The concept of teaching tiny tots through play-way method and without burdening the tender shoulders of little children with books and bags was a dream of Mrs. Gerda Philipsborn of Germany and also of the great educationist Dr. Zakir Husain.

This concept very successfully took the shape of Jamia Nursery School in 1955. It was the result of hard work and dedication of Ms. Mushir Fatma (Aapa Jaan) who had a great support and helping hand of Ms. Jamal Fatima (Mimmi Baji). Ms. Yasmin Sait, Director (1982-1994) also contributed her share by taking this school to great heights.

Here at the Mushir Fatma Nursery School the children are given a congenial and happy environment for a healthy and all-round development of their personality, so that in the long run they emerge as confident social beings; ready to come out in the competitive world. Effort is towards bringing out the best in each child's personality.

• To bring out a well defined coordination between hand and mind.
• To enable them to express themselves in their mother tongue and to improve their vocabulary and their pronunciation.
• To make them understand the importance of time and discipline.
• To bring out the hidden talents in children by giving them freedom of expression.
• To develop in them the habits of cleanliness and tidiness.
• To develop in them aesthetic sense, sense of colour and proportion.
• To make them work in a methodical and systematic manner.
• To teach them the importance of correct posture, good eating habits and personal hygiene.
• To make them confident and independent.

Today the strength of the school is approx. 321. Children in the age groups of 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years are admitted to the Dareecha Group'- (KG-I). Next they go to the Chaman Group' (KG-II) which has children in the age group of 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 years. As the teacher-pupil ratio for younger age group of children is very important, a well thought of ratio is kept in each age group. (ideal ratio-1:25)

While admitting, preference is given to the children of Jamia employees, especially of the lower income group, as we are well aware of their weak cultural and financial background which certainly needs to be strengthened and nurtured in order to uplift the society and for the progress of the country.

The children entering the nursery school are totally new to the school environment as compared to their cozy and protected home environment. To begin with, our teachers do their best to win the confidence of these children and instill in them a feeling of trust in order to help them adjust and get familiarized with the new environment. The teachers and other staff members are there in the school an hour earlier than the children and they leave the school after planning, preparing and arranging, the classrooms for the next day.

The children in the nursery age group are tremendously active; always running, jumping and holding/carrying things. Our school has enough space, both indoors and outdoors, to give freedom of movement to these young children so that they can move about freely and use equipment for play in creative and purposeful ways.

The nursery school carries out the following activities for all-round enrichment, and overall personality development of their children: