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Firststeps School

India, Chandigarh

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 16 years
Pupil numbers 561
Type Co-educational
Opened 2008
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Taught languages English, Hindi, Punjabi, French
Typical class size 12
Strengths Languages, Sport, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Preschool, Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

FirstSteps World School in Chandigarh serves learners aged 3 to 16. It offers the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the primary years, followed by Cambridge Secondary, Cambridge IGCSE at Grade X, and Cambridge AS and A Levels through senior secondary. The medium of instruction is English. The school is the first International School in Chandigarh Tricity and is run by Vishesh Educational Society, established in 1988; the Sector-26 campus lies opposite the Blind Girls Hostel. Primary years emphasize inquiry‑based, concept‑driven, transdisciplinary learning that integrates across subjects. From Grade VI, Cambridge examinations are available; IGCSE is offered at Grade X. It runs a Teacher–Student Exchange Programme with KHMS Delhi to promote collaborative learning and cultural exchange. English and Hindi are used; from Grade III a third language (French or Punjabi) is offered, with a language day celebration. A Functional Fitness Programme supports holistic growth. This enriches classroom learning and wellbeing.

FirstSteps World School, Opposite Blind Girls Hostel, Sector-26, Chandigarh - 160019, India

The Essentials

Firststeps School has 561 pupils, typical class sizes of 12, instruction in English.

Location
FirstSteps World School is located opposite Blind Girls Hostel, Sector-26, Chandigarh 160019, India. It also operates a campus in Sector-16, Panchkula (NEEV). FirstSteps is the first International School of Chandigarh Tricity.

Stages
IB Primary Years Programme up to Grade V; Cambridge International Examinations from Grade VI onwards.

Type
International School

Additional learning support
The school has an Inclusive Education Policy to support learners with additional learning needs, including Individual Learning Plans developed in collaboration with the counsellor and coordinators, an Inclusion Support Team, and exam accommodations where required.

Country affiliation
India
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are required. Students wear a proper uniform and a badge.

House System
House Captains (Four) lead house-related activities as part of student leadership. Head Boy and Head Girl are part of the student leadership.

Governance and Ownership
The school is run under the aegis of Vishesh Educational Society, registered under the Societies Registration Act No. 1521 of 1988 (dated 8 April 1988). In 2008, the name of the school was changed to FIRSTSTEPS and it started its operation on 13 April 2008.
Fees
Application / Admission fees
- The school charges a one-time application/registration and admission charge when a new admission is made. Admission charges paid at the time of admission are non‑refundable.

Tuition fees (by year group)
- The school applies an annual tuition fee that varies by year group. Specific numeric tuition amounts by individual year group (per term or per year) are set by the school for each session. The school publishes a prospectus and admission documents that contain the detailed, grade‑wise fee schedule.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Fees are billed on an annual basis with the school offering the standard payment arrangements used for the session (annual and structured instalment options). New‑admission one‑time charges (application/admission and any security/caution deposit) are collected at enrolment. Admission charges once paid are not refundable.

Boarding fees
- FirstSteps operates as a day school; boarding is not applicable. No boarding fee schedule is charged.

Other costs and recurring/one‑time charges
- The school's fee structure includes recurring tuition and annual charges and typically also lists one‑time admission/registration charges and a security/caution deposit. Separate charges for activities, development, transport, uniforms, books, examination fees, and optional co‑curricular programs are handled as distinct items in the school's fee schedule. Specific amounts and whether particular charges are mandatory or optional are defined in the school's published fee documents.

Refund information
- Admission charges collected at the time of admission are not refundable. Refund rules for other components (for example security/caution deposits or pro‑rata adjustments for mid‑year withdrawal) are defined in the school's fee and admission policy documents.

Fee payment options
- The school accepts structured fee payments as set out for the session; the prospectus and admission paperwork specify the accepted modes of payment and the account or portal details to be used for fee remittance.

Summary note about amounts for 2026/27
- The school's published prospectus and admission documents contain the full, grade‑wise numeric fee schedule for the 2026/27 (or, where applicable, 2025/26) session; those documents list the exact amounts per term/year group, the one‑time admission and security deposits, and the available instalment options. The school also confirms it is a day school and that admission charges are non‑refundable.
Academics

Firststeps School teaches IB (PYP), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels for students aged 3 to 16.

