There are a few milestones for us parents and choosing the (right) school for our child is one of these.
Throughout the years of helping parents choose which school would be best, we have gathered a list of what to look out for and I want to share this with you today.
Top 10 questions to ask if you look for your childās perfect school:
1. Teacherās attitude – I say āschoolā, but what matters is the teacherās attitude and willingness to accommodate a little for your childās specific needs.
2. Classroom size – ideally the smaller the child-to-teacher ratio the better, but we usually look for no more than 8 kids per teacher or teacher assistant.
3. Frequent breaks – does the teacher allow quick and frequent movement and/or sensory breaks?
4. Sensory time or activities – is there a sensory room or corner and if not, will the teacher allow these types of breaks if your child requires it?
5. The actual classroom – are there clear āstationsā and visual support up in the classroom? Does it seem organized?
6. Interaction with children – it is important to observe how the teacher is with her current students. Do you feel that how she or he interacts with the children will suit your childās style of learning?
7. The students – do the children in the class look happy, comfortable, and at ease? Authoritative learning styles are a thing of the past and we know from experience that children (and adults) learn more naturally if they feel respected, heard, and understood.
8. Interest in your child – does the teacher or staff ask questions about your child and his or her needs. Does it feel if they are willing to make accommodations or are they only interested to learn about possible behavioral challenges?
9. Willingness to collaborate – we all learn best when we work together. Is the teacher or school staff willing to work with other professionals, such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, and pediatricians?
10. Lastly, and most importantly – what does your gut say? You are the true expert of your child and you will have a strong sense if this teacher, classroom, and school are right for your child. Trust your instincts!
We would love to hear from you if there were other signs at school that were green or red signs before you enrolled your child! Here is a video of Nanette speaking about this topic. Make sure to subscribe to our YT channel to be notified of newly released videos!