Navigating early education options is tough, especially if you’re hunting for the best preschool in Johannesburg. We completely understand how overwhelming the search feels. 

You want a safe, engaging space where your child can grow, socialize, and learn fundamental skills, all while fitting your family’s schedule. 

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our solid list of top-rated early learning centers across the city. Let’s dive in and find the perfect fit for your family!

School / Category	Half-Day Fee (approx.)	Full-Day Fee (approx.)
CityKidz (Inner-City)	—	R1,500 / month
Let Them Grow (Northcliff area)	—	R4,250 / month
Everwood Pre-Primary (Randburg)	R4,390 / month	R4,860 / month
Oakhill Preschool (Suburban)	R5,150 / month	R5,620 / month
Nurture & Nature Montessori (Sandton)	R6,300 / month	R7,250 / month (with aftercare)

1. Houghton Estate Preschool

Website: http://www.heps.co.za/

Address: 58 St Johns Rd, Houghton Estate

Contact: +27 11 487 3129, +27 62 069 1513

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM 

It’s tough juggling drop-offs in the morning, but the Houghton Estate Preschool location really helps. It sits right between King Edward VII Preparatory School and St. John’s College, making mornings less stressful for parents with older kids nearby. 

One mom we chatted with shared that she saves loads of time every day thanks to this. The center also takes in children from infancy up to six years old, so siblings can stay together without switching schools.

Teachers here keep class sizes small, which means they can focus on each child and track their progress closely. You don’t have to worry about packing lunches either, since they offer daily home-cooked, Halaal-certified meals. 

But remember there’s a non-refundable registration deposit of R1000, and late fee payments come with a monthly penalty.

The teachers are always friendly

I love this school, it’s very inclusive. The teachers are always friendly and smiling and my daughter is learning quite a lot. When she started beginning of this year she could not talk but now she has full on conversations with us and we couldn’t be happier parents. Thank you Houghton Estate Preschool for taking such good care of our daughter.  We definitely plan on bringing our new born son soon as he’s ready for school.🤩😃❤ 

• Valerian Diphoko, Google Review

All the teachers are passionate and caring

All three of my daughters have grown up at this very special school. Two of them right from baby through to grade r. All the teachers are passionate and caring and it reflects on my kids because they come home happy. It’s not only about about education at HEPS because there are so many fun days in between and dress-up’s for special occasions, not to mention their funfilled annual sports day and concert which is the highlight of the year. The strong educational foundation set by HEPS has helped my children immensely in their transition to primary school.

• Rochelle Pelser, Google Review

2. Evim Preschools – Johannesburg

Website: https://johannesburg.evimpreschools.co.za/

Address: 64 Athol St, Highlands North

Contact: +27 74 786 3846

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM  

It’s not easy to find a preschool that teaches advanced skills to little ones, but Evim stands out. They mix a Montessori-inspired approach with hands-on STEM activities, robotics, and even farming projects, all tailored for young kids. 

If you want something beyond the usual methods, you could also look into some top homeschools for different ways of learning.

The center is super clean, keeping things sanitized and shoe-free. Plus, the sensory play areas are a big hit with the kids. 

Every class has a 1:14 teacher-to-student ratio, too, so children really get noticed and supported. 

The only thing to keep in mind is that they’re just for ages three to six. They’re not the right choice if you need a spot for infants or younger toddlers.

The teachers are patient, caring, and truly passionate

From the very first day, the staff made my child feel welcomed, safe, and loved. The teachers are patient, caring, and truly passionate about early childhood development. I can see a big difference in my child’s confidence, language skills, and social abilities since joining this school.

What I appreciate most is the balance between learning and play. The classroom activities are creative and engaging, and the children are always exploring new things—whether it’s art,  early literacy, or outdoor play. The school also keeps parents updated regularly with photos and feedback, which gives me peace of mind throughout the day.

