On a warm morning in 2004, a modest building in Bengaluru opened its doors to a handful of children, each clutching their parents’ hands and a neatly packed lunchbox. There were no banners, no grandiose slogans, no promises of Ivy League futures. Only a quiet conviction shared by two young parents, Mr. Vittal Bhandary and Mrs. Preeti Bhandary, that early childhood deserved something far better.
This is the story of Little Elly’s journey– an inspiring narrative igniting the imaginations of young minds and education enthusiasts alike, illustrating how steadfast vision, compassion, and curiosity can transform a simple idea into a thriving educational ecosystem.
The first Little Elly preschool was not born as a business venture, but as a labour of love- a parent’s pursuit of the finest early learning experience for their child. Nearly two decades later, that modest classroom has blossomed into a vast constellation of institutions: Little Elly Preschools, Elly Childcare Centres, the LETTER Academy for teacher training, and Glentree Academy- a chain of CBSE schools, all united by a shared philosophy: Learning for Life.
The journey, however, was far from an overnight success story. It was shaped through years of hands-on experience, meaningful engagement with parents and children, and a steadfast belief that joy, trust, and curiosity are the true cornerstones of learning. Every milestone was built on listening, adapting, and remaining deeply committed to creating nurturing environments where young minds can flourish.
The journey began far from India. In the early 2000s, the Bhandarys resided in Kuwait, raising their young daughter. Like many expatriate families, they encountered a dilemma: finding a preschool that was both nurturing and structured. The options were polarised: elite expatriate-run institutions, financially prohibitive, or local setups offering little beyond basic care.
Mrs. Preeti, already trained in Montessori education, often pondered: Why should quality early education be a privilege?
That question blossomed into an experiment. In Salmiya, she inaugurated a small playschool- a simple space, a handful of children, and a boundless heart. Here, the Bhandarys first witnessed the transformative power of child-centred learning. Children thrived, parents connected, and Mrs. Preeti’s conviction deepened: education could be personal, joyful, and profoundly human!
When the family returned to Bengaluru, that conviction journeyed with them, planting the seeds for something big.
Back in India, the Bhandarys were met with a blank canvas. In those days, preschool education was often viewed as optional- a luxury rather than a necessity. Yet, they chose to take a leap of faith.
“I told Mrs. Preeti,” Mr. Vittal recalls with a smile, “Let’s create something back home that we would have wanted for our own daughter.” That promise became their guiding philosophy.
And so, Little Elly began not as a franchise or a business, but as an experiment in meaningful early childhood education. The first centre in Bellandur opened with a single enrolment: a little girl named Shruthi, whose parents, newly returned from the US, placed their trust in an unfamiliar venture. That solitary admission marked the humble beginning of a movement.
“Shruthi’s parents took a chance on us,” says Mrs. Preeti, adding, “That trust gave us the courage to move forward. Every parent who followed became a part of our story.”
Word spread not through billboards or marketing campaigns, but through the quiet conversations that unfold in parks, homes, and neighbourhoods. Parents began noticing a remarkable difference: children returning from school happy, confident, and eager to share stories from their day. The Bhandarys had found both their rhythm and their purpose.
For Mr. Vittal Bhandary, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Little Elly, early childhood education is far more than a profession; it is a purpose-driven mission. Over the past two decades, he has helped transform the perception of early learning in India, creating environments that seamlessly blend structure with warmth, and learning with joy.
His journey into education was neither planned nor conventional. Like many parents, he searched for a preschool that felt both nurturing and intellectually stimulating. The gap he observed between academic preparedness and emotional development became the catalyst for founding Little Elly. Drawing on his experience of establishing childcare centres in the Middle East, he laid the foundation for what would eventually grow into one of India’s most respected preschool networks.
From its first centre in Bengaluru to a thriving presence across India, and later in Dubai and Seattle, Mr. Vittal’s guiding philosophy has remained unwavering: keep the child at the heart of every decision. Every aspect of the institution, from classroom design to teacher development, reflects this child-centric approach.
The journey, however, was not without its challenges. Competition was intense, and finding educators who genuinely embraced a child-first mindset was no easy task. Yet every hurdle only strengthened their commitment. “The early days gave us confidence,” he reflects. “When children came home with joy and self-assurance, we knew we were moving in the right direction.”
His vision eventually expanded to include Glentree Academy, ensuring that children who began their educational journey with Little Elly could continue learning in an environment that nurtures curiosity, character, and lifelong values. “Success,” he believes, “is not measured by the number of schools you open, but by the number of lives you positively impact. When children are happy, families thrive, and society becomes stronger.”
Today, with more than 1,600 employees across Little Elly and Glentree, over 130 centres, 8,000 children nurtured, and a faculty of more than 650 educators, Mr. Vittal continues to lead with clarity, compassion, and conviction, taking quality early education to towns, villages, and communities well beyond Bengaluru.
