Sometimes, your gut will instinctively tell you if a school feels like a good fit for your child. But here are some things to look out for on your tour to help you decide:
- Happy and excited children
- Actively involved and caring teachers
- A clean environment
- Evidence of children’s work
- Engaging, diverse toys and learning materials
- Security measures
- Safe playgrounds
- An up-to-date operating license
Questions to Ask:
What is your student/teacher ratio?
This provides you with what to expect with regard to class size and also provides clarification as there are different ratios for each age group (infant, toddler, two’s, 3-5).
Are you licensed?
This question is HUGE. Licensed centers undergo much more stringent standards and regulations to ensure the health and safety of our children than those that are not (for example church centers, in-home care, and the like).
What are the backgrounds, degrees, and certifications of the staff?
Do staff participate in ongoing professional development? How long have staff members worked at the center? A cohesive, highly-qualified team that receives ongoing training is a sign of a great preschool.
How do you handle challenging behavior in the classroom?
Experienced educators will have behavior management strategies in place to ensure the classroom is a positive and effective learning environment for all children. The right preschool should have a plan and approach you’re comfortable with.
Does my child need to be potty-trained?
Be on the look-out because there are schools that exclude children who are not potty-trained. Best practices are for the school to equip their rooms with bathrooms and to allow the child to move at their own pace with potty-training. Once they are ready they will let you know and the school’s teachers should be willing and able to help with the process!
How many teachers are CPR/First Aid Trained?
In working with young children, you never know what to expect. The schools that you tour should have at least a majority of their staff CPR and First Aid certified. This arms your teachers’ and school to be ready to jump in rescue if/when needed!
How much time do you spend outside?
Outdoor play is imperative to our children’s learning and play. Make sure your school offers plenty of time and opportunities for their students to play and learn outside.
What is your educational philosophy?
This question might seem obvious, but you’ll want to probe deeper than a standard answer such as “We offer a play-based curriculum.” What does the curriculum look like throughout the day?
Are meals provided?
This helps you determine whether or not you need to bring a packed lunch every day, whether or not to pack AM and PM snack, whether snacks are provided, and more.
Do you accommodate children with allergies or dietary restrictions?
Some children may have food allergies or dietary restrictions that need to be taken into account at school. It’s important to understand if your prospective preschool can accommodate those instances and if so, any policies they have in place around food allergies.
Do you have any vaccination policies?
Some preschools have strict vaccination policies parents should follow. Some require children to be fully vaccinated before admission. The policy will usually be clearly communicated to prospective families, but be sure to ask this question on your tour if you are unsure of the requirements.
Do you admit children with special needs?
Some children need specialized attention and care, but unfortunately, not all preschools are equipped to support children with special needs. Depending on the needs of your child, it may be important to know what experience the staff have in teaching children with special needs.
Are there any enrichment activities available?
It’s an added bonus if a preschool offers additional enrichment activities outside the traditional classroom for children to acquire different skills and education. In addition to the base curriculum, some preschools might offer additional programs like dance classes, Spanish classes, or music lessons. You should inquire if the center offers a program like this and the associated fees.
Tell me about your security system.
Ensuring the safety of the entire school population is essential to any high-quality program. Make sure that your prospective preschool has some sort of feature that only allows who are approved to enter the facility.
What are your hours of operations and rates?
This is very important and do not be afraid to ask! This is need to know information in planning the schedule and budget for your family!
How do you handle family communication?
Is there any email newsletter or an app that the program uses to share information and connect with families?