Chennai’s most preferred preschools

The EW 2014 Chennai league table has experienced a major reshuffle. The rearrangement of seats at the Top 10 table is mainly because of the entry of three previously unranked pre-primaries

Educationworld’s 2014 league table of Chennai’s most preferred preschools has experienced a major reshuffle of rankings. Except for the first two ranks which have been retained by Vruksha Montessori, Alwarpet and Vael’s Billabong High-Kangaroo Kids, Neelankarai, sample respondents comprising parents and principals/teachers have elevated SEED, Adyar to #3 from #7 in 2013, aLphabet, Alwarpet to #4 from #10, and Bamboola, Raja Annamalai Puram to #6 (#8). Bambino Kindergarten, R.A. Puram and Srishti Montessori School, Nungambakkam have had to cede rank.

The rearrangement of seats at the Top 10 table is mainly because of the entry of three previously unranked pre-primaries — Sprouts Montessori, Mylapore (7), Indus Early Learning Centre, Adyar (8) and Patasala Montessori School, Nungambakkam (9) — which have all risen in public esteem.

Jayashree Radhakrishnan, founder-principal of Vruksha Montessori (estb. 2002), is “thrilled” that the parent and academic communities in Chennai (pop. 4.5 million) have once again voted it #1 overall and on the parameters of individual attention to students, leadership quality, safety and hygiene, and provision of facilities for special needs children. “The credit for our success goes to our intensively trained Montessori teachers who attend regular workshops to be in sync with the curiousity and capacity of our pupils. I’m especially happy we have been ranked #1 on safety and hygiene as they are non-negotiable priorities. Also every classroom in Vruksha has two or three special children with a special education counsellor guiding them,” says Radhakrishnan, an alumna of Madras University and Indian Montessori Centre, Chennai who co-promoted Vruksha in 2002. Currently, this pre-primary has an enrolment of 250 children instructed by 15 teachers.

This sense of pride flowing from achievement is greater within the 7,000 sq. ft campus of aLphabet, Alwarpet (estb. 2009), which has rocketed from #10 in 2013 to #4 position this year. Top-ranked on the parameter of infrastructure provision, this pre-primary’s futuristic three-storey fully air-conditioned glass and brick building offers its 300 students aged nine months to 5.5 years, spacious play areas, seven child-friendly classrooms, audio-visual room, waddling pool, computer lab, play gym, library and puzzle corner, basketball court, and landscaped exteriors.

“It’s very encouraging that we are moving up in the EW rankings. I attribute aLphabet’s steady rise to our 33 teachers who provide a stimulating and joyful learning environment through our unique curriculum which combines Montessori and playway pedagogies. Our #1 rank for infrastructure provision is very satisfying because we have invested heavily in designing a building specifically suited to the needs of preschool children. The exteriors and interiors of classrooms and play areas are purposefully cheerful with great attention paid to safety and hygiene,” says Kavita Saraf, a graduate of Calcutta University and a Montessori trained teacher who taught at the CISCE-affiliated Sishya School and Bambino Kindergarten in the city before promoting aLphabet (tuition fees: Rs.84,000-105,000 per year) in January 2009.

Beyond the Top 10 also, there’s been a considerable churn in the league table with several preschools losing rank. The previously #6 ranked Vanilla Prep School, R.A. Puram has been pushed down to #11, SEED, Anna Nagar to #12 (from #5 in 2013), Learning Tree, Adyar to #13 (9), Little Cubs, Alwarpet to #14 (11), Kangaroo Kids, Velachery to #16 (13), VVM-Little Millennium, Anna Nagar to #17 (14) and Kangaroo Kids, Nungambakkam to #19 (16).

The exception is Arise ‘n’ Shine, Anna Nagar which has moved up in public approval from #19 in 2013 to #15 this year. Moreover, two previously unranked preschools — SEED Academy, Kottivakkam (18) and KiwiLearners, Neelankarai (20) — have debuted in the Top 20 table.

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