significance of preschool education : It is the right of every child to be provided opportunities for all-round growth and development to realise their full potential. The early years are the most significant years for human growth, development and learning for all children including those with special needs due to disability conditions. Research in neurosciences has highlighted that this is the stage for rapid and extensive brain development. Environmental conditions during early years substantially affect the growth of children’s neural pathways. Providing optimal stimulation at the right time is the key to the networking of brain cells, which shape the way individuals behave, think and learn for the rest of their lives. The multiple functions of the brain operate in a richly coordinated way and lead to the acquisition of skills and abilities in all areas of development. The all-round capacities that emerge in 3–6 years age group are the pre-requisites for later success in school and life. Through creative play, well thought out games with suitable adaptations for children with special needs, and developmentally appropriate activities, children develop their working memory, focus their attention and acquire self-control. These skills of executive functions and self-regulation provide children with the foundation which Ch-1 Significance of Preschool Years.indd 1 help them become confident and efficient learners in the later years. They also learn to accommodate naturally the differences (learning styles) among themselves. It is also important that children should be provided emotionally supportive and enabling environment to develop safe and secure relationship with teachers. Children need to feel free to explore, express, learn and build positive self-concept. Research shows that participation in preschool programmes is beneficial because it leads to improved outcomes, including better nutrition, health, and education in both short and long run. Moreover, from an economic point of view, investment in preschool programmes offers a high pay-off in human capital making a strong case for public intervention. Preschool programmes not only benefit children and families, but also reduce social inequality, and benefit communities and societies at large. Hence, providing adequate opportunities for stimulating experiences favourably affect various learning abilities. Based on this understanding, preschool curriculum aims at providing a cohesive approach to facilitate the unfolding of each child’s innate potentials in all the domains of development. The curriculum focuses on the developmental stages when children inquire, explore and discover a great deal 22-Nov-19 10:02:03 AMabout themselves and establish attitudes and competencies related to the learning that stay with them for life. It also aims to integrate the various domains of development with the expected learning outcomes in ways that are compatible with the natural learning behaviour of young children in this age group.