Choosing a school for your child is a huge decision. There are so many factors to consider, but ultimately it will come down to your gut feeling of what suits your child and your family. Go to the school open days, go to the local school fetes, research on the internet and of course speak to other parents about where they are planning to send their kids.
To help you in making your decision, North Shore Mums have come up with a list of things your should look for in choosing a school, and questions you may want to ask.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN TOURING THE SCHOOL
- What facilities does the school have? Playgrounds, grass, library, sports, music programs etc.
- Does it have a welcoming atmosphere? Do you feel comfortable with the teachers and parents?
- How clean and tidy are the grounds?
- How safe is the play equipment?
- How happy, pleasant and well-mannered are the kids that you pass in the school (not the ones who are showing you around – they’ll have been picked for their charm). Also, ask to have a peek in to a random class in progress.
- How modern are the facilities? For example, do they have an Interactive Whiteboard and air conditioning in each room, do they have a computer for each student in the computer room, how well stocked is the library?
- The location of the school, cost or difficulty of travelling to and from the school, and public transport options.
- The schoolsโ previous academic results or performance in other areas (arts, sport).
- What do other parents think about the different schools in your area? What are their experiences?
QUESTIONS TO ASK
- Do they do any kind of ‘buddy’ system to help the kindergarten children settle in?
- What approach does the school take to behaviour management?
- What is the schoolโs anti-bullying policy?
- How do they communicate with parents about any concerns?
- What does the canteen menu look like and how often is it open?
- How much are the term payments on average?
- Do they encourage parental involvement with class work (guided reading times, group literacy etc)
- Are children able to visit the library during recess or lunch if they want?
- Does it offer before and after school care?
- How big is the school (number of students), how many kindergarten classes and how many children per class?
- Is there a religious affiliation, and how strong is it?
- How do they cater for children with different abilities? Do they have withdrawal groups for students with learning difficulties, or a gifted and talented program? What year do these start in?
