Looking At Preschools For The First Time? Know What's Important
If you are looking at different preschool options for your child but you aren't sure which schools in the area will be the best, you want to make sure that you are picking a school that will be the safest. You have to leave your child in the hands of another person, and you want to be sure that while they are there, they are learning, having fun, and being protected at the same time. Here are some of the things you want to ask the admissions professional about when touring a school.
Security and Disaster Training
The security of the building has to be one of your biggest concerns. You want to be sure that the school has a locking door system that doesn't allow people to come in and out without someone inside the building being notified. Ask if the staff is trained for:
- Unexpected intruders
- Bomb threats
- Fires
- Natural disasters
You want to know that your child will be protected if something goes wrong while they are on the property.
Social and Academic Development
You send your child to preschool so they can be prepared for kindergarten both socially and academically. You want them to thrive in their environment, learning the requirements need to go to kindergarten, while also learning about appropriate social behaviour and how to interact with friends. Talk with them about the different activities that they will participate in throughout the day, and what the academic standards are throughout the day.
Staff Requirements
You have to ask important questions about the staff. You want to know what their educational backgrounds are, if there teaching degrees are related to early education, and what type of background the assistants or other helpers have. You want to see that everyone is certified in first aid and CPR, and that they have all had background checks completed by the school. Talk with the admissions professional about the requirements.
There are a lot of different things that will make a preschool stand out in comparison to others, and when you ask the tough questions and get the information you need, you can then asses where you want to send your child, and how much money you want to pay. Make sure that you compare the different practices, routines and standards of the different preschool programs in the area when you choose what school will be the best for your child.