PARENT GUIDE · EARLY YEARS

Nursery, LKG and UKG syllabus, year by year

What children typically learn in each pre-primary year, the national framework behind it, and what to ask a school.

IN SHORT

Nursery builds listening, speaking, counting to 10 and pre-writing strokes; LKG adds letter sounds, writing their name and numbers to 20; UKG moves to reading simple words, writing short sentences, numbers to 100 and simple addition. CBSE does not prescribe a fixed pre-primary syllabus — schools plan with NCERT's National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (NCF-FS, 2022), which favours play and activity over workbooks.

Updated 14 October 2026 · Mayo International School, Patparganj, East Delhi

Framework: NCF-FS 2022 (NCERT)
Foundational stage: Ages 3 to 8
Mayo programme: Kreedo, play-based
Exams: None in the early years

Year by year

Nursery · language	Stories and rhymes, short sentences, first sounds
Nursery · numbers	Counting to 10, colours, shapes, sorting and matching
LKG · language	Letter sounds (phonics), forming letters, writing their name
LKG · numbers	Numbers to 20 and beyond, more and less, patterns
UKG · language	Blending to read three-letter words, simple sentences
UKG · numbers	Numbers to 100, simple addition and subtraction, time and money
All years	Fine-motor skills, play with others, independence, the world around them

The national framework

The NEP 2020 treats ages 3 to 8 — three pre-primary years plus Classes 1 and 2 — as one foundational stage. NCERT's NCF-FS (2022) sets its goals across physical, social-emotional, cognitive, language and literacy, and aesthetic and cultural development, plus positive learning habits.

It asks for learning through play, stories, toys and conversation, and warns against textbooks and written tests for the youngest children.

What to ask a school

Is there a written-test or homework load in the pre-primary years?
What learning materials and toys do children use every day?
How are children assessed, and how is progress shared with parents?
How are new children settled in during the first weeks?

At Mayo

The early years follow Kreedo's play-based programme, and Kreedo's approach carries on to Class II.

Nursery admission for 2027-28 is open until 15 December 2026 (60 seats this round).

Kreedo's play-based early-years programme: learning through toys, games and hands-on activity
A dedicated Play Room with age-appropriate toys, interactive zones, and motor-skill and social play
Tata Edge smart classrooms alongside play-based learning
Abacus included at no extra cost
Excursions and field trips through the year
No formal examinations: termly observation reports and reading levels instead

Questions parents ask

What is the syllabus for Nursery?

Stories and rhymes, short sentences and first sounds; counting to 10, colours, shapes, sorting and matching; pre-writing strokes; and independence such as eating and washing hands.

What is the syllabus for LKG?

Letter sounds (phonics), forming letters and writing their name; numbers to 20 and beyond, more and less, patterns; cutting, colouring and group games.

What is the syllabus for UKG?

Blending sounds to read three-letter words and simple sentences, writing short sentences, numbers to 100, simple addition and subtraction, and early ideas of time and money.

Does CBSE have a nursery syllabus?

No fixed one. Schools plan the pre-primary years with NCERT's National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage (2022).

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Sources

Rules change each year: check the official notice for your year. Mayo's own figures come from the school's records.

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Office hours: Mon–Sat, 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Questions about Nursery admission?

Leave your number and the admissions team calls you back within one working day — seat status in your child’s class, the fee sheet and your nearest bus stop.

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