Daycare in Medavakkam, Chennai

If you are looking for a daycare in Medavakkam that doesn't feel like a daycare — that feels like school, with longer hours — iPlay iLearn is built for exactly that. Since 2010 we've run daycare and preschool as one integrated programme: same teachers, same campus, same curriculum, just longer hours for working-parent families.

What "integrated daycare" means in practice

Most preschools that "offer daycare" run it as a separate after-school facility — different staff, different rooms, often a different floor. The child experiences two different mini-environments in one day. We do it differently.

At iPlay iLearn, daycare is the same programme as school, extended. Your child is with the teacher they know all day. The room they had circle time in at 9 am is the same room where they nap at 1.30 pm. The friends they made in Play Group are the friends they share lunch with. There is no "handover" to a new team mid-day. For young children — who are still building attachment and predictability — this consistency matters more than parents often realise.

A daycare day at iPlay iLearn

Every day follows roughly this rhythm with small variations for festivals, weather and project work. The predictability is the point — children settle deeper into learning when they know what's coming next.

Who our daycare is for

The majority of our daycare families fit one of these patterns:

• Both parents working full-time — often one parent commuting to Sholinganallur, OMR, Velachery, the IT corridor or central Chennai. Drop-off at 8.30 am, pickup at 3.30–4.00 pm fits typical office hours.
• One parent working, the other studying, in transition, or with health considerations — daycare gives the child structured engagement during the day and the parent uninterrupted hours.
• Joint families with shared care duties — grandparents handle morning and pickup, daycare fills the middle of the day with peer learning the child can't get at home.
• Working-from-home parents needing focused work hours — increasingly common, and well-suited to our 8.30–4.00 window.

Why iPlay iLearn works for working parents

What you'll hear from our daycare parents at admissions interviews:

• Owner-run, founder on campus daily. Mrs Hemalatha, our founder, has 20+ years in early-years education and is on site every day. Concerns get heard immediately, not routed through a corporate office in a different city.
• Stable teaching team. Most teachers have been with us for years. The teacher your child meets in Play Group is often still here when they move to LKG. For daycare children, that continuity is everything.
• 16 years in the neighbourhood. We've had two generations of children from the same families. Word-of-mouth from older siblings, neighbours and friends drives most of our daycare admissions.
• Genuine play-based curriculum. Our in-house iEPICS curriculum keeps children engaged for the longer daycare day without it feeling like extended babysitting.
• Communication that respects busy schedules. WhatsApp updates from the class teacher, term parent–teacher meetings, and an open-door policy if you need to drop in. No corporate-style portals to log into.

Daycare across Medavakkam & surrounding areas

Our daycare families come from across Medavakkam and the adjacent neighbourhoods. If you live in any of these areas, here's how our daycare typically works for your commute:

• Medavakkam & Vadakapattu — walking distance to a 5-minute scooter
• BHEL Nagar — 5–8 minute ride
• Pallikaranai — 10–15 minute drive, often on the way to Velachery / OMR / Sholinganallur
• Kovilambakkam — ~10-minute drive south
• Vadakkupattu — 7–12 minute drive, convenient for IT-corridor commutes
• Nanmangalam — 10–12 minute drive

Daycare vs preschool — what's the difference here?

At iPlay iLearn, both your preschool-only and daycare child are in the same programme until 2.00 pm. They learn the same curriculum, with the same teachers, in the same room. The only difference is the day length:

• Preschool only: 8.30 am – 2.00 pm (Monday to Friday)
• Daycare: 8.30 am – 4.00 pm (Monday to Friday) — adds lunch, nap, afternoon activity

You can also start with preschool only and add daycare hours later if your work situation changes. We've had many families do exactly that as the child's first year ends and the parent's leave wraps up.

Fees, slots and how to start

Daycare slots are limited per age group, especially for Play Group and Nursery. We share the current fee structure during your campus visit so you have a transparent, age-appropriate quote — and you can see the daycare environment in use before deciding.

Call +91 78119 88825 or use our contact form to check current daycare slot availability and book a tour. Tours are available Monday to Saturday, 8.30 am – 4.00 pm.

Frequently asked questions about daycare

What are the daycare hours at iPlay iLearn?

Daycare runs alongside our school programme from 8.30 am to 4.00 pm, Monday to Friday. The office is open Mon–Sat 8.30 am – 4.00 pm for admissions and queries. Drop-off is typically 8.30 to 9.00 am; daycare children are picked up between 3.30 and 4.00 pm.

What ages does the daycare accept?

Children aged 2 to 6 years, mapped to our preschool age bands: Play Group (2–3), Nursery (3–5), Lower KG (4–5), Upper KG (5–6). A Mom & Toddlers programme is available for under-18-months.

Is daycare a separate facility from the preschool?

No. Daycare is integrated with the preschool — same campus, same teachers, same curriculum. The child stays in their familiar environment with familiar adults; only the hours are longer. This is by design and is one of the things parents tell us mattered most when choosing us.

What about lunch and nap arrangements?

Daycare children bring lunch from home in a tiffin — we don't run a meal service. Lunch is at 1.00 pm, eaten together with teachers supervising. Nap/quiet rest runs 1.30 to 3.00 pm in a calm room with mats and light covers. Children who don't nap have a quiet activity space available.

What if I need to extend pickup beyond 4 pm occasionally?

Occasional late pickup is workable with prior notice — call the school by 2.00 pm to let us know. We don't offer a formal extended-care slot, so this should be the exception, not the rule.

What languages are spoken in daycare?

English-medium with bilingual Tamil exposure — same as our school programme. Most of our teachers speak both fluently, which helps Tamil-speaking households and families new to Chennai equally.

How do I enrol my child for daycare?

Call +91 78119 88825 to check current daycare slot availability for your child's age group, and book a campus visit. We share the fee structure and admission process at the visit. Tours are available Monday to Saturday, 8.30 am – 4.00 pm.