. Early Wonders International Preschool, Bandra (W), Mumbai
3. Sarvankash Vidya Mandir, Ratnagiri
4. The Gera School (TGS Kids), Goa
4. Edu-Lo-Sung My Playschool, Hadapsar, Pune
5. Shanti Juniors, Prahaladnagar, Ahmedabad
6. eSkooling DigiSmart Kindergarten, Indira Nagar, Nasik
6. Springfields School, Preparatory Section, Masab Tank, Hyderabad
7. Podar Jumbo Kids, Bhavnagar
7. CNBM’s Wonderkids, Vile Parle, Mumbai
8. Oi Playschool, Miyapur, Hyderabad
9. Kidzonia International Preschool, Serilingampally, Hyderabad
10. MySchool, Wazir Hasan Road, Lucknow
Best teaching-learning resources – EW Preschool Grand Jury Awards 2019-20
Top 10 preschools providing child friendly teaching-learning resources to promote play and experiential learning.
1. Bright Start International Preschool, Opera House, Mumbai
2. Petals Preschool, Surya Nagar, Ghaziabad
2. Sadhbhavana Toddler House, Thondayad, Kozhikode
3. The Courtyard, Tardeo, Mumbai
3. Indo Scottish Global School, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai
4. Ivy World Play School, Civil Lines, Jalandhar
4. Vivaanta Toddlers, Talawade, Pune
5. Shine Kids Academy, Guduvanchery, Chennai
5. Khaitan Public School, Ghaziabad
6. Rangoli Preschool, Sector 7, Gandhinagar
6. International School, Hyderabad
7. London Montessori School, Velachery, Chennai
7. The Aga Khan Preschool, Botad, Gujarat
8. Rainbow Preschool, Surat
9. Ashish Nursery, Wakad, Pune
9. Elements Kids, Sarjapur Main Road, Bangalore
10. Insignis Transnational School, Chanda Nagar, Hyderabad
Innovative ICT use – EW Preschool Grand Jury Awards 2019-20
Top 10 preschools using digital technologies for child safety, teaching-learning and enabling home-school partnerships.
1. EuroKids Dhayari, Pune
2. Budding Blossoms, Ashok Nagar, Mumbai
3. M-Kids by Manchester International School, Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore
3. Early Learning Centre, Mangalore
4. Hasti Pre-Primary School, Anand Nagar, Dondaicha
5. Ryan Shalom Montessori, Ulwe, Navi Mumbai
6. i2Global Microschool, Thoraipakkam, Chennai
7. Vikas Mantra Kidz, Kattur, Trichy
8. Ramakidz Preschool, Gotri, Vadodara
9. Podar Jumbo Kids Surat 2, Jhahanjirabad, Surat
10. Jain Toddlers, Kondapur, Hyderabad
India’s Most Respected Early Childhood Education Brands
League table of ECCE institutions/chains which have successfully established themselves as national brands.
1. Podar Jumbo Kids
2. Kangaroo Kids Education Ltd
3. EuroKids
4. Oi Playschools
5. Seed School
6. Sanfort
7. Petals Preschool
8. Klay
9. Little Elly
10. Maple Bear Canadian Preschool
