The Global Standard for Early Childhood Excellence

Where Excellence
Meets International
Recognition

Golden Index is the world's leading independent certification initiative for kindergartens and early learning centres — raising the global standard for early childhood education, one institution at a time.

Apply for Certification Explore Standards
🌍International Standards
📋Global Evaluation Framework
🎓Trusted by Educators
✦
Certification
Recognised
🎓
Standards
Global
🌍
Presence
International
10Evaluation Categories
100%Independent Assessment
GlobalRecognition
🌍International Quality Standard
Certification Journey

How Certification Works

A transparent, rigorous, and supportive five-step process designed to elevate your institution to an internationally recognised standard.

📋
1

Application
Submission

Complete our structured online application with your institutional profile and documentation.

🔍
2

Documentation
Review

Our expert evaluators review your submitted materials, policies, and institutional records.

🎓
3

Educational
Evaluation

An in-depth assessment across all 10 quality categories, conducted by certified education specialists.

📊
4

Quality
Scoring

Your institution receives a comprehensive score report with transparent feedback and guidance.

🏆
5

Certification
Award

Certified institutions receive their badge, directory listing, and internationally recognised credentials.

About Golden Index

Transparency & Trust in Early Education

Golden Index was founded to address a critical gap in the global education sector: the absence of a clear, internationally recognisable quality standard for kindergartens and early learning centres.

We provide structured, independent assessments that empower parents to make informed decisions, help institutions benchmark their performance, and establish a culture of continuous improvement in early childhood education.

Our mission is to improve transparency and quality in early childhood education worldwide through independent evaluation, certification, and recognition.

"Every child, in every country, deserves to grow up in an early learning environment that meets the highest standards of quality, safety, and care."

— The Golden Index Founders
🎓

Educational Quality

Rigorous assessment of curriculum, teaching methods, and learning outcomes.

🛡️

Safety & Infrastructure

Evaluation of physical environment, safety protocols, and facility standards.

👩‍🏫

Staff Qualifications

Review of educator credentials, professional development, and team culture.

💬

Parent Communication

Assessing transparency, engagement, and family involvement practices.

⚙️

Operational Excellence

Institutional governance, documentation, and administrative best practices.

✨

Innovation & Enrichment

Recognition of creative programmes, enrichment activities, and forward-thinking approaches.

Our Founders

Built by Educators, for Educators

Jan Chew
Jan Chew
Co-Founder · Quality Management, HR & Marketing

Jan graduated with the highest possible grade from the Technical School for Social Pedagogy and Diagnostics near Bonn, Germany. As co-founder of Golden Index, he leads quality management, human resources, and marketing — shaping both the rigour of our evaluation standards and the identity of our global brand.

Quality Management Human Resources Marketing Co-Founder
Jessica Chew
Jessica Chew
Co-Founder · Communications, Evaluations & PR

Jessica also achieved the highest possible grade from the same institution, bringing exceptional academic expertise to her role. As co-founder, she leads institutional evaluations, communications, and public relations — ensuring every Golden Index assessment reflects the highest standards of clarity, fairness, and credibility.

Communications Evaluations Public Relations Co-Founder
Why Trust Golden Index

A Serious Global Initiative

Founded by qualified education professionals, Golden Index exists to bring transparency, accountability, and international recognition to early childhood education worldwide.

Our evaluation framework is built on evidence-based educational research and international best practices. Every assessment is conducted by qualified professionals who hold degrees in Social Pedagogy and Diagnostics — ensuring our standards are rooted in genuine educational expertise.

10Evaluation Categories
2International Offices
100%Independent Assessment
1Free Re-Evaluation
📖Evidence-based evaluation framework
🔒Fully independent, unbiased assessments
🌐Internationally recognised standard
📈Improvement-oriented approach

Global Presence

Certifying institutions across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond

Voices from the Field

What Educators & Parents Say

Early childhood education professionals and families worldwide recognise the need for a trusted, transparent quality standard.

"
★★★★★

"As a kindergarten director, I have long wished for an internationally recognised quality standard that actually reflects the depth of our work. Golden Index fills that gap in a way no other certification has."

SK
Sophia K. 🇩🇪
Kindergarten Director, Munich
"
★★★★★

"As a parent choosing a nursery for my daughter, I want assurance — not just marketing materials. A verified international certification like Golden Index gives me that confidence immediately."

ML
Maria L. 🇬🇧
Parent, London
"
★★★★★

"The early childhood education sector has needed a credible, independent international quality marker for years. Golden Index's approach is rigorous, transparent, and genuinely improvement-focused."

AV
Anna V. 🇳🇱
Early Childhood Education Specialist

Golden Index is currently onboarding its first cohort of certified institutions across Europe and the Middle East. Early adopter applications are open.

Apply now to be among the first →
Certification Investment

Simple, Transparent Pricing

One straightforward annual fee. No hidden costs. Full evaluation, full support, full certification.

Annual Certification
$1,990
per institution · per year
  • ✦Full evaluation across all 10 quality categories
  • ✦Comprehensive written assessment report
  • ✦Official Golden Index certification badge
  • ✦Global directory listing & profile
  • ✦Digital certification assets & marketing materials
  • ✦Annual renewal process included
🔄  If your institution does not achieve certification on the first evaluation, you receive one completely free re-evaluation within the same certification year — at no additional cost.
Apply for Certification
FAQ

Common Questions

Have more questions? Reach us directly at info@goldenindex.org

Golden Index is an independent international certification initiative that evaluates and recognises excellence in early childhood education. We provide parents, educators, and stakeholders with a transparent, internationally recognised quality benchmark — something that has been largely absent from the global early childhood education sector until now.

Annual certification is USD 1,990 per institution. This covers the full 10-category evaluation, your detailed assessment report, certification badge, directory listing, digital certification assets, and one free re-evaluation if needed. There are no hidden fees.

Institutions that do not initially achieve certification receive detailed written feedback and improvement recommendations — and are entitled to one completely free re-evaluation within the same certification year, at no additional cost. Golden Index is improvement-oriented by design. We want every institution to succeed.

Golden Index evaluates institutions across 10 comprehensive categories using transparent and clearly defined criteria, covering educational quality, safety & infrastructure, staff qualifications, parent communication, operational excellence, innovation & enrichment, and more.

From application submission to certification award, the process typically takes 4–8 weeks. We work efficiently to deliver thorough, high-quality assessments with minimal disruption to your institution's daily operations.

Yes. Golden Index is built from the ground up as an international standard, with offices in Bonn, Germany and London, United Kingdom. Certified institutions receive a globally recognised digital badge and directory listing that signals quality to parents and partners worldwide.

Yes. Golden Index certification is an annual programme. Each year, institutions undergo a renewal evaluation to ensure they maintain and continue to improve their quality standards. This keeps the certification meaningful and current.

Get Started

Ready to Join the Global Standard?

Begin your certification journey today and position your institution among the world's most trusted early childhood education providers.

Apply for Certification

Applications reviewed within 5 business days · USD 1,990/year · One free re-evaluation included

If you have further questions, don't hesitate to contact us — our team in Germany and the United Kingdom is happy to assist.

✉️
🏢
Our Offices
🇩🇪
Germany
Ollenhauerstr. 1
53113 Bonn
Germany
🇬🇧
United Kingdom
66 Paul Street
London, EC2A 4NA
United Kingdom