Preschools fill a crucial role in preparing your child for the group learning environment they will be part of in kindergarten and beyond. A preschool tour will help you figure out whether a school is the best fit for you, your child, and your family.
After researching the best international preschool, their credentials, recommendations, tuition costs, student to teacher ratio, and more, the next step is to check out the school. Planning an international preschool tour is worth it, and in this blog, we will show you how.
Things to Look for Choosing the Best School for Your Child:
Tip 1: Set up the tour
When you call to request an application for the preschool, ask about tours or visits. Many schools have an admission counsellor who can set up the school tour for you and your child.
Based on the preschool you are keen to visit, you might have to adjust your tour to the school’s designated tour dates. Most preschools will have specific tour dates, so ensure that you reserve a tour spot or schedule an independent school visit beforehand.
Visit at least a few schools to give yourself a fair chance to select the one that feels right for your child. Going for many school tours will help you compare the pros and cons of each and help you admit your child to the right school.
You can also opt for virtual tours that many schools may offer. All you have to do is check with the website, and your virtual tour is good to go.
Tip 2: Think critically
During your preschool tour, it is crucial to think critically and do your best not to be charmed by superficial criteria like the art projects other students have made or the classroom furniture. Instead, it would help if you look for a preschool with an excellent classroom structure, layout and organized routines.
If the teachers seem overly busy or frazzled, this means something is amiss. It can mean that there is too high of a student to teacher ratio, and the teachers cannot handle the large class numbers. It can also mean that the teachers are not well qualified to teach students of Singapore international school.
Ensure that the preschool’s physical space is set up for young children, with bathrooms and sinks that are conveniently located close to the classroom. You should also ensure that the outdoor space or playground is stimulating enough for the child. Preschools with huge open playgrounds is a big plus.
Tip 3: Show up early for the tour
Showing up early for the school tour is high on our list of recommendations for your school tour adventure. Most preschool tours are scheduled about half an hour after all of the students arrive so that you can see the preschool class in the middle of an activity. But we suggest that you should show up early to see how the preschool begins the day.
The best preschools have a strong sense of community. Showing up early will help you answer critical questions like:
● Does the school staff help out with morning arrivals?
● Does the teacher or someone else help out when a student is having difficulty saying goodbye to a parent or guardian?
● Are there fun activities for the kids to engage in right away, or is there a waiting period while everyone files into the classroom?
When the odds are in the school’s favour and the preschool has scope to accommodate a seamless experience for each child, that’s when you know that the international preschool you are inspecting is the right choice for your child.
Tip 4: Interact with teachers and administrators
The best teachers and staff members are the backbone and support of every competent preschool. It is essential to choose a preschool with skilled teachers who are good listeners.
Look out for teachers who can paraphrase when speaking with the students. Similarly, prioritize preschools where the school administrators play an active role in engaging with the students. Why? Because it shows that the administration and the staff are well equipped to take on any challenge that may come with training and educating a young toddler.
Another thing you should consider is the retention rate of teachers. The longer a teacher stays with the school, the more experienced he or she is. So make sure that you have a hearty interaction with school administrators and teachers before shortlisting a preschool.
Tip 5: Evaluate the school’s teacher to student ratio
Another thing you should look out for is the preschool’s teacher to student ratio. A preschool where the students are far too many is a preschool where the teacher won’t be able to look after each student’s needs.
Since preschool is an essential phase in your child’s life, their preschool experience matters; look for preschools where the class strength is limited so that your child can enjoy the benefits of personalized one-on-one learning.
Tip 6: Assess school values and teaching methodology
Every parent who has ever put their reluctant child into a car seat knows the importance of constructive instruction. The same rule applies to preschools too. It would help if you looked for a preschool with an effective teaching methodology. One that enforces discipline constructively is the one you should choose for your child.
Here are some tips to help you evaluate the teaching methodology of a preschool:
● When the class lines up for outdoor play, do they sing a song or clap their hands or do some other fun activity or is the teacher merely barking commands at the students?
● Do the teachers teach the kids how to put their toys away and keep things organized?
● What teaching tactic is the teacher exploring to teach students?
Ask yourself these questions. Go for a school where the teachers are well equipped to guide and teach students with a firm hand.
Moreover, we highly recommend that you look for the inclusive nature of the school. Choose schools that exercise strict policies regarding inclusivity. No child should be made to feel like an outsider because of the colour of their skin or the nationality they belong to.
Check out for these nuances when you’re on a school tour in preschool in singapore.
Tip 7: Assess the lunch menu
Snack time and what the children are served for lunch is another factor worth considering. While dietary considerations are not a priority for some parents, others find it alarming that children are served juice at snack time. If you have dietary concerns or your child has unique nutritional needs, you should look at the preschool menu.
Ask if the preschool makes special arrangements for children with allergies or dietary requirements. While the lunch menu is one of the last things you would consider, knowing about it will give you a good idea of the preschool’s suitability for your child.
This blog has outlined the top seven tips to consider while going on tour for the best preschool in Singapore. Inculcating these tips in your school tour will help you choose the best and most ideal preschool for your child. Don’t forget to write a note to the preschool to thank them for a visit, especially if the Singapore school admission is competitive. Tell them you are looking forward to seeing them in the future to maintain a good rapport with the preschool. Doing so will increase your child’s enrollment chances in the preschool you most admire.
Team GIIS
Team GIIS is a group of enthusiastic writers who bring the vibrant world of GIIS Singapore to life through engaging blog posts. Dedicated to highlighting the school’s teaching methodology, innovative learning environment, and diverse curriculum options like IB, Cambridge and CBSE, they aim to connect with parents, educators and students, sharing insights and stories that inspire and inform the school community.
