In the first-ever rating and ranking of Pune’s Top 10 pre-primary schools 2013, Leapbridge International, Kalyani Nagar, is ranked #1 closely followed by Serra International Preschool, Aundh

In the fast-growth city of Pune (pop. 5.5 million), which has emerged as the second largest academic and industrial hub (after Mumbai) of Maharashtra, over the past decade, a growing number of edupreneurs have stepped forward to meet the rising demand for high-quality preschool education from middle class households in the upmarket suburbs of Kalyani Nagar, Koregaon Park and Aundh in particular. This phenomenon has prompted your editors to include Pune in the EducationWorld India Preschool Rankings 2013. To rate and rank Pune’s Top 10 pre-primary schools 2013, the Delhi-based C fore interviewed a mix of 159 parents with preschool children and 44 teachers/principals in the city.

These informed respondents have ranked Leapbridge International Preschool, Kalyani Nagar (LIPK, estb. 2010) Pune’s #1 pre-primary, giving it highest score on the parameters of parental involvement, safety and hygiene, and special needs education. Leapbridge Preschool, Aundh is ranked #4.

“This is our fourth year of operations and we are delighted that the hard work of the entire team is reflected in our #1 ranking. The unique features of the five Leapbridge preschools in Pune are their structured, well-researched and child-friendly curriculums based on multiple intelligences theory; thoroughly trained teachers; ready acceptance of special needs children, and insistence on highest safety and hygiene standards. We are fortunate we have had the benefit of the knowhow, 50 years of experience in education, and corporate-style management of our parent company Navneet Education Ltd which has helped us develop our Leapbridge schools quickly,” says Preity Gosalia, a child psychology, education management and multiple intelligences alumna of Bombay University, and the Multiple Intelligences Institute, Singapore, and the chief operating officer of the Leapbridge International Group of five preschools in Pune and one in Mumbai (Leapbridge, Sion — ranked #4 in the Mumbai league table) with an aggregate enrollment of 600 students.

Separated by only a point from Leapbridge, Kalyani Nagar (aggregate score: 817), Serra International Preschool, Aundh, is ranked #2 followed by Vivero International, Kalyani Nagar. Serra and Vivero are both promoted by Pune-based Edvance Preschools Pvt. Ltd in academic partnership with the well-known Singapore-based Eton House International Education Group.

Completing the Top 5 is Orange Ivy Play School, Viman Nagar, which though only seven months old has quickly impressed the parents and teacher communities in Pune. “I am thrilled that parents have recognised and appreciated our good work. Our Top 5 ranking within less than a year, is a reflection of the combination of world-class pedagogy and excellent infrastructure such as specially-themed classrooms, artificial grass play areas, soft gym, and splash pool on offer. It’s our objective to help children learn as well as develop values of sharing and caring in a safe and loving school environment,” says Laxmi Kapoor, an alumna of Rajasthan University with over 32 years experience as a kindergarten teacher, and currently chief mentor of Orange Ivy Play Schools Pvt. Ltd.

Promoted by her son Dr. Samir Kapoor, an alumnus of Symbiosis International University with work experience in blue-chip corporates such as Standard Chartered and Bank of America. Orange Ivy, Viman Nagar has 50 children mentored by five teachers on its muster rolls (tuition fee: Rs.40,000 per annum). “Next year, five new Orange Ivy play schools will become operational in Pune,” says Dr. Kapoor.

While respondents have awarded high ratings to newly promoted preschools such as Leapbridge, Serra, Vivero and Orange Ivy which offer contemporary pedagogies and facilities, the city’s olde-world pre-primaries — Primrose Nursery, Koregaon Park and Sapling Nursery, Baner Road (estb.1994) — are ranked #6 and #7 respectively. Completing the Top 10 table are Little Millennium, Viman Nagar (8); EuroKids, Kalyani Nagar (9), and The Tree House, Aundh (10) — all franchisee preschools of national ECCE chains.

To read Pune’s top pre-primary schools 2013 league table, visit http://www.educationworld.in/rank-preschool/pune/2013.html