A large phalanx of shiny new preschools have debuted in Bengaluru’s Top 20 league table indicating growing demand from well-informed professionals in this IT city. Here are Bengaluru’s best preschools 2012. Although the once green and pleasant Bengaluru (pop.8 million) aka the garden city, is slowly but inexorably being asphyxiated by automotive vehicular pollution, and is being threatened by a looming garbage mountain (see edit p.8), the good news is that thus far the city’s vulnerable preschoolers haven’t suffered any of the widely feared child ailments on a significant scale. In the erstwhile garden city’s booming preschools, it’s business as usual. As in the other metros, the prime position at top table in the EW Bengaluru Preschool Rankings 2012 remains unchanged with Head Start Montessori, Koramangala retaining its numero uno position with an aggregate score of 905 (out of a maximum possible 1,100). However there’s been a reordering of seating positions with Neev, Indiranagar ranked third last year moving to No. 2, pipping the newly promoted (2011) Indus Early Learning Centre, Whitefield which has debuted at No. 3. These three together with First Steps, Cunningham Crescent Road, ranked No.4 (2 last year), and Vidya Sagar, RMV 2nd Stage at No. 5 (7), have been voted the city’s Top 5 preschools of 2012. A representative sample of 392 SEC (socio-economic category) A parents and 68 principals and teachers polled by the well-known Delhi-based market research agency C fore, has ranked Head Start Montessori (estb. 1984) first overall and also on the parameters of parental involvement, value for money and special needs education. “We are delighted that we’ve retained our premier position, and appreciate the goodwill of the discerning citizens of Bengaluru who have reposed faith in Head Start. I am particularly pleased for being rated No. 1 on special needs facilities as this is a priority area for us. I am also satisfied with our top rank in the value for money parameter as we have always believed in making Head Start affordable and accessible to the entire middle class,” says Samina Mahmood, founder director of Head Start (tuition fee: Rs.60,000 per year) which mentors 540 children in two batches. The seating arrangement of Bengaluru’s Top 10 table is completed by Cherry Tree, Vasanth Nagar ranked No. 6 (5 last year), Kangaroo Kids, Indiranagar at No. 7 (4), Magical Years, Kodigehalli (promoted by the Bhupathi Tennis Academy in collaboration with The Magic Years, top-ranked in Delhi) debuting at No. 8 and WeCare, Sarjapur Road at No. 9 (12). Yet the highlight of the Bengaluru preschools league table 2012, is the great leap forward into the Top 10 of Petals Montessori, Marathahalli (estb. 2010) from No.19 last year to 10. “I’m delighted with our entry into the Top 10 list. In the past year as indicated in your parameter ratings, we have invested in infrastructure development and safety and hygiene apart from teacher training and curriculum development. I am especially pleased that Bengaluru’s public has ranked Petals Montessori No. 1 on safety…
