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Choosing schools: pre-school

Sending your child to school for the first time isn't as easy as you might think. Here's what you should ask when choosing a pre-school.

In the first few years of your child's life, your choices will be fairly limited. Your choices will probably include:

Day mothers who take care of a group of children, usually babies and toddlers, in their own homes. They may be trained in childcare but it is not a prerequisite.

Playschools/playgroups usually take children from around the age of 18 months, although this varies. All playschools should offer a variety of age appropriate activities to keep children stimulated.

Pre-schools generally accept children from around the age of three and usually incorporate Grade R or the Reception year (the year before the child starts formal school schooling in Grade 1).

What to ask

Are there at least two people on duty all the time? "Something could happen to the day mother or one of the children may need urgent medical attention and you need to know that someone else will look after the other children in an emergency," says Carol Mouton of the Cape Peninsula Child Minders Association.

Do the children at the school seem happy and content, and do the teachers seem friendly and approachable?

Is the outdoor and indoor equipment sturdy and safe?

Are there indoor and outdoor activities available for adequate stimulation?

What are the teachers' qualifications?

What security measures are in place? For instance, if you are unable to fetch your child, what procedure should be followed to allow someone else to collect the child?

When choosing a preschool, it's often preferable to decide what primary school you want to send your child to and find out if they have a preschool or a feeder preschool.

Battling to choose a school for your kids? Check out these articles on the different SA schooling systems:

Primary school

Home schooling

Montessori

Waldorf

What aspects do you take into consideration when you are choosing a school for your child? Share your thoughts and tips in the comment box below.

Previously published in True Love, Subscribe now and save