How many nurseries and preschools in Mumbai
Mumbai supports roughly 180 international and English-medium nurseries and preschools. The cluster splits in three. The largest group is the chain-format preschool, with networks like Kangaroo Kids, EuroKids, KLAY, Bachpan and Smartkidz running multiple Mumbai branches at value to mid-tier price points. A second group is the boutique standalone, typically 30 to 80 children in a converted ground-floor flat or villa, concentrated in Bandra West, Khar, Juhu, Powai and the south Mumbai pockets of Worli and Cuffe Parade. The third group is the early years centre embedded inside a through-school, where families can enrol at age 2 or 3 and progress into the same school's primary on the same campus.
Mumbai's early years supply is unusually deep by Indian standards because of three factors. First, a sizeable dual-income workforce in the BKC and Lower Parel office corridors. Second, a long-standing tradition of household help that frees parents to pursue early years schooling rather than home care. Third, the rise of branded preschool chains since 2008, which industrialised the value tier and opened the market to wider middle-class demand. The 2020s wave added outdoor and forest-school programmes on the city outskirts plus several sensory and SEN preschools in Bandra West and Powai.
Fees and the early years tiers
Mumbai international preschool fees split into three tiers. The value tier runs INR 1.5 lakh to INR 3 lakh a year and covers most chain-format Kangaroo Kids, EuroKids, KLAY and Bachpan branches, full day. The mid tier sits at INR 3 lakh to INR 5 lakh and captures the established central Bandra, Khar and Powai boutiques plus the smaller Montessori casas. The premium tier, INR 5 lakh to INR 6 lakh and above, includes the early years centres at Dhirubhai Ambani International, Ecole Mondiale, Oberoi, the American School of Bombay and Aditya Birla World Academy.
Three details matter to families budgeting. Most Mumbai preschools charge a one-off admission deposit of INR 25,000 to INR 1.2 lakh per child. School bus serving Bandra to BKC to Powai routes adds INR 60,000 to INR 1.1 lakh a year. Lunch is usually billed separately at INR 18,000 to INR 35,000. For the wider Mumbai fee picture see our Mumbai international school fees guide and the cost calculator for total relocation budgeting.
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Illustrative example settings
The settings below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each holds at least one of EYFS, IB PYP, AMI or AMS accreditation and has at least 10 years of operating history in Mumbai.
Kangaroo Kids in Bandra West, Khar and the BKC apartment blocks is one of India's oldest preschool chains, founded in Mumbai in 1993 and now part of the Lighthouse Learning group. Around 30 to 100 children per branch with a structured EYFS-aligned programme.
Magic Years Preschool in Powai and Hiranandani Gardens is a long-established standalone running roughly 150 children across the two sites. Strong feeder relationships into Hiranandani Foundation, Bombay Scottish and Oberoi.
Ecole Mondiale World School Early Years in Juhu runs an IB PYP-aligned early years from age 3 inside the city's flagship full IB continuum school. Around 130 children, with progression into IB primary on the same campus.
Dhirubhai Ambani International School Pre-Primary in BKC is the early years arm of one of India's most academically selective schools. Limited intake of around 100 children, with the waitlist for Junior KG running to two years for non-sibling applicants.
Oberoi International School Foundation Stage at the Goregaon East and JVLR campuses follows the IB PYP framework with around 180 children across the two sites. The newer JVLR campus is a popular eastern suburbs choice.
For a curated editorial pick across all curricula see our best international schools in Mumbai long read.
Which early years framework
The single most useful planning question for a Mumbai early years family is which framework leads where. EYFS, the UK Early Years Foundation Stage, is the dominant framework in central Bandra and Powai and the natural feeder into the British curriculum primaries that follow IGCSE and A Level. Nearly every dedicated boutique preschool in central Bandra follows EYFS at least loosely. IB PYP, used inside through-schools like Ecole Mondiale, Dhirubhai Ambani, Oberoi, ASB and Aditya Birla, is the natural feeder into IB Diploma exit. Montessori at the casa years is method-agnostic about the next step, with graduates routinely transferring into either British or IB primaries.
The practical advice for international families on shorter rotations is to match the framework to the likely next posting. Families heading to Singapore, Hong Kong or another British-curriculum-heavy posting after Mumbai tend to favour EYFS. Families heading to a city with a strong IB cluster favour PYP early years. For the wider Mumbai schooling map by curriculum see the Mumbai British curriculum hub and the Mumbai IB hub. For Montessori specifically see the Mumbai Montessori hub.
Admissions and waitlists
The structural intake for Mumbai preschools is June, at the start of the Indian academic year, with a smaller November intake at branches that follow the international calendar. Most through-school early years centres open registration in October of the preceding year. Smaller standalone preschools and the chain branches admit on a rolling basis, with offers issued within four to eight weeks of a complete application.
Waitlist intensity follows three rules. Through-school early years centres with priority feeder status into a sought-after primary, including Dhirubhai Ambani, Ecole Mondiale, ASB, Oberoi and Aditya Birla, can run waitlists of 12 to 24 months. Boutique central Bandra and Powai settings popular with the diplomatic and corporate community typically run waitlists of six to nine months. Most chain branches admit within four weeks given the natural churn of expatriate movement. For the broader Mumbai admissions picture see the Mumbai city hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many international nurseries and preschools are in Mumbai?
Mumbai has roughly 180 English-medium or international nurseries and preschools, from boutique 30-child settings to early years centres of 250 children inside through-schools. Around 120 of these accept children from age 18 months.
What age does preschool start in Mumbai?
Most Mumbai international preschools accept children from age 18 to 24 months into a playgroup or nursery class. Formal preschool begins at age 2.5 or 3 as Nursery and Junior KG. Senior KG runs at age 4 to 5 before children move into Class 1 at age 5 to 6.
How much do Mumbai nurseries cost?
Mumbai international preschool fees range from INR 1.5 lakh a year at value-tier neighbourhood settings to INR 6 lakh at the early years centres of Dhirubhai Ambani International, Ecole Mondiale and the American School of Bombay. Half-day morning sessions sit at 60 to 70 per cent of full-day fees.
Are Mumbai preschools EYFS or IB PYP?
Mumbai preschools follow one of four frameworks. The largest cohort uses the UK Early Years Foundation Stage. A second cohort follows IB PYP inside through-schools like Ecole Mondiale and Dhirubhai Ambani. A third follows Montessori or Reggio. A fourth follows Indian CBSE or ICSE early years patterns.
When should I apply for preschool in Mumbai?
Apply 12 to 18 months ahead for June entry at Dhirubhai Ambani International, Ecole Mondiale, Oberoi and the American School of Bombay early years, where waitlists are longest. Standalone Kangaroo Kids and EuroKids branches usually admit on a rolling basis with 4 to 8 week wait times.