Curriculum
FirstSteps School offers IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Cambridge Lower Secondary and Cambridge Upper Secondary programmes. It also offers Cambridge IGCSE at the end of Grade X, with Cambridge IGCSE, AS and A Level assessments available through the school. The medium of instruction is English. Primary years focus on inquiry-based teaching and a concept-driven curriculum, with a transdisciplinary approach that integrates knowledge across subjects.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
FirstSteps School provides mental health and wellbeing programs and a school counsellor who conducts regular assessments to identify at‑risk students. The counsellor develops tailored intervention strategies for students facing mental health challenges or learning difficulties and provides both individual and group counselling for issues such as anxiety, stress and trauma. They foster resilience and healthy coping through group sessions and facilitate support for students facing bullying or discrimination. When necessary, minor or specialized cases may be referred to external professional counseling. The school treats student well‑being as a core element of its inclusive and safeguarding framework.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
FirstSteps School follows an inclusive education policy that guarantees equality of opportunity and aims to remove barriers to learning, viewing inclusion as an ongoing process that increases access and engagement for all students. The school provides for learners with additional educational needs through Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) that are drafted with input from parents and students and reviewed regularly. Accommodations in the Cambridge Curriculum for inclusion are provided, and staff receive professional training to support diverse learning needs. The school emphasizes early identification of needs and appropriate provisions to support inclusive participation. A 25% reservation of seats at entry for economically weaker sections is observed under the RTE Act.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
English is the medium of instruction and the primary language taught at FirstSteps School, with English having priority in the language programme. The language policy allows inquiry in the home language and promotes multilingualism. Additional English language skill classes are provided from Grade III onwards, and all teachers view themselves as language teachers. Official school communications are in English, while some staff may communicate in Hindi or Punjabi as needed to support the community.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental health and wellbeing programs are part of the school's framework, with the counsellor conducting regular assessments to identify at‑risk students and to guide interventions. The counsellor develops tailored strategies and provides individual and group counselling to address anxiety, stress and trauma, fostering resilience and healthy coping. The approach supports a culture of vigilance for safeguarding and well‑being, and referrals to external professionals are considered when appropriate.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding and child protection are central to the school's operations. The School Safety and Security Policy establishes a Child Friendly School Committee (CFSC) and assigns responsibilities to school leadership, staff and counselors to monitor safety and respond to concerns. It requires adherence to the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect guidelines and the PAOCSO/POCSO Act framework, with reporting protocols such as involving the counselor within 48 hours of any report or concern and escalating to appropriate authorities for serious cases. The policy also covers awareness and training on disasters, fire safety, first aid, cyberbullying, online safety, and safe travel, ensuring a safe environment for all students.
Parent Experience

History
FirstSteps is the first International School of Chandigarh Tricity. The school is run under the aegis of Vishesh Educational Society, which was registered under the Societies Registration Act No: 1521 of 1988 dated 8th April 1988. The Society was allotted land by the Chandigarh Administration on 22nd June 1989, and the school was built at the present location by the society, which operated the school as Dutt Vishesh School from 1993 till September 2007. In 2008, the name was changed to FIRSTSTEPS and it began operation on 13th April 2008. FirstSteps offers the IB Primary Years Programme till Grade V and Cambridge International Examinations from Grade VI onwards.

Community
FirstSteps World School is located opposite Blind Girls Hostel, Sector-26, Chandigarh 160019. With the Mission Statement “India for World”, the school emphasizes world-class education. News and Articles include events such as the Teacher–Student Exchange Programme 2026 between FirstSteps School and KHMS Delhi, held from 16–18 April 2026, to promote collaborative learning and cultural exchange. Parent voices appear in the Parents Speak section, and the site provides access to the photo and video galleries.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
IB Primary Years Programme till Grade V and Cambridge International Examinations from Grade VI. FirstSteps is the first International School of Chandigarh Tricity. The school is run under Vishesh Educational Society. Teacher–Student Exchange Programme 2026 with KHMS Delhi promotes collaborative learning and cultural exchange beyond the classroom.

Cultural & Language
English and Hindi are languages used at FirstSteps. From Grade III onward, a third language (French or Punjabi) is offered. The school conducts a language day celebration.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school features a Functional Fitness Programme. This is part of Holistic Growth highlighted on the homepage.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the medium of instruction. Hindi is offered as a second language from Pre-Kindergarten onward. Punjabi and French are offered as optional languages from Grade III onward. Across the programmes, Kindergarten provides English, Hindi, Punjabi, and French; the PYP provides English, Hindi, Punjabi from Grade III onward, and French from Grade III onward; the Cambridge programme offers English, Hindi (Grades VI–X), Punjabi (Grades VI–VIII), and French (Grades VI–VII).
Admissions

Admissions
The school follows a first-come, first-served policy. Applications are invited in December for the admission process. Twenty-five percent of seats are reserved for Economically Weaker Section (RTE) as directed by the Chandigarh Education Department. Admissions for the general quota follow the instructions of the District Education Officer. Eligibility for Class 1 requires a child to be six years old on 30 June; Pre-KG is for 4+ years (birth between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022) and KG is for 5+ years (birth between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021). RTE/EWS admissions follow the DEO/Chandigarh Administration directions. Applicants must submit Birth Certificate and Aadhaar Card from the competent authorities. Residence proof and identities of both parents/guardians are required. Four recent color photographs of the child and two photographs of each parent/guardian are required. For students transferring from other schools, provide a Transfer Certificate and the last class report; for RTE/EWS admissions, documents must follow DEO/Chandigarh Administration directions. Admission Notice for Session 2026-27 lists Pre-KG as the entry class with two sections; General Category seats total 48; RTE seats total 12. The notice outlines the online admission process and important dates. Dates include 9–22 December 2025 for form submission, 16 January 2026 for eligible lists, 2 February 2026 for finalization and waiting list, and 13 February 2026 for fee deposit. Fees for Session 2026-27 include 100 for registration, 5000 as caution money, and 2,15,000 per year payable in four installments; online forms are available for Play School and AS/A Levels admissions.

Waitlist
Finalization and waiting list are displayed on 2 February 2026 as part of the admission process.
School Events
The school has not added events
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