If you are planning your child's first school admission in Delhi, almost every decision comes back to one question: what age does my child have to be, and on what date? For the 2026-27 session the Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) answered that clearly for every private unaided recognised school in the city, so parents no longer have to compare three different rules from three different schools.
The one date that decides everything: 31 March
Entry-level eligibility is calculated as on 31 March of the year the session begins. Not the date of the form, not the date of the interview, and not your child's birthday in the middle of the year. Two children born three weeks apart can fall on either side of that line, which is why the birthday matters so much more than the month you apply in.
Age criteria for entry-level classes in 2026-27
- Nursery (Balvatika 1 / Pre-School 1) - 3+ years, up to 4 years as on 31 March
- KG (Balvatika 2 / Pre-Primary / Pre-School 2) - 4+ years, up to 5 years as on 31 March
- Class 1 - 5+ years, up to 6 years as on 31 March
In plain language: for Nursery your child must have completed three years but must not have completed four years by 31 March. A child who turns four in February is a KG-age child for that session, not a Nursery-age child.
Why the age bands changed
Delhi realigned entry-level ages to match the Foundational Stage described in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The NEP treats the years from age three to age eight as one continuous stage - three years of preschool followed by Balvatika and the first two years of school - instead of treating preschool and primary as separate worlds. The DoE operationalised this for the capital through its order of 24 October 2025, and the 2026-27 cycle continues the same structure with no further changes. Our plain-English walkthrough of that policy is in NEP and the Foundational Stage.
One practical consequence parents often miss: a child admitted to Nursery in 2025-26 moves up automatically to KG in 2026-27, and a KG child moves to Class 1. Entry-level admission therefore applies strictly to children who are entering the ladder, not to children already on it.
How the admission cycle actually runs
Recognised private schools follow a single notified timeline rather than setting their own dates. In the 2026-27 cycle the pattern was:
- Schools upload their admission criteria and the points attached to each criterion
- Forms become available and the admission process formally opens
- A last date for submitting application forms
- Schools publish the list of applicants under open seats
- Schools publish the marks or points allotted to each applicant
- A window for parents to raise grievances about the points
- First list, waiting list, and finally closure of the cycle
Because the cycle runs from early December and closes by early January, the parents who do well are the ones who have their documents ready in November, not January. If you are reading this after the window has closed for the current session, use the time to prepare the paperwork and visit schools calmly, so you can submit on day one of the next cycle.
The point system, in one paragraph
Schools allot points against published criteria - most commonly neighbourhood distance, a sibling already studying in the school, a parent who is an alumnus, and a single girl child. Each school publishes its own weightings and its own distance slabs before forms open, so the exact numbers differ from school to school. The one rule worth repeating: because neighbourhood distance usually carries the largest share of points, a school close to your home is not just convenient, it also materially improves your chances. That is why a short, safe commute to Palam, Dwarka or Pochanpur is both a parenting decision and an admission-strategy decision.
Documents to keep ready in advance
- Your child's birth certificate (municipal record)
- Address proof - electricity bill, rent agreement, or passport
- Passport-size photographs of the child and both parents
- Aadhaar or another identity document for the parents
- Immunisation or medical record, if your paediatrician maintains one
- Transfer certificate or a previous school record, if your child has already attended a preschool
Keep a scanned set on your phone as well. Many schools now ask for a digital upload along with the paper form.
What this means if your child is in Playgroup today
Playgroup is a settling-in year, not an eligibility year. If your child is in Playgroup now and will have completed three years by 31 March, they are a Nursery candidate for the coming session. If they will still be under three, the sensible plan is to let them finish the year where they are and apply in the following cycle. We explain the difference in detail in Playgroup vs Nursery: What Age Should Your Child Join?
Five questions to ask when you visit a school
- How many children are in one group, and how many adults look after them?
- What does the first week look like for a child who has never been away from home?
- What is included in the fee, and what is charged separately?
- How will you tell me how my child is doing - a diary, an app, or a meeting?
- If my child starts here in Nursery, can they continue in this school afterwards?
Where Sanskaar Kids Valley fits
Sanskaar Kids Valley offers Play School, Preschool, Day Care and Early Learning with a child-first, activity-led approach - play, stories, art, music, movement and social learning. Admissions are open for 2026-27, and the team will tell you which class suits your child's age and readiness. Start on the Admissions page, or call and WhatsApp 9990280330 and mention your child's date of birth.
Verify before you act
Government notifications can be revised. Before you fill anything in, read the current circular on the Directorate of Education's website and, if in doubt, ask the school office to show you the notification they are following. Treat this article as a plain-English explanation of how the system works, not as a substitute for the official order.