2020-03-11
Luna Gurung
Preschool or Early Childhood Development (ECD) main purpose is to develop children’s cognitive, emotional, social and physical potential (UNICEF, 2014). The children are admitted to Preschool and are provided care and support along with educational activities. The teachers and caregivers are trained to handle the children in a fun-filled manner.
The children learn by fun as well as educational activities. While teachers carefully monitor their overall development, they maintain the child-centered development approach. Preschools or Montessori Schools have various sets of teaching methodologies including self-directed activities, hands-on learning, and collaborative play.
Preschool or ECD education instills a foundation for children who grow up to attend Primary Schools. They perform various activities along with their peers thereby developing physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively. Everything is possible for parents who have demanding careers and are juggling work and family, by taking their child to a Preschool.
Preschool is important as it provides child centered development activities while parents attend to work.
1. Preschool develops social and emotional Development
2. Preschool develops School readiness
3. Preschool promotes language and cognitive skills
4. Preschool develops self-confidence
Preschool comprises of 3 stages. The stages are divided into:
Playgroup: Children between 1.5 to 2.5 years, start to explore the world in this stage. At Playgroup, they develop their latent language, social, aesthetic and motor skills.
Nursery or Foundation I: Children between 2.5 to 3.5 years, engage in the school readiness activities such as reading, writing, counting, number recognition and problem solving.
Kindergarten or Foundation II: Children between 3.5 to 5.5 years, get involved in age-appropriate activities which prepares a child for formal school.
Parents face a lot of questions which Preschool to choose for their children. Since, Preschool prepares children for formal school, Parents should consider a few things before admitting their child to any Preschool.
1.Physical Infrastructure:
Physical Infrastructure of ECD is considered one of the enabling factor in organizing learning and development activities for children. It is better to find a preschool in the local area or whether the school provides transportation. The Preschool should have spacious classrooms and designated play areas.
2.Resources:
Availability of learning materials in ECD is another factor associated to child development and learning. Resources like: books, learning instruments enable children to perform better.
3.Teachers:
Teachers should be well trained to provide care and support to the children in Pre-school. Training of the facilitator of ECD affect the learning of the children.
4.Health and nutrition:
Along with the fee structure, health and nutrition facilities should also be taken into account. The study by Education Review Office, 2018 mentions that the development and learning standards are better in the ECD having health and nutrition service to children in comparison to ECD without having such facilities.
The number of Preschools or ECD Centers (Community based and community school based ) has reached to 30,448 with gross enrollment rate 81% of the target group of children in the academic year 2072/73 (DOE, 2015). Some of the 20 Preschools in Kathmandu Valley are running as a chain of Preschools and are listed as follows:
1. EuroKids Preschool:
A Chain of Montessori School are located at various places in Kathmandu Valley. Eurokids offers a good learning environment. These Preschools have spacious playground.
S.No | Preschools Name | Contact | Website |
1 | 01-4422935,01-4422455 | ||
2 | 01-4017259 | ||
3 | 01-5199410,01-5199324 | ||
4 | 01-4289245 | ||
5 | 01-4351606,01-4352785 | ||
6 | 01-4267452 |
2. Kidzee Preschool:
Kidzee one of the largest Preschool chain in Asia. The teachers are premium quality facilitators and are Early Childhood Care and Education Experts (ECCE).
1 | Kidzee, Baneswor | 01-4494658 | |
2 | Kidzee, Boudha | 01-4461060 | |
3 | Kidzee, Sanepa | 01-5532403 | |
4 | Kidzee, Tahachal | 01-4271051 | |
5 | Kidzee, Kalanki | 01-5234145 |
3. Shemrock Preschool:
Shemrock also has chain of Preschools at various places. Shemrock Preschool provides a playful and colorful environment which provides a path for learning and development.
1 | Shemrock Kindergarten, Chundevi, Maharajgunj | 01-4720307,01-4432315 | https://www.shemrock.com/playschools/about-shemrock-kindergarten |
2 | Shemrock, Kamalpokhari | 01-4434415 | |
3 | Shemrock Keen Kiddies,Lalitpur | 01-5260869 | |
4 | Shemrock Little Harvard, Tahachal | 01-4271592 | |
5 | Shemrock Small Steps, Gongabu | 01-4360747 | |
6 | 01-4330646 |
4. MillsBerry Preschool:
MillsBerry Kids World is an international Preschool for children up to 5 years. Their goal is to provide children foundation for proper growth and the opportunity to develop self-confidence through active discovery of the world.
1 | Mills Berry International Pre-School, Maharajgunj | 01-4373368 | |
2 | Mills Berry Kid’s World, Gatthaghar, Bhaktapur | 01-6636626 | |
3 | 01-4002014 |
