Navigating the school admission process can be overwhelming for parents, especially when it comes to understanding the different schools’ policies and age criteria for their child’s enrollment.
If you, as a parent, also find yourself confused by the varying school admission requirements, policies, and age criteria, rest assured because you are not alone.
Most of the parents report stress and unexplainable pressure during the school admission season.
And the constantly changing policies and school-specific requirements often add to their difficulties.
To address this common concern, particularly for the parents in Haryana, we have simplified the Haryana school admission age criteria for 2025-26.
Read this blog till the end to gain a clear and detailed understanding of the Haryana school admission age criteria for the 2025-26 academic year, ensuring a smooth admission process for your child.
What is the New Education Policy in 2025?
The National Education Policy in 2025 is an evolved or updated version of the Education Policy 2020 and has been implemented all over India. It has restructured the schooling pattern into the 5+3+3+4 model, emphasizing the importance of foundational learning and developmental readiness over the age-old teaching methods.
Here are the key aspects of the new education policy.
1. Restructured School Education System:
In the new education policy, the old 10+2 structure has been replaced with a 5+3+3+4 design, covering ages 3 -18:
- Foundational Stage (3-8 Years): 3 Years of pre-primary plus Grades 1-2. This stage focuses on early childhood education and foundational literacy and numeracy.
- Preparatory Stage (8-11 Years): Grades 3-5 are considered under the Preparatory Stage. This stage emphasizes the continued development of foundational skills and the introduction to more specialized subjects.
- Middle Stage (11-14 Years): Grades 6-8 come under the middle stage. The middle stage emphasizes more structured learning and exploration of
- Secondary Stage (14-18 Years): The Secondary stage is all about higher education or vocational training. Grades 9-12 are considered under the secondary stage, providing you with the flexibility to choose subjects.
2. Emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE):
The new education policy focuses more on developing cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical abilities before the school begins so that the child prepares for what is going to be taught.
3. Flexible Entry Ages:
However, schools strictly adhere to the minimum age requirement, but this policy also allows some flexibility based on the child’s readiness.
What is the Minimum Age to Start School?
According to child development experts, the right age and developmental stage significantly affect the academic performance and educational journey of your child.
If you look at the Haryana school admission age criteria 2025-26, the minimum age requirement varies according to the class you want to take admission in.
| Class/Standard | Minimum Age by 31st March 2025 |
| Pre-Nursery | 2 years 6 months |
| Nursery | 3 Years |
| LKG/Prep | 4 Years |
| UKG/KG | 5 Years |
| Class 1 | 6 Years |
Note: Here, 31st March 2025 means that for the 2025-2026 academic session, your child’s age will be calculated as of March 31st, 2025.
What is the Minimum Age for 1st Class in Haryana?
This is the most asked question by the parents or guardians: what is the minimum age for 1st class admission, or when can they admit their child to school?
As per the Haryana school admission age criteria 2025-26, a child must be 6 years old by 31st March 2025 to become eligible for Class 1 admission.
This age criterion is strictly aligned with the NEP 2020 guidelines and has been officially adopted by CBSE and Haryana state boards.
School-Specific Policies
However, government guidelines are consistent, but every school may have specific documentation, readiness tests, or slightly variations.
Here are the guidelines and protocols of Haryana Public School, Narnaul:
1. HPS strictly follows the Haryana school admission age criteria 2025-26.
2. Smart class-based interactive learning even for initial classes like Nursery.
3. Informal student-parent interaction sessions during admission.
4. Priority to students from nearby areas.
For more information, don’t forget to go through the school’s official website.
Read More: Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for Admission at HPS Narnaul
Conclusion
As a parent, you should understand the fact that starting too early or too late can impact your child’s emotional, social, and academic growth.
Understanding the Haryana school admission age criteria 2025-26 will help you to give your child the right start at the right time.
If you are looking for the best school in Haryana for your kid and need help in understanding the admission process and age criteria, reach out to the experts at Haryana Public School.
For more information, visit “https://www.hpsnarnaul.co.in/”.