7 Factors To Consider When Selecting A Preschool For Your Child
Elementary school is just around the corner for most kids. For parents, this means it's time to begin thinking about preschool. The benefits of early education are tremendous for students, which makes choosing a preschool important to an adult's success.
Whether you're unsure of where you'd like to send your child or looking for feedback on your top choice, here are seven factors that will help guide you in making the final decision:
- Age Appropriateness
Not every child is the same and not every center works with each age group perfectly. Before deciding on a center, consider what age range they work best with and whether it coincides with your child's learning needs. You can also check if they provide special classes or activities for different age groups.
- Teacher Qualifications
Ensure the staff working with your child is highly qualified, specialized, and dedicated to your child's success. Lane Cove early childhood center is one such place that employs only the most qualified and experienced early childhood educators. This ensures that your child will receive nothing but the best education available.
- Academic Success
No two schools are the same, so it's important to consider how each center works with their students, what academic standards they have in place, and whether or not they provide any additional resources for student success outside of the classroom setting. You can ask administrators about what programs are offered or visit earlier grade levels at your preferred school to see if the learning environment is serious enough for you to trust your kid(s) to them.
- Learning Environment
What kind of space does your child need? Does he like big spaces like gyms and auditoriums, or would he benefit more from small classrooms with intense learning activities? Perhaps an outdoor field is more important to you. Schools should offer a variety of learning environments so that children have the opportunity to explore and find their interests.
- Size of the Center
The size of the center is something you'll want to take into account as well. If you're looking for more personal attention for your child, a small center may be better suited for your needs. For example, Lane Cove early childhood center, is a small-sized center that offers personal attention to each child. Individual attention ensures that each child's learning needs are met and their personal growth can be monitored more closely.
- Whether or Not It's a Franchise
If you're looking for consistency, purchasing a franchise may help ensure teachers maintain the same quality of work throughout all locations. One downside to this is that some franchises have specific curriculum requirements that must be adhered to by each school within the chain, which could mean your child doesn't receive as much individualized attention as he would in another setting. Make sure you address both the pros and cons of buying into a particular franchise before committing to working with anyone, person or company.
- Before/After School Care
Before enrolling your child in any, consider whether they offer after-care services. Some centers only provide care until a certain time, after which your child will need to be picked up by a designated party. This can be problematic if you're working during the day and need childcare hours that cover later into the evening. Make sure any center you choose offers before-care as well as after-care, or consider hiring a nanny or babysitter to watch your child until you return from work or finish your errands.
Selecting a preschool can be a daunting task, but it's important to remember that there are many great schools available that will suit the needs of your child perfectly. Utilize the factors above as a guide to help you make the best decision for your family.