How to Choose a Quality Preschool
Choosing a preschool for your child is a difficult, big, and important decision. As these are the years leading up to kindergarten, ensuring your child is prepared with the necessary school-readiness skills through a quality preschool program is a top priority for many parents.
Here are a few ways to determine which preschool is the right fit for your family as you tour different options.
20 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Preschool
- Is your preschool licensed and accredited?
- What is the teacher-child ratio in your preschool classrooms?
- Are meals and snacks provided?
- Does my child need to be potty trained?
- What safety and security measures are in place?
- What style of curriculum is used?
- What resources and other learning materials are available to the children?
- How often do children go outside?
- What are the teachers’ qualifications?
- How often do teachers communicate with families?
- How do you keep track of children’s learning progress?
- How do your teachers handle discipline and challenging behavior?
- What does a typical day look like in your preschool program?
- Do you offer childcare programs for younger children?
- What enrichment programs are offered?
- What are the center’s hours of operation?
- What holidays and other days are you closed?
- Does the school offer a summer program for preschoolers?
- What are the tuition rates and fees?
- Will my child be prepared for kindergarten?
Licensing and Accreditation
Teacher-Child Ratios
Understanding the teacher-child ratios in the preschool classroom will help you get a feel for how many kids will be in a class as well as how much individual time they’ll get with the teacher.
Nutrition and Meals
It’s important to know whether or not you have to pack a lunch for your child every day, or if the preschool provides meals and snacks. If the preschool does provide meals, ask to see a sample menu so you can be confident your child will receive nutritious and nourishing meals.
If your child has an allergy or other dietary restriction, be sure the school is able to accommodate them accordingly.
Potty Training Policies
Some preschools and daycare centers require children to be potty trained before entering their program and/or even charge an extra potty training fee. Be sure to know the preschool’s potty-training policies to ensure the program fits your child’s needs.
Safety and Security Measures
Safety should be the top priority in any school. Ask questions and use our Childcare Health and Safety Checklist to ensure your family’s preschool makes health and safety a top priority.
Preschool Curriculum
Curriculum plays an important role in providing children with the necessary school-readiness skills before they start kindergarten. Asking preschools about their curriculum allows you to get a better understanding of what and how your child will learn throughout the school day.
Outdoor Learning and Play
Outdoor play is such an important part of learning as it allows children to strengthen their motor skills, develop confidence, and think creatively. Make sure your preschool provides children with plenty of opportunities for outside time.
Teacher Qualifications
Family Communication
Parent-Teacher Conferences
As there is so much learning happening in preschool, it’s important to know how progress is evaluated and communicated to parents. Are there regular parent-teacher conferences held? Does the preschool assess children’s developmental and school-readiness skills before heading off to kindergarten?
Challenging Behaviors
Typical Day in a Preschool Classroom
While touring preschools, try to get a feel of what a typical day in the preschool classroom is like, so you know what to expect. What kind of activities do the preschoolers participate in? How often do they go outside? When are meal and snack times? Etc.
Other Childcare Programs
If you have more than one child, it can be convenient to have them all at the same school, eliminating the need for multiple drop-offs and pick-ups. Having one school from infancy to school age can also make classroom transitions easier for children, as they will continue to recognize familiar faces and places as they move age groups. Ask if the preschool also provides childcare for infants, toddlers, and school-agers.
Enrichment Programs
Many preschools will offer enrichment programs and other extracurricular activities that allow children to explore different interests and further their learning beyond the classroom. Ask the school director which kinds of programs are available to preschoolers at your school, whether it be a language, fitness, dance, music, or other program.
Hours of Operation
Make sure the preschool’s hours of operation fit your family’s schedule and needs. Are the school hours compatible with your work schedule, other sibling’s pickup/drop-off times, and any other commitments?
Holidays and Closings
Make sure you are aware of any holidays or other days the preschool center is closed. This will help you plan for which days you will need to take off work and/or seek backup childcare.
Summer Programs
It’s important to note whether or not the preschool offers a summer program. Some preschools may require children to graduate in the spring, forcing you to find additional summer care before your child starts kindergarten in the fall. If the school does offer summer programs for preschoolers, you may want to note if there are any extra fees.
Tuition and Fees
Don’t be afraid to ask about tuition when touring preschools. It’s important to know the overall cost as well as what it includes. Make sure to also ask about hidden fees they may not tell you about right away.
Kindergarten Readiness
Other Important Quality Indicators of Preschools
Download Quality Preschool Checklist
New Horizon Academy is a nationally recognized early learning provider with over 90 schools in Minnesota, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, and Kansas. Through play-based curriculum and high-quality daycare, New Horizon Academy schools nurture and prepare children to succeed in school and in life.
Schedule a tour to learn more about our highly trained teachers, safe and secure facilities, and commitment to providing the highest quality care. Contact a New Horizon Academy childcare center near you today!