News and Media
Choosing a School: What to look for when you visit
Article source: https://kids-first.com.au/school-readiness-what-to-look-for-when-you-visit-a-school/
Choosing a school is a huge decision that many parents agonize over for years before their child’s primary school education begins. In this excerpt from her best-selling book, SCHOOL READY: A practical and supportive guide for parents with sensitive kids, teacher and Kids First founder Sonja Walker shares tips to help you make the most of information nights and school tours.
Questions to ask yourself as you tour a prospective school
As you visit the schools that you are considering for your sensitive child, keep your eyes and ears open for the subtle, but important, messages you will receive about the people your child will be in contact with next year. If you keep the questions below in mind during your school tour, you’ll get an idea of the school’s culture and whether it’s a good fit for your child and family.
How do students and teachers interact?
As you move around the school, do you hear voices raised in anger or frustration?
When you look into classrooms, are children busily (not necessarily quietly) engaged in learning activities
Can you spot any children who are cooling their heels outside the room because they’ve been sent out?
How do the teachers and auxiliary staff speak to the children during incidental contact such as in the playground or on the way to the library?
Do the school leaders appear to know the children’s names?
All of these observations will give you an idea of the culture of the school and how well your child and family might fit in.
