Choosing a Nursery/Primary school…
Choosing day care for your child as a new Mum can be a daunting task fraught with emotions. As a Nursery Principal I would meet several Mums and Dads each day with long check lists of criteria doing tours. I once met a Dad who told me he had visited 17 nurseries that week and he stood with a spread sheet on his phone ticking off the criteria that my nursery met. Interestingly, my nursery that day didn’t meet the spread sheet criteria; but he choose our nursery all the same. When I asked him why he choose us, he told me it was just a feeling, an instinct. I think that instinct came from the warmth, the welcome and the care I showed him as we walked around the nursery. The primary need is for parents and children to feel listened to, and to find somewhere that demonstrates care and attention. Over the years I have stood at the nursery door hugging poor Mums who are sobbing as they say goodbye to their babies. I think the most important thing of all is finding professionals that are passionate about their work.
It can then be quite a shock to make the move from nursery to school. Each stage is an adjustment and I always find that children and families are eventually settled after a bumpy September start, by the October half term; and by Christmas the children are running around very confident indeed. But how to choose the right setting for you?
Criteria for choosing a school:
- Where you live? Location and catchment area
- Each school may have different entry ages and spaces available- does it work for you?
- Location to work and family support for pick up support
- Which curriculum you are choosing
- Will you choose a standalone nursery/primary or a school from 3-18 years
- The hours, breakfast club, after school provision for working parents
- Is it an established nursery/school?
- Staff turnover, leadership and governors
- What is their up to date reputation and reviews,
- What is the congestion in the area like at drop off and collection?
- What are the ratings
- Fees and extra costs
- The settings Special Educational Needs provision
- The facilities, are they well-maintained, look up and down, and all around.
Where to start?
Ratings can be a good place to start- although it’s worth digging deeper, they may be outstanding in one or two areas only and these areas may not be relevant for you. Once you’ve narrowed down to a few schools, book a tour. In fact don’t just tour once, visit at other times. All good schools welcome a 2nd tour. There is a school I am fond of called The Arbor School which has its own vegan café for parents to visit and it has a very open policy which demonstrates positive communication. I think it’s worth checking on parent involvement and engagement, sometimes this can be visible through social media or their website. Do the photos, the information they share display a sense of community where you could see yourselves being a part of? Can you visualize your child being there?
When you are on the tour and going through the registration process are they able to find time to answer your questions? Some questions to ask may include: what do they feel makes them unique? What one thing would they change about the school and why? As your tour can you see engaged children who are enthusiastic about learning, teachers who are relaxed and comfortable? As you finish the tour you may ask yourself if the school resonates with your family values
When touring nurseries it can be useful to ask them what they do in different scenarios such as when a child bites another to test if your values/responses are aligned etc. It can be helpful to ask to see some policies to check on safety.
Most parents will decide on the feel, an instinct, a connection and also how their child reacts…
What about the children themselves? Should they choose? Children will see schools in a different perspective and may choose based on colours, toys and facilities. It’s important to allow children space to ask questions and take part, however you are the grown up with the most understanding and experience. I like to see children having access to the classrooms and play spaces to see how they feel and then allow themselves to imagine life in that school. Its great if you can speak to other parents and for children to have access to other children to ask questions.
Whichever school you choose I can guarantee it will be busy and bustling, as schools and nurseries are living breathing communities of people all doing their best. No school is perfect.
I wish you all the very best as you can make your choice and beyond
With Love
Lisa
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