This paper explores recent trends for children growing up in the State of Andhra Pradesh, one of India’s most populous states – approximately 76,000,000 according to the 2001 Census of India (Government of India 2001). The particular focus is on experiences of pre-school and transitions to primary school. The paper is based on analysis of Young Lives survey data collected for a sample of 1950 young children born in 2001, and drawn from 20 sites across Andhra Pradesh, plus two rounds of in-depth qualitative research carried out with a sub-sample of 24 children in four Young Lives sites.