Finding a preschool that satisfies your child’s curiosity. We have been asked many times. A preschool provides a caring and stimulating environment and on top of that there is a ton of fun is enough to send any mummy into a bit of a tail spin!. So we decided we put it on paper and answer the many questions the minds of the parents.
With so many options available for families, we have wrote this for you with our comprehensive guide to help you in deciding.
Questions to ask yourself Finding the preschool that feels ‘right’ for your child is a huge decision. Take your time when deciding which preschool works for you and your child, it’s important to consider the following:
Geo-Location – how accessible is the preschool? If you drive, it’s probably not the best idea to send the kids to a school which will take you about more than 20 mins on daily basis. Is it easy to park your car and walk your child to the school's doorstep?
Curriculum – what type of programme does the preschool offer? Some preschools or kindergarten follow a specific educational approach (i.e. traditional Montessori, Reggio Emilia or a National Curriculum Programme), while others prefer to take a more flexible approach to learning and playing. There are schools take the best of two-world approach - combining a number of educational philosophies into their curriculums. In the end, it’s about choosing what works best for your child.
Language Programme – what language does the preschool teach? You could choose a full Mandarin-immersion programme, a bilingual programme or an English-instruction school that teaches Mandarin as part of the programme. It’s always helpful to ask how much second language tuition is included in the day.
School hours – how long is the school day? Some preschools work off a strict half or full day timetable (9am-12pm or 9am-3pm) while others take more of a day care approach and offer longer days (7am-7pm). If you’re a working parent, you may want to consider how easy picking up and dropping off will be.
Facilities – what facilities does the preschool offer? While some preschools will have themed-full classrooms, others offer more in the way of outdoor play spaces.
Child to Teacher Ratio – how many children per class? The children to teacher ratio varies amongst different preschools, so it’s good to consider if you prefer bigger or smaller class sizes.
Cost – how much do the fees cost per term? For many, cost is a major consideration! Prices vary amongst preschools. Always check if what are included in the termly fees. Some preschool define the term and semester differently as well - usually it's 3 or 4 months.