At
the preschool, find out whether or not the facility is licensed or registered
and meets your state's requirements. The preschool that has fulfilled state
requirements typically has a higher standard of care because they are required
to provide it. This is not necessarily a reason to choose or dismiss a
preschool as being appropriate for your child, but most parents feel more
comfortable knowing that their preschool is being monitored.
Find
out the hours of operation and determine whether the hours that are offered are
a good fit for your child's body clock. Of course, cost has to be factored into
your decision about which preschool your child will attend. Find out if the
fees must be paid in full prior to your child's attendance or whether there is
a payment plan. Preschool King County Redmond offer a discount if you have more than one child attending the
school.
Ask
what the teacher-to-student ratio is for your toddler's prospective class. Preschool in East Side Redmond WA is
very large and have several teachers working in a single class. Generally, the
younger the children, the lower the ratio should be. For example, for two- to
almost-three-year-olds, experts consider the best ratio to be one adult to
every four or five children.
Don't
get so caught up in the ratio that you don't pay attention to whether all of
the children are actually being monitored. A school can have many more teachers
than are necessary for the number of children and still lack adequate
supervision. Make sure that you're comfortable with the teacher-to-student
interaction.
Ask
whether the teacher plans to have any contact with the parents. Will this be in
the form of a conference or a telephone call? Is the parent allowed to call the
teacher with concerns? Can you and the teacher communicate by e-mail?
Practically every preschool has a policy regarding communicating with the
parents, and you should find out what it is so that you can make use of the
system from day one.
Are
there any breaks so toddlers can rest or have a snack? How might toileting
accidents be handled? How are children disciplined? Make a list of all the
questions that you would like to have answered and take them with you. Most
preschool directors who are comfortable with their policies and program will
not hesitate to address any of your concerns.
How
does the school "feel"? In other words, do the kids there seem happy
for the most part? Do the teachers appear to really enjoy what they are doing?
Do you hear giggles, noises, and other sounds that let you know everyone is
having a good time? Is it eerily quiet? Do the teachers seem overworked, tired,
or grumpy? If the school "feels" right, you'll know it and this will
be a good sign.
For
more data and to ask our specialists about
Child Care Christian School Redmond, Kindergarten Prep School Eastside Redmond
and Toddler Preschool King County Redmond WA, go to www.faithredmond.org.
