Global Star School places children aged 12 months to 6 years in five classes: Tiny Star (12–24 months), Shining Star (24–36 months), Rising Star (3–4 years), Glowing Star (4–5 years) and Super Star (5–6 years). Your child's class depends on their date of birth and on the rule the school uses to count age, which is why admissions asks for the exact birth date at the very first enquiry. Children then usually move up together with their group as the school year turns.
For families who have only known one country's school system, the details can be confusing. Vietnam counts age for school purposes differently from many other countries, school years start in different months around the world, and a child who was in the "older" class back home may find themselves placed with a different group here. This guide explains how the five classes fit Vietnam's preschool structure, how age is calculated, and what to discuss with admissions if your child's placement is not straightforward.
The five classes, and how they map to Vietnam's preschool stages
Vietnam's Law on Education 2019 defines preschool education as covering children from three months to six years old, divided into two stages: nursery (nhà trẻ) up to 36 months, and kindergarten (mẫu giáo) from three to six. Within kindergarten, Vietnamese schools traditionally name the three years lớp mầm, lớp chồi and lớp lá. The five Global Star classes sit inside that structure as follows.
| Class | Age, as listed by the school | Vietnamese stage | Common Vietnamese name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny Star | 12–24 months | Nursery (nhà trẻ) | Nhóm trẻ |
| Shining Star | 24–36 months | Nursery (nhà trẻ) | Nhóm trẻ |
| Rising Star | 3–4 years | Kindergarten (mẫu giáo) | Lớp mầm |
| Glowing Star | 4–5 years | Kindergarten (mẫu giáo) | Lớp chồi |
| Super Star | 5–6 years | Kindergarten (mẫu giáo) | Lớp lá |
Knowing the Vietnamese names is surprisingly useful. Vietnamese parents, doctors and other schools will often ask "is your child in lớp chồi or lớp lá?" rather than give an age, and paperwork for primary school later uses the national stages rather than any school's own class names. What each class actually learns is described by the school's academic site; this guide is only about where your child is placed.
How age is counted: months, or the calendar year?
This is the question that catches out most international families. In many Vietnamese preschools, kindergarten classes are organised by calendar year of birth rather than by exact age in months. A class for "five-year-olds" in a given school year is often made up of children born in the same calendar year, whether their birthday falls in January or December. Vietnam uses the same calendar-year logic for primary school: the Law on Education 2019 sets the age for entering grade one at six, counted by year.
Many other systems work differently. England groups children by a 1 September cut-off, so a child born in August is the youngest in their year and one born in September the oldest. Other countries use other cut-off months. A child who was among the youngest in their class abroad may be grouped differently here, and the reverse can also happen.
For the two nursery classes, age in months tends to matter more, because the difference between a 13-month-old and a 23-month-old is enormous in terms of walking, sleeping and eating. Some children also join mid-year when they reach the minimum age, rather than at the start of a school year.
The practical step is simple: give admissions the exact date of birth and ask which rule the school uses for your child's age group, which class that puts your child in now, and which class they would move into at the next school year.
Placing the youngest: what matters for Tiny Star and Shining Star
For children under three, placement is less about learning stages and more about care. The questions that decide whether a nursery class suits your child are practical ones: are they walking yet, do they still need a morning nap as well as an afternoon one, are they drinking from a cup or still on bottles, are they in nappies, and how do they currently fall asleep? Admissions will want to know these things, not to filter children out but so the teachers can prepare.
The school lists Tiny Star from 12 months. If your child is close to that age, ask how the class adapts for the youngest members, for example around milk times, a second nap, or children who are not yet walking confidently. If your child is approaching two, ask whether they would start in Tiny Star and move up soon after, or join Shining Star directly; both can make sense, and the answer often depends on the child more than the date.
It is also worth asking what a typical day looks like for the youngest group specifically. Younger toddlers often need more time outdoors in the cooler morning, more flexibility around sleep and more one-to-one help at meals than older children, and the school can tell you how its nursery rooms are organised to allow for that.
Be open about development, too. If your child has been slow to walk, has had feeding difficulties or has a medical condition, mentioning it at admissions lets the school plan properly. It is not a mark against your child. Teachers who know in advance can help far more than teachers who find out in the second week.
Placing children aged three to six, especially with earlier schooling
For kindergarten-age children, the main placement question is how their previous experience fits. A child who has spent two years in a nursery abroad is used to group routines; a child who has been at home with a parent or nanny may find the first months more demanding, even if they are the same age. Both are placed by age, but the teachers will want to know which situation applies.
Bring whatever records you have from earlier settings: a short report, a learning journal, notes from a key worker, or simply the name of the school and how long your child attended. These are not needed to secure a place, but they help the teacher understand your child quickly. If records are in a language other than English or Vietnamese, a short summary in English is usually enough at this stage; ask whether any formal translation is needed for the enrolment file.
