 |
Choosing the right pre-school
Once your preschooler is ready (mentally and physically) and you have decided to send your child to pre-school, you need to find the right one. Start searching long before the academic year begins. This will give you ample time to weigh all your options and zero in on the best one.
First identify what is important to you:
- Are you looking for something near your home?
- Do you have a specific preference for a certain kind of teaching method like Montessori or Playway?
- Is the reputation of the school more important or the curriculum?
- Is cost a factor?
Research is very important in getting answers to your questions and clarifying doubts.
Ask your neighbours and friends which school they send their children to and if they are happy with their choice. Once you have short-listed some names, call them and ask them some preliminary questions like the fee structure, teaching method, class size, and timings. Visit the ones that are in tune with your requirements. You won’t get a sense of a school unless you see the premises and talk to the staff and principal. Some of the questions you may want to ask the principal are:
- What is the school’s child rearing philosophy?
- If they believe in punishment and if so, how do they punish?
- How long the school has been in existence?
- What qualifications are required for the teaching staff?
- How much parent involvement is required?
- How often do they have parent-teacher meetings?
- How much time do children spend outdoors?
- What is their policy for taking care of sick or injured children?
- What is the staff turnover rate? If it is high, then look for another school. Children need stability and for this they need to form bonds with their caregivers (in this case the teachers).
Pay attention to your feelings about the place and how your questions are answered.
Visit the classrooms and see the teacher-student ratio. One teacher to ten children should be the upper limit. Most pre-schools these days allow prospective parents to observe a class in progress. If this is so with the schools you are interested in, then take this opportunity to get a feeling of what the curriculum and the teachers are like.
- Are the children happy and interested in their activities?
- Are the classroom rules applied fairly and consistently?
- Does the teacher seem to be enjoying what she is doing?
Ultimately, choosing the right pre-school for your child is completely your decision as you know your child best and know what will make him happy. |
|
