What am I looking for in a pre-school?

Question

So far - my list of questions are:

- AM & PM activities

- Learning plans & curriculum

- Costs & operating hours

- communication plan - whether a 'daily sheet' would be provided to parents with what the child did/ate etc. that day

- lunch and nap structure

- indoor & outdoor play area

- open door policy

- safety and security (including emergency evacuation drills and CPR certifications)

Am I missing anything? Your help is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Education and length of service at the school for teacher's and assistants.  Who are the substitutes?  

What certifications have been earned?  If they say NAYCE (pronounced nay-c), it's a bonus.  (This certification has a lot to do with the types and diversity of learning materials.)  If they seem sort of blank about this, I would be a little concerned, but not enough to mark it off my list.  

The main thing I would look for is tone of the staff.  Do the kids run toward the adults for hugs or at least to say hi when they enter?  Do the teacher encourage language  by talking to the kids, etc?  

How are restroom breaks handled?  Is there ever a time when they are not allowed to go to the bathroom?   Are the bathrooms in the room or a large set down the hall?  Are the close to the ground as a preschoolers should be?

What types of positive and negative consequences are offered?

Are field trips available?  Could you go on the field trip with the kids? Here's the kicker - Would you need a background check to be a chaperone?

Answer 2

You also have to take a look around.  Is the place clean?  What is the staff to student ratio?  How long have the employees been there - a high turnover rate is a bad sign.  How many teachers are certified?

Answer 3

High staff turnover is important!!!!

Child staff ratios.

Check out the menus - frozen fish fingers and frozen chips are classified as a nutritious meal - so is ice-cream as it's counted as a serve of dairy.

Make an impromptu visit to check the bathroom/toilets. If they make an excuse to not let you in - then stay away.

Ask if the staff member doing your child's observations/programming are qualified (they should be).

Answer 4

Learn about the teacher and turnaround at the facility.  High staff and student turnaround means RUN!  Also, ask to observe for a few hours.  Does the staff seem strange when you are present.  That usually means they are not being themselves around you and the children.  Thats a red flag.  Look at the cleanliness especially with food handling and bathroom procedures for the children.

Answer 5

certified teachers

state accredited

state awards

state licensed

staff turnover