Last reviewed: 28 October 2026
Pre-primary is where a child’s school life begins under the Competency Based Curriculum. It lasts two years, PP1 and PP2, before Grade 1. Parents often ask what age a child should start, what they actually learn, and whether they should be reading and writing by the end. This guide answers those questions.
On this page
How pre-primary fits into CBC
CBC organises basic education as two years of pre-primary, six years of primary (Grades 1 to 6), three years of junior school (Grades 7 to 9) and three years of senior school (Grades 10 to 12). The structure is described in the Basic Education Curriculum Framework published by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
What age do children join PP1 and PP2?
The framework is built around children joining PP1 at about age four and PP2 at about age five, so that they start Grade 1 at about age six. Individual schools may ask for a birth certificate and apply their own cut-off dates, so check with the school you prefer before the January intake.
Who runs pre-primary schools?
Under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya, pre-primary education is a function of county governments. That is why public ECDE (early childhood development and education) centres, usually attached to public primary schools, are managed and staffed by counties, while the national government sets curriculum and standards. Many private kindergartens and academies also offer PP1 and PP2.
The five activity areas
Pre-primary learning is organised into activity areas rather than subjects:
- Language Activities: listening, speaking, early reading and pre-writing skills such as holding a pencil and forming patterns.
- Mathematical Activities: sorting, matching, counting, number recognition, shapes and simple measurement.
- Environmental Activities: the child’s body, home, school, weather, plants, animals, hygiene and safety.
- Psychomotor and Creative Activities: running, jumping, balancing, drawing, painting, modelling, music and movement.
- Religious Education Activities: stories, songs and values from the family’s faith.
Learning happens mainly through play, songs, stories and hands-on activities. A good class is busy and noisy in a purposeful way, not a room of four-year-olds copying from the board.
How are young children assessed?
There are no formal exams in pre-primary. Teachers observe children, keep checklists and portfolios of their work, and report progress in descriptive terms. Ask the teacher how they record progress and what you can do at home to support it.
Should my child read and write by the end of PP2?
Children develop at different speeds. By the end of PP2, many recognise letters and their sounds, read a few simple words, write their name and count objects confidently. Formal reading is built up in Grades 1 to 3. Be cautious of schools that push long homework and heavy writing on very young children; play-based learning builds stronger foundations.
Supporting learning at home
- Read aloud for 10 to 15 minutes a day, in English, Kiswahili or your home language.
- Count real things together: cups, steps, oranges at the market.
- Give time for outdoor play, drawing and building.
- Build independence: dressing, using the toilet, packing a bag.
Choosing a centre
Visit during a lesson. Look for trained teachers, a safe compound, clean toilets sized for small children, enough play materials and a reasonable class size. Ask about fees, meals and transport. When it is time for primary school, our school fees guides help you plan costs.
Wondering whether PP2 is enough? Use our Grade 1 readiness checklist before the January intake.
Comparing pre-primary options? Our guide on how to choose an ECDE centre in Kenya lists ten checks to make on a visit.
Want 10 more questions like this? Get the Monthly Pass + Holiday Packs for KSh 550.
Get the Monthly Pass + Holiday Packs →