We love inviting new families to visit our school and we want new families to feel at home and to experience the day-to-day operations and interactions at our school. When you come in to learn more about our programs, it’s not a scripted tour, but an open-ended visit. When you come to see our school with your little one, we hope that you can envision your family becoming a part of our school family.
Deciding on a preschool for your child can be a very daunting and overwhelming task. Our children are the most precious things in our lives. And if we could, we would be with them every second! As such, we must ensure that they attend a school where they are safe, feel loved and cared for, and meet their developmental milestones.
Before visiting a school, be sure that you list everything important to you (and by extension to your child) and what you would like to see. Prioritize things that most parents would look for. Prioritize safety and security, education and learning, and general operations of the classroom and the school. Its completely normal for new parents to say, “I am not sure what is important to me”. Below is a list of questions that you could use during a visit to help you figure out what is most important to your family:
- Describe a typical day at the school. What time does the school open and close?
- What does a day look like in my child’s classroom? Do they go outside? How long and how many times?
- What are the milestones for the classroom/age group?
- What curriculum is implemented, and can I see a typical lesson plan?
- What is the ratio of teachers to children in the classroom?
- Tell me about the teachers in the classroom. Are they CPR and First Aid trained? What are their qualifications?
- How do teachers communicate my child’s progress, and how often do I receive updates about my child during the day?
- What is the illness policy?
- Do you have an allergy policy and how would you handle emergency situations?
- Are meals included? Diapers and wipes?
- How do you handle the transition during the first day and first week? How do transitions from one classroom to the next work?
- Why did you choose this field?
- Do you have an open–door policy?
Also, and most importantly, keep an eye on the vibe at the school, right from the front door and the lobby. Observe how management responds to teacher requests and how management relates to one another. Be sure to peek into as many classrooms as possible.
The children within will best reflect the quality of their experience in the classroom. Look for their emotional state and level of engagement with the teacher. You’ll find that content children will smile and wave as you pass by their classrooms. They will do this because they are happy and because they have seen their teachers do it too!
