Choosing a Good Nursery School

Choosing a nursery school is a decision that many parents find very difficult because it can be the first introduction their child will have to an academic environment. The popular belief is that if you choose the right school for your child, he or she will flourish. But if you pick the wrong one, you may scar your child for life. Because of this, knowing how to choose a Nursery School is very essential. The choice can be made easier if you understand what to look for and what types of questions to ask.

01

Use the Internet to investigate local school options. View the school’s websites, and read parents’ unbiased reviews wherever available. Ensure that the websites are current.

02

Compare locations and travel time to your home. Remember that you may have to provide transportation or have your child ride a bus to the school every weekday, twice per day.   You  can even  decide  to  drop and  pick  your  child to and  from  school.

03

Visit each of the choices for kindergarten schools during an open house. Most schools offer this just before enrollment time, and it’s a chance to view the school. If a school you’re interested in doesn’t have an open house, ask the office to provide someone to take you on a guided tour. A school that won’t allow you to see how it operates should be avoided.

04

Study the current students and teachers closely. Generally speaking, a good Nursery School will have happy, engaged staff and children who are energetic and participatory. If the mood of the school is upbeat, it’s a good sign that the school is a viable choice. If it seems like no one wants to be there, your child shouldn’t be either.

05

Search for a school that gives its children the opportunity to actively participate in learning. The best options will allow the students to play while learning, with materials and each other. Make sure that the teachers have a varied curriculum to follow that includes pretend play, reading, painting, puzzles, and so on. Any school that expects children to sit stationary for a long time should be left out.

06

Find a Nursery School with a low child-to-teacher ratio. This allows teachers to give attention to individual children several times each day. The hands-on time will likely be your child’s favorite part of the day and will help nurture his or her love for learning by making them feel special.

07

Look at the walls of the room during your visit. The artwork and writings of the children should be prominently displayed. This helps to give the children pride in their work, and a school that don’t should be avoided.

08

Ask the teachers what the children learn every day. Learning numbers, alphabet, beginning science such as nature exploration, frequent reading, and computers should all be included in daily activities of the school you select. There should also be a minimum of 1 hour for a recess-like break, outside whenever possible, which gives your child an opportunity to recharge.

09

Verify the school’s policy on helping children who are both ahead of the rest of the class and those who need a little extra help. The children in the classroom will learn at a very different rate, and you will need to make sure that no matter where your child lands on the learning curve that he or she will be taken care of appropriately by the teachers.

10

Talk to parents whose children either attended the school in the past or attend the school now. Ask them how satisfied they are, what they like best and worst about the school, and for positive and negative aspects to pay particular attention to.

11

Check to see if there is an after-school program your child can participate in, especially if you work full time. Many schools offer this option, and you will need to review what types of activities are available and what the cost is. Look for schools that continue to engage the children with academics as opposed to simple babysitting.

12

Think about the future. Ask what the kids are doing in more advanced grades as this will be a glimpse into your child’s future. Make sure the older children are adequately challenged, that future classrooms are teaching appropriate math and reading skills, and that both children and teachers are still happy.

13

Choose a school with an absolute zero-tolerance policy. Find out how the school addresses issues such as bullying or discrimination. While most schools will give you a canned response, don’t be shy about asking questions or providing hypothetical, what-would-you-do-if scenarios. These issues can start at a very young age, and you will want to make sure your child is protected appropriately from the start.

14

Ask the school what its discipline policies are. Make sure it has clear rules and regulations for students to follow, and that they are rules you can and will follow at home for consistency. Ask the teachers and the principal how the rules are enforced and what the penalties are for violating them.