Preschool systems compared
Every country organises the years before primary school differently: who pays, when attendance becomes compulsory and what the classes are called. The table below keeps to statements we can source to a government or regulator page, so you can check each one yourself.
| Country | What the official source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (England) | All 3 and 4 year olds in England can get 15 hours of free early education or childcare a week. | GOV.UK, 15 hours free childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds |
| Children must be in full-time education from the term after their fifth birthday; most start in a Reception class the September after they turn four. | GOV.UK, school admissions: school starting age | |
| United States | Compulsory school age and kindergarten entry rules are set by each state, not nationally. | NCES, State Education Practices: compulsory school attendance |
| United Arab Emirates (Dubai) | Dubai private schools starting in August or September use 31 August as the age cut-off date from 2024-2025. | KHDA, Dubai private schools age cut-off change (2024) |
| Private schools in Dubai are licensed and inspected by KHDA, which publishes a school directory. | KHDA, choosing and enrolling in a Dubai private school | |
| Philippines | Kindergarten is compulsory for five-year-olds as part of basic education. | Republic Act No. 10157 (Kindergarten Education Act) |
| The DepEd school year 2025-2026 runs from June 2025 to March 2026. | DepEd Order No. 12, s. 2025 (School Calendar SY 2025-2026) | |
| India | The National Education Policy 2020 sets a 5+3+3+4 structure whose foundational stage covers three years of early childhood education from age 3 plus Grades 1 and 2. | Ministry of Education, National Education Policy 2020 |
Countries without an official source we have checked are left out rather than summarised from memory. We add them as sources are verified.
- Is preschool compulsory in these countries?
- It depends on the country. In the Philippines, Kindergarten for five-year-olds is part of compulsory basic education; in England, full-time education is required from the term after a child turns five; in the United States, each state sets its own rules.