5 Best Preschools in Johannesburg (2026)

City Kidz Pre & Primary School is a private school in the City and Suburban area of central Johannesburg that covers both preschool and primary grades, run as a social initiative by AFHCO Holdings. The school recently opened an AI and robotics centre alongside its existing smart-board classrooms, positioning itself on technology access that reviewers say is rare to find at this price point in the inner city. Parents describe switching from township public schools and from other private options, citing affordability alongside academic results as the deciding factor.

The Apple Blossom Nursery School is a nursery and preschool in the Turf Club area of Johannesburg South, run under principal Sanet and covering ages from infancy through preschool. Parents describe a program that balances structured academics with play, and multiple reviewers trace specific outcomes, like a child reading fluently or moving from a shy temperament to a confident one, back to specific teachers who worked with their children for years. One parent reports their child later ranked in the top 10 of their Grade 1 class after leaving Apple Blossom.

Houghton Estate Preschool, known to parents as HEPS, sits in Houghton Estate and serves children from babies to six years old with small class sizes designed for individual attention. The school provides home-cooked, Halaal-certified meals for all children and positions itself between two other well-known Johannesburg schools in the same suburb. Reviewers consistently mention specific teachers by name and describe a calm, low-pressure environment that doesn't overload parents with extra fundraising or activities.

Montessori on a Hill Preschool in Kensington runs a Montessori program under founder Rene, described by parents as culturally diverse and cosmopolitan. Reviews span over a decade, with some families recalling their children's time there from as far back as 2012 and 2013, describing a hands-on approach that had children reading fluently by age four or five. The school does not currently list a website, and contact appears to run through a personal phone number.

Lillies Christian Day Care and Pre-School is a nonprofit early childhood development centre in Berea, registered with the Department of Basic Education and serving children from six months to six years old. Founded in 2015, the school describes its mission as educating children regardless of background or financial standing, with a curriculum covering cognitive, motor, emotional, and social development. Multiple long-time parents describe a principal who personally answers calls and stays involved with each family's transition out of the school.