Chennai - Post Report Question and Answers
Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
Most with toddlers/babies had nannies, as did my family. Some sent kids to daycare, and seemed happy with the quality. - Jan 2024
Many preschools of varying quality. Contact the CLO for a list of the ones frequented by consulate staff. Many are closed due to COVID. - Apr 2021
There are many different types of preschools available. From just let the children play, to structured play to something that more resembles a preschool with a curriculum. Something for everyone. - May 2019
Nannies and preschools are both readily available. Most families do a combination of both. We pay about $300/mo for a full-time nanny and about $150/mo for a part-day preschool. There are a lot of preschool options, but most are very formal and serious academically; it's harder to find one that's play based. AISC has after school activities every day but Wednesday. - May 2018
Again, a-plenty. Alphabet play school is one of the best out there. - May 2015
When we arrived in Chennai, our oldest daughter was 3.5 years old, and younger one was 1.5 years old. The older one went to local preschool called Alphabets. There was another preschool called Sprouts, and this school did not have A/C, only a fan in the classrooms. We were happier with Alphabets' facility, so decided to send the kids to Alphabets, and we were happy with the teachers. Alphabets school has an annual recital in early December. Once the new semester starts in September, all the students are expected to participate/memorize the dances. Older students will have more than 1 song/dance (average 2 songs), and kids spend pretty long time to practice during the school hours. And all kids are required to pay $$ for the costume (even if you don't want your kids to participate ), and buy the specific accessories (shoes, stockings, boots etc). They will record the show and take pics and sell it for $$ (you are not allow to use camera or phone during the recital). - Mar 2015
A few decent local preschool options. Our youngest attended a local preschool (Alphabet) that we were happy with. Compared to the facilities at AISC, all the preschools paled in comparison but the children were happy and they were relatively inexpensive (by U.S. standards). Most people with young children had a nanny as well. - Oct 2014
Yes. There are several part-time daycare options. There is one full day daycare as well that some individuals used. Most sent their kids to a part of the day daycare and had a nanny for the rest of the day. Household help is very inexpensive. - Oct 2014
Yes, many options, some people enjoy the local formats (strict, route learning, cheap) we did not, we would recommend AISC if you can afford it. - Jun 2014
Several good options for preschool & daycare are available, though I cannot personally comment. - May 2014
Our son is 2.5 years old. He stays at home with our nanny. However, many children at this age are going to play school for 2+ hours a day. Sprouts and Alphabet are popular. There is a daycare (Grandma and Grandpa's) that I know one family is using and is happy with. - Aug 2013
My children were 1 and 3 when we arrived and are now 3 and 5. They have attended and been very happy at Alphabet Playschool in Alwarpet. We will miss the school very much when we leave. There are several other Playschools nearby that seem very good. There are also a few good Montessori options available. - Jul 2012
Yes, though I have not experienced it directly. - Aug 2011
I personally did not use preschool but several others used a nice preschool called Parent's Choice and were very happy with it. - Jun 2010
Lots of household help, day care, nannys available. - Sep 2009
