Helpful Tips for Picking a Preschool

 

Once you’ve determined and prioritized what you are looking for in a preschool for your child, make appointments to visit the various schools. Here are a few questions for you to ask and some things you should observe:

 

PHILOSOPHY/ POLICIES

  1. Philosophy – What is the school’s philosophy? Does the school share your child rearing values? Is the school accredited?
  2. Discipline – What are the school’s disciplinary techniques?
  3. Progress Reports – Does the school provide "progress reports" of any kind? If so, how often?
  4. Visitor Policy– What are the visitor policies for parents and others?
  5. Diaper Changing Policy – Does your child need to be potty trained? If not, will you be called in if your child needs a diaper change?
  6. Emergency Policy – What are the emergency policies in case of injury, fire, and school lock down?
  7. Cost – How much does the school cost for the various programs available?
  8. Location – How long will it take you to get to the school? Will you have to deal with rush hour traffic in the town center? Is the school easy to get to in case of an emergency?

 

STAFF

  1. Low child-to-teacher ratio – How many children are in the class? How many parents, aids?
  2. Well-trained staff – Do the teachers have degrees or certificates in Early Childhood Education?
  3. Low staff turnover – How many teachers have left the school in the past three years?
  4. Meet the staff – Is this the person you want your child spending several hours a day with?
  5. Teacher communication - How can you meet or communicate with the teacher if you have any concerns once your child has started school?

 

ENVIRONMENT

  1. Clean and safe environment – Are the learning and play areas comfortable yet organized? Is the outdoor play equipment safe and the area enclosed? You may want to get down at your child’s level to see what the environment looks like to him or her.
  2. Healthy snacks – If your child has allergies, check on the types of snacks that are offered.
  3. Curriculum/ Schedule – Are there structured times for playtime, arts and crafts, active and quiet times?
  4. Observe children playing, if possible – Are the children doing age-appropriate activities? How do the children and staff interact?

 

 

** Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Both you and your child should feel comfortable with the program you’ve chosen. Remember, the best referral is by word of mouth.