For children in the Super Star year, there is one extra consideration. This is the year before primary school, and in Vietnam grade one follows the calendar-year rule. If your family may stay in Vietnam for primary, ask how placement in Super Star lines up with the age at which your child would enter grade one, so there are no surprises a year later.
Coming from a different school year abroad
School years start at different times around the world. Vietnam's school year generally begins in early September and runs until late May or early June, with many private preschools also running a summer programme. If your child is arriving from a system with a different calendar, the move can shift them half a year in either direction.
| Where you are coming from | School year usually starts | What to ask admissions |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | March | Will my child join the class matching their age now, or wait for September? |
| Japan | April | How does a mid-year move affect placement and moving up? |
| Australia, New Zealand | Late January to early February | Which group fits a child who was half-way through a year? |
| Singapore | January | Is placement by calendar year, as at home, or by months? |
| United Kingdom, much of Europe, USA | August or September | Does the cut-off month differ from the one we are used to? |
The point is not to recreate your home system exactly, but to understand the logic here before you arrive, so you can explain it to your child and plan for the step after preschool. Mid-year arrivals have their own practical issues, which we cover in the section on moving to Ho Chi Minh City with young children.
What changes for families as children move up
Moving from one class to the next is not only a change of teacher and room. The practical side of the day shifts too, and it helps to know what to expect so the move does not catch your child, or you, off guard.
Between the nursery classes and Rising Star, the biggest changes are usually around sleep and independence. Most children drop to a single afternoon nap well before they turn three, and kindergarten classes expect children to manage more on their own: putting on shoes, washing hands, serving and feeding themselves, and increasingly using the toilet without help. If your child is still in nappies near the move, talk to the teacher early. It is common, and a shared plan between home and school works far better than pressure in the last weeks before the move.
From Rising Star to Super Star, the changes are more about the group. Children form stronger friendships, take part in longer projects and performances, and are given small responsibilities in the class. Parents are often asked to join more events across the year. Super Star families also start thinking about primary school, which is the subject of a separate section on next steps after preschool.
Ask the school how it prepares children for a move: whether they visit the new room beforehand, whether a familiar teacher stays with the group for a while, and how parents are told about changes in routine. A few visits to the new room and a short conversation at home about "your new class" go a long way at this age.
Asking for a child to be placed up or down a year
Some parents ask whether their child could join an older or younger class than their age suggests. Reasons vary: a child born at the very end of the year who seems young for their group, a child who has always been with older children, twins who are developmentally quite different, or a family planning a return to a country with a different cut-off. These are legitimate questions, and it is worth raising them at admissions rather than after a term.
Expect the school to be cautious. Group placement affects not only learning but friendships, nap and meal routines, and the transition to primary school, which in Vietnam is tied to the calendar-year age rule. A school may agree to observe your child for a few weeks before considering a change, or explain why it prefers to keep children with their age group. Ask what the decision is based on, who makes it, and when it would be reviewed.
Whatever the outcome, try not to frame the class name as a judgement of your child. At this age, development is uneven and fast. A child who seems young in September can look entirely at home in the same group by March.
If your family expects to move again within a year or two, say so. A school that knows your likely next country can help you think through which group makes the eventual transition smoothest, even if the answer is simply to stay with the age group here and plan the adjustment later.
Câu hỏi thường gặp
Can my child start before their first birthday?
The school lists its youngest class from 12 months. Vietnamese law allows preschool from three months, but each school sets its own minimum age. If your child is just under a year old, ask admissions whether they can join when they reach the minimum age and whether a place can be reserved in the meantime.
My child was born in December. Will they be the youngest in the class?
If the school groups kindergarten classes by calendar year of birth, a December birthday makes your child among the youngest in that year group. Ask admissions which rule applies to your child's class, and mention any concerns so the teacher can keep an eye on how they are managing.
When do children move up to the next class?
Children usually move up with their group at the start of a new school year, which in Vietnam generally begins in early September. In the nursery classes, moves can also happen when a child reaches a certain age or stage. Ask how and when this works at your campus and how families are prepared.
Do siblings of different ages ever share a class?
Classes are organised by age, so siblings of different ages are normally placed in their own age groups. Twins usually share a class, though some families ask for separate classes if available. Ask admissions about the options at your campus and what the teachers recommend for your children.
Is placement affected by how much English or Vietnamese my child speaks?
Placement is by age, not language. Children in a bilingual class arrive with very different language backgrounds, and teachers expect that. It is still important to tell the school which languages your child hears at home and how much they understand, so the teachers can support them from the first day.