Parents and children can find school to be a lot to take in when they first enter. The staff are friendly, the brochure is impressive, and there are no follow-up questions that are needed to leave. The checklist is simple, 15 questions you should ask when you visit to leave with real answers, not a good first impression.
Teaching and Learning
1. What is the school’s attitude towards experiential learning in school?
Inquire how much of the day is actually spent doing something and not just listening. Good experiential learning in schools means hands on learning, sensory play, and real exploration. It is very important for early years children as they learn best by handling, constructing and experimenting.
2. What are the classroom teaching methods in the school?
All schools, more or less, are either leaning one way or the other or somewhere in between. Get a direct answer on what the classroom teaching methods actually look like on a “normal” day, and whether teaching adapts to different kids’ paces or is a standard pace for all kids.
3. What kind of activities do preschool children have during the day?
Request a real (not a summary) schedule. The use of good preschool learning activities is a balance between adult-led activities and free play, stories, music, outdoor play and outdoor learning activities, not a lot of sitting and doing.
Infrastructure and Facilities
4. Do you have a checklist for the whole school?
Don’t just ask for the school infrastructure checklist at the reception desk, have the school give you a complete checklist, not just the one model classroom, because there are classrooms, washrooms, play areas, safety equipment, etc.
5. How are the facilities for young children in the library?
Do the library facilities cater for the needs of this age group at all, not just the general school library that the older children use.
6. Are the classroom facilities age appropriate?
Look for child-sized furniture, adequate lighting, safe storage for supplies and sufficient open space for children to move around and work in groups. Well laid out classroom facilities at this stage.
7. What computer lab facilities are available and are they being utilized effectively with this age group?
Ask in the early years, how do the computer lab facilities really work? It’s okay to have some supervised screen time, but it’s a good time to delay overuse of devices.
8. What sporting facilities are provided for younger children in school?
Question specifically about sports facilities in school that are designed for little ones, safe outdoor play areas, soft flooring and age appropriate equipment rather than an outdoor school ground suitable for older students.
Staff and Safety
9. What do preschool teachers in this school need to have?
Questions directly related to preschool teacher qualifications. A more specialized training in early childhood education is important here than a general teaching degree, because young children require a specific method of handling.
Comparing Your Options
10. How does this school’s quality of education compare with other schools in the area?
Is your child looking for a best school in Uttar Pradesh? Do not make comparisons based on a different impression of each school, make comparisons using the same set of questions on a short list.
Admission and Paperwork
11. How does the school admit children?
Request clear details of how the school admission process works, what the steps are, if there are any rounds of interactions or assessment, and an estimated duration of the process.
12. What is the current age at which children can join the school?
State clearly the school admission age criteria for each grade. The cut-off dates vary from one school to another, and can have real consequences for your child’s final grade.
13. What paperwork do you need to get into school?
Know up front the documents required for school admission, birth certificate, address proof, photographs, past school records, don’t start to panic at the last minute.
Fees and Financial Policies
14. What is the total cost of the school entry fee (in writing)?
Request the complete school admission fees breakdown (in writing), and not just the headline number. Spells out registration, security deposit and development fees.
15. If plans change, what is the fee refund policy?
Before paying, always ask about the fee refund policy. If you do need to withdraw the application later, then having a well-defined and written refund policy will safeguard you.
Final Thoughts
The idea of a good school visit isn’t really one of a good surface appearance of the campus, it’s the quality of the responses you receive when you ask questions directly. You’ll walk out with information about teaching, facilities, staff and fees, information, not a general impression, with this checklist in hand. The final choice is made a bit easier by comparing a couple of schools with the same 15 questions.
FAQs
1. How many schools do I need to see before I make a decision?
At least two or three so that you can directly compare answers to the same questions rather than compare one school with another.
2. Should I take my child to the school visit?
It can be useful to watch how staff interact with children and how your child responds to the setting, but is not necessary on the first visit.
3. What happens if a school won’t answer some of these questions?
Take that as a true indicator. A really good school will respond quickly and clearly to questions about fees, qualifications of staff and facilities on offer.
4. When to start school visits before the closing date?
Begin at least 2-3 months early to the application opening. That leaves you time to check out a few schools, get the scoop on their experiences and not make a hasty decision.