Gurusthanam Playschools, a chain of nursery daycare playschools in Bangalore and across the country, offers pre-nursery to upper kindergarten programmes.
Early age education and preschool programmes affect a child’s future academic performance and health. Hence, preschools have turned into booming businesses like never before. In terms of statistics, the preschool industry has been growing at a five-year CAGR of 20%, currently averaging at Rs 99 billion. The expectation is that the industry will reach Rs 220 billion by 2020, growing at a five-year CAGR of 17%.
Parents have started to understand the importance of preschool to enhance their child’s emotional and intellectual growth but still there is much more to be done in this regard. With a vision to redefine the nursery experience for children and offering a “home away from home” in a safe and nurturing environment, Gurusthanam preschool was born in 2015. “The idea was basically to impart the right values from the beginning and at the earliest age possible. As early years’ practitioners, our goal is to offer the child the best quality childcare and the highest standard of early years’ education,” says Dr. Rati Chandna, founder and CEO of Gurusthanam Playschools, which offers modules from pre-nursery to upper kindergarten and also provides a dedicated learning support programme for children who need additional help to learn.
The Education Philosophy
Dr. Chandna believes that every child deserves the best possible start in life and support to fulfill his or her potential. “A child’s experience in the early years has a major impact not only on its learning ability but also determines future life success,” she says. “We look forward to being a provider of such high quality early years’ education and care which every child deserves; enhancing, enriching and laying the vital foundations for the child’s future learning and development,” she adds.
Gurusthanam Playschools is dedicated to taking extra special care of all the preschoolers’ early learning needs. “We realise that each child is special and we therefore help and encourage the child to learn and develop. Hence, the playschool curriculum is based around the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework that incorporates methods from the Montessori stage. We keep each child’s individual strengths and interests at heart and offer a place where children are granted the freedom to explore and play, thereby igniting their passion and excitement for learning,” shares Yogesh Chandna, founder of Gurusthanam Playschools.
The curriculum of each programme has been carefully structured and planned and includes the Oxford Reading Tree from the United Kingdom, mathematics, physical education lessons on a weekly basis, computer work, cooking and science, art and craft, speech and drama, and music.
Small Class Size
With an excellent student to teacher ratio (two teachers to a class of 12-16 students), each teacher has ample opportunity to follow every child’s progress in great detail. “We are able to offer extra help in any area where it may be needed and to enrich the programme for those students whose ability necessitates it,” Dr. Chandna says.
Learning Centres
Each classroom is set up with various learning centres. Through these learning centres – as for example, language, mathematics, art, research, etc. – children are given the opportunity to explore and experiment. This enhances their development in all areas. Other centres may also be set up to coincide with the theme or topic of the week.
Language and Literacy
The school uses the Oxford Reading Tree from the United Kingdom as the core reading scheme. This wide-ranging scheme is supplemented by a selection of fiction and non-fiction works as reading fluency builds up. Reading and language are coupled with individual creativity and fluency in writing skills. Conversation, drama and singing make for an integral part of the whole language approach to the growth of literacy skills in the classroom as well as in the aesthetics programme.
Problem-Solving
The central focus of the mathematics programme is problem-solving, building on a child’s intuitive insights and prior knowledge. The school follows a language-based approach, similar to the methods used by Singapore’s schools for problem-solving.
Physical Education
Physical education lessons are held on a weekly basis, wherein the children learn to cooperate in groups and to work in teams. During this time they develop both fine and large motor skills, whilst having fun on the playground.
Computer Discovery
Computer work is integrated throughout the curriculum. Computers in the classroom allow each child regular access to the computer so that every student grows familiar with the technology while learning to think and write naturally with a computer. The Oxford Reading Tree language programme is stored on all the computers, enabling students to practice reading from a variety of media.
Cookery and Science
Children enjoy regular science-based activities through cooking. The lessons are great fun, encourage cooperation and promote healthy attitudes towards eating. Cooking classes provide natural practice for estimating, measuring, dividing and other related mathematical skills, observation, experimentation, language, and number practice.
Art and Craft
In these early years many areas of the curriculum are expressed through art and craft. This stimulates a child’s interest and at the same time develops his or her creative thought. Through these activities, their fine motor skills, that are so necessary for later schooling, are developed.
Aesthetics
Visiting specialist teachers conduct ‘edudrama’ (speech and drama) and music sessions once a week with each class.
Learning Support
Every child is a unique individual with his or her own strengths. At times, some children may need additional support and specific ways to learn in order to reach their potential and cope in an ever-changing world. “Within our Gurusthanam Playschools’ programme, we provide additional in-class support for those children who may benefit from this additional service,” Dr. Chandna informs.
The Orange Room
The school also conducts a specialised programme solely for children with additional needs. With a small class of six children and three adults, the children are provided with an individualized programme with structured teaching in their specific learning style as well as the opportunity to integrate into the other pre-school classes.
Discovery Tree
The learning support department also runs a social skills’ programme for children who may need extra help in this area. The Discovery Tree programme has evolved according to the needs of children who have attended over the time that it has been running. Some important skills frequently focused on include recognising emotions, confidence-building, risk-taking, giving and following instructions, and self-leadership. This is a once-a-week programme is designed for small groups.
Spreading Wings through Franchise
Within a span of two years, the company has expanded to a network of 20 centres. Now it has further plans to expand using the franchise route. Elaborating about the profile required of a franchise partner, Dr. Chandna says, “He or she should be a person who has the passion to manage such a school. We are firm about the values we impart to the children and our franchise partner must have the same approach. We are connected to our franchise partners on a daily basis. We form a relationship between the parent, franchise and the company.” The company has set a target of reaching the 50-school mark pan-India by 2018.
Dr Rati further shares her education philosophy.
How has been your journey so far?
Gurusthanam was started in 2015 with an idea of imparting values right at the beginning. The journey has been great so far. Within a span of two years, we have opened 20 centres and we are planning to expand further.
How does early years’ education determine success?
A child’s experience in the early years has a major impact not only on their learning ability but also determines their future life success. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right and it gives children the self-esteem and confidence they need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow. We look forward to being the provider of the high quality Early Years education and care which every child deserves; enhancing, enriching and laying the vital foundations for your child’s future learning and development.
How do you maintain long-term relation with the franchise partners?
We believe in treating our franchisees as the partners. We are connected with them on a daily basis. We form a relationship between the parent, franchise and the company.
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