Little Elly’s success was built on a foundation of trust, and with that trust came a natural question from parents: what comes after Little Elly? Families were seeking continuity- a seamless transition into primary education that would preserve the joy, curiosity, confidence, and care their children had experienced during their early years.
In response, Glentree Academy was established as a natural extension of Little Elly’s philosophy, carrying its child-centric approach into the realm of formal schooling. The name itself reflects its vision: a tree firmly rooted in strong values, yet constantly growing towards new horizons. Its motto, Learning for Life, captures a belief that has always guided the institution: that education should equip children not merely to excel in examinations, but to navigate life with purpose, resilience, and character.
At the heart of every innovation at Little Elly stands its co-founder and Curriculum Director, Mrs. Preeti Bhandary- a Montessori-trained educator, mentor, and mother whose vision has shaped the institution’s philosophy for over two decades. If Mr. Vittal laid the foundation, Mrs. Preeti infused it with purpose, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to the child.
Her journey began in the classroom as a kindergarten teacher, where she witnessed firsthand how rigid educational models often suppressed curiosity rather than nurtured it. That experience ignited a lifelong mission: to create learning environments where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to explore the world around them.
Her influence extends far beyond preschool education. Through LETTER Academy, she has championed the professional growth of educators, transforming teacher training from a process of instruction into a culture of inspiration. She has also worked closely with schools, NGOs, and underprivileged communities, advocating for accessible and inclusive educational opportunities.
For Mrs. Preeti, success is not measured by numbers, milestones, or expansion. It is found in the sparkle of curiosity in a child’s eyes, the confidence of a young learner discovering their potential, and the fulfilment of a teacher who loves what they do. “When children find joy in learning,” she often says, “you have already succeeded.”
Today, Little Elly and Glentree Academy stand as two branches of the same tree, united by a shared educational philosophy. Little Elly represents the world of play, wonder, imagination, and discovery that defines early childhood. Glentree Academy carries that foundation forward, offering a structured yet holistic environment that nurtures academic excellence alongside creativity, character, and emotional growth.
Together, they create a seamless educational journey- from preschool to primary school, from curiosity to confidence, and from exploration to purposeful learning.
Stepping into a Little Elly campus is stepping into a world designed around curiosity, creativity, and joy. Guided by the understanding that more than 90 percent of brain development occurs during the early years, the institution creates safe, stimulating spaces where children are encouraged to learn, play, and grow at their own pace.
Central to this experience is Elly, the beloved mascot who inspires children through engaging adventures in Elly World and Natterjack Forest, encouraging values such as kindness, empathy, curiosity, and collaboration.
The institution’s distinctive H.A.P.P.Y. curriculum- Health, Acute Senses, Practical Life Skills, Purposeful Fun, and Yay Approach, blends structured learning with meaningful play. The result is an educational experience that nurtures cognitive development, emotional resilience, social skills, and a lifelong love for learning.
While the Bhandarys established the philosophy and vision, CEO Amit Tiwari played a pivotal role in scaling the organisation while preserving its core values. Under his leadership, franchising became more than a growth strategy; it became a means of extending Little Elly’s culture of warmth, trust, and child-centred learning to families across regions and communities.
Growth was never pursued at the cost of identity. Every new centre was expected to uphold the same standards, values, and nurturing environment that defined the very first Little Elly classroom.
The global pandemic of 2020 tested educational institutions in unprecedented ways. For Little Elly, the challenge was not simply maintaining learning but preserving connection during a period of isolation and uncertainty.
The response came in the form of Elly@Home, an innovative virtual preschool initiative that placed emotional well-being at the centre of the learning experience. Teachers adapted to new modes of engagement, parents embraced the role of co-educators, and children continued to feel connected to their classrooms despite the distance.
Rather than weakening the community, the crisis strengthened it, reaffirming the importance of adaptability, empathy, and partnership in education.
Reflecting on more than twenty years of growth and impact, the Bhandarys believe that the most important lessons remain remarkably simple: passion must precede vision, listening matters more than ambition, and success is measured not by scale but by the trust of families and the happiness of children.
From a single preschool in Bengaluru to a thriving educational ecosystem spanning countries and communities, Little Elly remains rooted in the same purpose with which it began: a promise by two parents to create a better learning experience for children.
As Mrs. Preeti often reflects, “We didn’t build schools; we built spaces where children could be themselves.”
Perhaps that is the true legacy of Little Elly; not the number of centres it has established or the milestones it has achieved, but the countless young lives it has nurtured through love, trust, curiosity, and care. It is a reminder that the most enduring educational journeys begin with a simple belief: when children are given the freedom to thrive, extraordinary things follow.
Visit our latest October 2025 magazine to explore the full story of Little Elly Preschools’ journey, where vision meets education and inspiring early learning stories come alive. Subscribe: E-Magazine Pdf
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