FAQs
At ELC Kindergarten, we know that sending your little one to school is a big step, filled with both excitement and many questions. As parents, you want to make sure you’re choosing the best environment for your child—a place where they’ll be safe, happy, and nurtured. We understand these concerns deeply, which is why we’ve put together this FAQ section.
Whether you’re curious about our programs, facilities, or how we approach your child’s transition, we’ve got you covered.
If there’s something on your mind that you don’t see here, please feel free to reach out. We’re always here to listen and support you, every step of the way.
Morning Batch:
Playgroup / Pre-KG: 8.30 am-12.00 pm
LKG/UKG: 8.30 am-12.30 pm
Afternoon Batch:
Playgroup / Pre-KG: 1.30 pm -5.00 pm
LKG/UKG: 1.00 pm -5.00 pm
Saturday: Holiday
There is no dress code as children are encouraged to come dressed in comfortable clothes.
In the last year of kindergarten, as children prepare to transition into primary school, we conduct a written assessment. This assessment serves as an indicator to understand the child's comprehension and strengths, identifying areas that may need attention in their learning journey. These assessments are not marked or graded. Instead, a descriptive report is shared, providing a comprehensive overview of the child's exposure to concepts taught in school, as well as their strengths and developments in emotional, social, and academic areas over the three years in the Montessori environment. This approach ensures a holistic understanding of the child's progress.
During the first week of school, we help pre-k children settle in by spending two hours getting to know the school environment, routines, and peers. After that, they'll join us for the regular 3 hour schedule from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. If a child needs more time to adjust, we work closely with parents to find the best solution. ‘
For LKG and UKG children, we suggest they spend the full four hours at school starting from day one.(8.30 AM to 12.30 PM) We've found that during this age, children tend to adapt quickly to routines. This approach helps them settle in smoothly and become familiar with their new environment right from the start.
Our goal is always to create a supportive and nurturing environment where every child can thrive. While most children typically build trust and feel comfortable within the first week, we understand that transitions can bring mixed emotions. It is not uncommon for children to experience emotional ups and downs, particularly during the send-off time when they see their parents. But, our teachers and care takers offer support and care every step of the way.
During the transition period, we gently encourage parents not to be present in the classroom. We understand that it can be difficult for both the child and the parents, but this time is crucial for building independence and confidence. It's a time where children learn and adapt to the new routines and expectations of the classroom environment. While we value the support and presence of parents, we believe that allowing children to navigate this transition independently helps them develop a sense of self-assurance.
Children have half an hour of unstructured play where they enjoy the play area. They may also engage in activities like playing in the sandpit and exploring natural materials such as twigs and leaves. This playtime is essential for children to connect with their bodies, interact with peers, and explore their environment.
Yes, the child needs to be potty trained to be integrated into the mixed-age group Montessori environment. While the school will facilitate the potty training process in the play group and toddler group environments, we encourage parents to take an active role at home as well, as consistency is key. By the age of 2.5 to 3 years, we expect the child to be fully potty trained. In our Montessori environments, children are encouraged to be independent in all aspects, including personal care and hygiene. Therefore, until a child is potty trained, they will not be integrated into the mixed age group environments.
However for the toddler and play group environments, we understand that the child may not be potty trained.
In the kindergarten environment, we've introduced a snack corner where children can have their snacks whenever they feel hungry. However, this freedom comes with responsibility. Children are expected to finish their snacks within 15-20 minutes and wait their turn if the snack corner is busy. This approach aims to encourage children to be in tune with their bodies, understand hunger cues, and develop communication and social skills such as taking turns and being considerate of others' needs.
In the toddler and playgroup, there is a specific snack time as children are still in the process of understanding and communicating their needs effectively.
Montessori pedagogy is not affiliated with any specific educational board. It is an educational approach developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, emphasizing child-centered learning, independence, and hands-on exploration. While some Montessori schools may choose to align with certain educational boards for administrative or accreditation purposes, the Montessori method itself is not tied to any particular board.
In the Montessori environment at the Kindergarten level, the student to teacher ratio is 1:15. This means that for every 30 students, there are two trained and experienced teachers guiding their learning journey. These teachers facilitate 1:1 presentations, where children work with Montessori materials and explore academic concepts. Group sessions are also conducted to foster social learning, including activities such as storytelling and vocabulary enrichment.
Additionally, each Montessori environment has a dedicated teacher assistant who supports children with tasks related to self-care, hygiene, and other needs they may have. This ensures that each child receives the attention and assistance they require to thrive in the Montessori setting.
Yes, school transport is available at ELC Kindergarten. However, it is important to note that transport services are provided based on availability and specific routes. To ensure your child's spot, we recommend booking the transport at the beginning of the school year. The service is offered on a term-wise basis, and detailed timings will be communicated to you once the routes are finalized.
Yes, daycare facilities are available at ELC Kindergarten every day until 6:30 p.m. This is a paid service. In addition to regular school days, daycare services are also offered on Saturdays, during school vacations, and on most designated holidays. If the daycare facility is not available on certain days, such as national holidays or festival holidays, we will communicate this information in advance.
At ELC Kindergarten, snacks are not provided for our younger children. Given their age and the potential for food sensitivities or preferences, we strongly recommend that children bring homemade, healthy snacks. While purified water is available at the school, we advise that children bring their own water bottles, which can be refilled as needed.
For lunch, we do offer an option; however, we recommend that children at this age bring homemade lunches for optimal nutrition and comfort. In situations where sending a snack is not possible due to emergencies or other circumstances, you may order a standard snack from our TLC café.
At ELC Kindergarten, we believe that birthdays are special moments that should be shared with friends and celebrated with joy. We understand how special it is for a child to feel recognised and loved on their big day, which is why we warmly welcome birthday celebrations at our school.
To ensure that these celebrations are both enjoyable and healthy, we have a simple policy: only cakes ordered from our café are allowed. This way, we can guarantee that the cakes are made with wholesome ingredients, free from anything that might not be good for our little ones.
But a birthday at ELC is more than just cake. We want to create lasting, meaningful memories. That's why, in addition to the cake, every child celebrating a birthday will receive a beautiful storybook—a gift that can spark imagination and joy long after the party is over. And to help our children grow into kind and thoughtful individuals, each child will also receive a special "Be the Change!" envelope, encouraging them to think of ways to make a positive difference in the world.
We offer two options for the celebration:
A 1 Kg Chocolate Cake with 30 storybooks.
A 1 Kg Vanilla Cake with 30 storybooks.
To ensure everything is ready for the special day, please place your order at least 6 working days in advance. This way, we can help make your child's birthday as magical and memorable as possible.
Yes, we organise at least four field trips a year for our LKG and UKG students. These trips can be to places of recreational or educational value, offering a mix of learning and fun. Sometimes, the children visit familiar places, but exploring these locations with friends adds a new layer of excitement and discovery.
Please note that these field trips are paid and not mandatory, but we strongly encourage students to participate. The experiences gained during these trips are invaluable, helping children learn and grow in ways that go beyond the classroom.
For our younger Pre-K children, we do not organize field trips. At this age, unfamiliar environments can sometimes be unsettling or uncomfortable. Additionally, young children may find it challenging to communicate their needs, such as using the washroom, in new settings. Therefore, we focus on creating safe and comfortable experiences within the school for our Pre-K students.