• Halid Cetinkaya, Google Review

3. City Kidz Pre & Primary School

Website: http://citykidz.co.za/

Address: 18 Mooi St, City and Suburban

Contact: +27 11 334 6631, +27 11 224 2570

Hours: Monday, 7:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Tuesday-Friday, 7:45 AM – 1:30 PM

Introducing kids to technology early really sets them up for the future, and City Kidz Pre & Primary School makes it easy with their AI Robotics Centre designed just for young learners. 

There are even 3D printers that help bring creative ideas to life. Their Grade R program focuses a lot on hands-on art and music, which is perfect if your child continues with specialized art schools later on.

Several parents have mentioned that the school-readiness testing helps a lot in figuring out if a child is ready for Grade 1 or could benefit from another year. There’s also a dedicated center for infants, so parents with younger kids have options! 

One thing to note: the school day ends early at 12:30 PM on Mondays. Additionally, there’s a non-refundable R750 admission fee.

A great school to put your child through

A great school to put your child through…

My baby boy is always excited to go to school, there’s probably a good thing that draws kids into loving the school.

Best decision I ever made by bringing my child to the school.

Communication between teachers and parents is outstanding, they communicate with us on a daily basis.

Love them for that😊😊 

• Thandeka Lisa, Google Review

The teachers are super sweet and amazing

I feel so comfortable and at ease with taking my daughter to CityKidz Primary School. Its a lovely place. It is sparkling clean and tidy at all times of the day.The teachers are super sweet and amazing. I’ve never worried about my daughter while she’s under their care and guidance. 

• Thando Nkosi, Google Review

4. Little Lamps Preschool

Website: https://littlelamps.co.za/

Address: 18 Chester Rd, Parkwood

Contact: +27 71 382 7147

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Little Lamps Preschool mixes the Gauteng Curriculum with Cambridge principles, making sure every child gets a learning journey that fits them best. 

While touring the campus, we noticed their open-door policy lets parents actually sit in on a class before enrolling. This makes it a lot easier to get a feel for the environment.

Kids here work on practical skills like counting to ten, recognizing their names, and dressing themselves confidently before moving on. 

Schedules are pretty flexible, too, with both half-day and full-day options and an early drop-off from 6:45 AM. 

The only downside is they only take kids up to five years old, so you’ll need another school for Grade R.

They are in the care of an amazing team

Little Lamps Preschool is our girls home away from home. As parents we feel happy and content knowing that when our girls are not in our care they are in the care of an amazing team that are shaping them to be well mannered, confident, smart, strong young ladies.

Our eldest daughter (she has been with little Lamps from 1 years old) will be graduating this year and we have no doubt that not only will she be ready but she will excel in her new chapter of school next year

• Bianca Monique farquhar, Google Review

He made amazing friends in a warm environment

Little lamps was our son’s pre school for two years and we are truly grateful for the love, work and dedication that the little lamps crew provided him. He made amazing friends in a warm environment and because of the care and attention is well prepared for pre primary school.

Thank you teacher Pat and team! Keep up the good work! 

• Ayanda Masokoane, Google Review

5. The Wold Preschool

Website: https://www.thewold.co.za/

Address: 30 Methwold Road, Saxonwold

Contact: +27 11 646 9732

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Starting primary school can be stressful for kids, but The Wold Preschool makes it much easier since they’re linked with the Saxonwold Primary School Governing Body. That connection helps kids move smoothly from preschool into primary school.

The campus itself has an open-plan setup with five different learning zones, where children can pick what they want to do based on their mood. Small groups and hands-on activities help kids build important skills in reading and math. 

And to keep everyone healthy, there’s a strict 48-hour sick policy before kids can return to class.

However, the tuition doesn’t cover afternoon supervision or meals. There’s also a non-refundable R2000 development levy you’ll need to pay when registering.

Very happy with the levels of progress our boys made

The teachers and the staff at The Wold have been very helpful in making the transition to a different continent and a new language as smooth as possible for my sons. I was surprised not only by the level of attention all the children at The Wold receive, but also by the quality of the feedback to the parents (a welcome change from our experience overseas).

My kids loved going to The Wold (the youngest one is currently in grade R and still does) and my wife and I are very happy with the levels of progress our boys made

• Ulrich De Prins, Google Review