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Start Early
Start looking as far in advance as you can. No matter what
type of Pre School you are considering – a Quality focused
Pre School or just a pre School in someone else’s home –
finding the right child care option can take some time.
Make The Call
Begin your search by visiting and calling your local experts
, who can give you the facts about Pre School, and a list of
Pre School options in your area that may meet your needs. In
addition to, make sure to ask your Pre School these things:
- What are age appropriate workshops in the school?
- How can I get information about complaints?
- Are there any special assistance programs that my family
qualifies for?
Visit and Ask Questions
Make sure you visit the pre School options you are
considering. Find out the 5 key indicators of quality:
- Adult to Child Ratio: Ask how many children there are for
each adult. The fewer the children for each adult, the
better for your child. You want your child to get plenty of
attention. The younger your child, the more important this
is. Two- four-year-olds can do well with a ratio of 1:10
(one adult for ten children).
- Group Size: Find out how many children are in the group.
The smaller the group, the better. Imagine a group of 25
two-year olds with five adults, compared to a group of 10
with two adults. Both groups have the same adult to child
ratio. Which would be calmer and safer? Which would be more
like a family?
- Teacher/Educator Qualifications: Ask about the
teachers/educators training and education. Teachers /
Educators with degrees and/or special training in working
with children will be better able to help your child learn.
Are the teachers/educators involved in activities to improve
their skills? Do they attend classes and workshops?
- Turnover: Check how long the teacher have been at the
center. It’s best if children stay with the same educator at
least a year. Teachers/Educators who come and go make it
hard on your child. Getting used to new teachers/educators
takes time and energy that could be spent on learning new
things.
- Accreditation: Find out if the Pre School provider has
been accredited by a national organization. Providers that
are accredited have met voluntary standards for child care
that are higher than most requirements.
Make a Choice
Think about what you saw at each visit, and make the best
choice for your child and family. Don’t forget to use your
intuition and pay attention to your “gut” feeling – if you
felt great about a facility, use it! Drop by unannounced to
make sure you are comfortable with your decision and that
the indicators of quality are consistently being followed.
Stay Involved
The work isn’t over when you find good care for your child.
You and your child’s educators are partners now.
Here are some ways to be involved:
- Attend parent-teachers meetings regularly, and always ask
questions.
- Offer to volunteer time when needed, like participating in
clean up days, fixing broken toys.
- Be there for your child’s birthday party.
- Visit your child at pre school and read a book aloud.
- Join in special events, like field trips, Annual Day, Dharovar or other events.
Even if you can’t get time off from work during the day, you
can still check in at drop-off and pick-up times. Ask the
teachers/educators how things are going and how your child
is doing.
Visiting and participating in events at your child’s
provider sends a strong message. It tells your child and
your child’s teacher/educator that you think what your child
is doing and learning is important.
Find out more about efforts in your community to improve the
quality of child care. Is your child’s teacher/educator
involved in these activities? How can you get involved? |
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