Awww, my little DD goes to prep next year too.... I chose the school for religious reasons & the size of the school (small) and also b/c the local primary schools had mixed reputations. I don't know what to ask for but I think when you go meet the principal and see the teachers and kids you'll get a good feel for what it is like. You might want to ask if they have a propectus on the school, what their numeracy & literacy teaching is like, bullying policy....
As it is Education week this week a lot of schools are doing open days and tours. I would recommend you have a look at a few schools which will give you an indication of what different schools are offering and what sort of values they have and then you will get a gut feel about the best place for your child. Think about what is important to you do they have small classes?, space to play? music? sport? art? languages? how is technology used, is it integrated into classrooms or a lab for 30 mins a week? As you see a few schools you work out what is important for you in the educational experience and what sort of questions you should be asking. Then you can go back to the original school and ask those questions.
I have looked for a school that is about developing the whole child not only academically but socially and emotionally. Some schools seem to be so focused on achievement and curriculum and the development of other areas of the child seem to be secondary. Also important to me is a school that has well being policies and are strong on inclusiveness and anti-bullying.
Talk to parents at kinder with kids already at schools in the area.
Obviously until they start there it will be hard to know if you got the choice right but you will definitely get a feel for different options if you visit a few schools.
We are looking at schools too at the moment, my DD will be starting prep next year too.
I think definitely look at a few as then you get a sense of how the schools feel. Take note of how the kids seem (are they happy/engaged? Does it feel like a nice place to be?).
Questions I have asked relate to class sizes, teacher retention rates, any play-based or inquiry based learning, specialist teachers for music/PE/performing arts, language program, intervention programmes for kids who may be strugglilng a little, green/recycling programme, anti-bullying and inclusive programmes, facilities (library, computers, art room etc) and how often they use these. Also which secondary schools do lots of the kids go to?
Good luck! Although the danger of looking at too many is that you might end up with more than one that you like. This is my problem right now lol!
Am going to write what you both said down! And ask the principal on Thursday...
Rhi, are you freaking out as well? I am so nervous!
Small school is what I want as well, as I went to a farm school back in Tassie! From grade 3 right through to year 10! And basically with about 80% of the same kids I started with hehehe
Lana - Thanks for what you said as well! I read both replies out to hubby (who is home with the horrid man flu!) ... and he was appreciative as well
gah .... I'm tearing up at the thought of my baby going to schooooool
My DD started Prep this year and we didn't ask too many questions - we did a lot of behind the scenes research, talking to parents etc. Questions I asked the school included:
What's the policy on bullying
Do you have a reading recovery program?
What specialist teachers are avail to the kids and how/when do they access them (ie art, library, PE. One school I looked at only had an art teacher and the library was only open 3 days a week).
Is there a no nuts policy?
Is the school a Healthy Eating School (this is a specific program in Vic and restricts what the Canteen can sell) and what's for sale to the kids in the canteen?
Do you have a school nurse?
Do you have a First Aid room?
Do you have before/after school program? (essential for our family)
How many children in each class?
We also observed DD's interaction with the Principal, the teachers, the grounds. One school we went to she told the Principal she hated the school. Another we had to drag her out of! We also watched the kids in the classrooms we visited. We didn't attend a formal open day but made an appointment for a private tour. This meant we got to see teachers and kids in a more "natural" state as opposed to "have to be on our best behavior today" state. The kids were all really happy. I have to say that I've never seen an unhappy kid at our school. And they are all very friendly children.
Nah, I'm not worried about my DD going to school, she'll be fine! I'm looking forward to her going so she can start learning different things to what she has for the past nearly 5 years! I will be a little nervous for her at the start but I won't make a fuss in front of her - maybe when I get home I'll have a cry ;P
It shows how silly I am, but I just figured that the library was a given! I thought all kids had access to a school library whenever they wanted/needed!
Same with an art teacher!
hmmmmm such a lot of things to take into consideration!
This being a parent thing is rather hard work isn't it!
Hehe Rhi - no doubt I shall be blubbering away with you! but of course, not in front of Miss H! I shall do it in the car...as I wait in the carpark for her school day to end! hehehe JK
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