What Do I Ask When Interviewing a Preschool?

I had a hard time with this as well when I sent my daughter to school. I heard great things from other parents, that is the best way to go. My daughter started at one place, and after 8 months still cried everyday, and she was sick all the time. I switched her to another school, and she loves it, she doesn't mind going to school and gets the usually sicknesses. When you go to look at the school, go a couple of times, not announced, that way you see actually what they are like. I found at my daughters previous school, the teachers were being a little more harsh than I or my daughter liked. Hope it helps.

The best thing to do is decide what is important to you - up front. Are you concerned with play time or structure? What are you feelings about discipline? What are their attendance policies? Will they call you and can you call to "check"?

I have a three year old. There are several great comments from some teachers already that have offered up some invaluable advice. I know attendance is an issue at some places - that's very important to ask about up front (sick time, tardiness, etc.).

Maybe ask about scholastic reading programs or other book clubs that you can supplement her reading with at home. That's a big plus that can help her reading flourish! The time spent at learning centers was a big deal to me and what the centers entailed. Discipline too, is an issue. I loved getting phone calls or notes about the day's highlights from my daughter's school.

Those little things were significant to me! Happy Hunting!

T.,
I am a preschool teacher and work at a christian school. I stayed at home with my son and when I found his school and I started working there the next year. Everything that has been posted so far are the correct questions to ask. Do drop in several times to check how the teachers act. This is the best way to decide if youwant to go to this school. Find out if the teachers get on the floor and play with the children, if the play with the children outside. Children learn through play so the teachers don;t play with the children all the time inside and outside. Ask if they have bubble days, sidewalk chalk to draw, if there is a sidewalk to draw on. Find out what centers are offered daily. Do they allow the children to have a free art center with crayons and paper where your daughter can go and color anytime she wants. In my class we have centers and we allow the children to go the art center with crayons and chalk board anytime they like. Check to see if the homeliving area(dress up area) there are real life items. Such as empty bottles, cooking untencils, pots and pans, and adult size clothes. Find out about discipline, what they use, time out chair etc. Hop ethis helps.
J.

T.,
Ask whatever questions you feel are necessary. Take your daughter with you and see how she responds to the place. They will usually let her play around in one of the rooms while you talk to the teacher or school administrator. Cleanliness was a big thing for me and smells. If the place smelled bad I was turned off. Compare the price for what you get. Some schools provide the snacks others don't. My daughters school provides snacks, school bag and a t-shirt. They also work with kids who are potty training. Some schools don't do that either. Check on whether or not they provide addition care (after hours). Most do at an additional cost. There are a lot of schools out there. Take the time to find what is right for you and your child.

Good luck!
Jennfer

I am the director at a local preschool, and I suggest that you ask what the child to teacher ratio is, what the teachers credentials are, if the preschool is accredited, ask about curriculum (developmentally appropriate is super important). Hope this helps! Of course ask any questions that come to your mind. No question is a dumb question when it comes to trusting your most precious gift to a preschool.

I am in your same situation right now, one thing that seemed to helped in looking for a new school was to take my little one with me, I have asked about background screens on the staff, what is the class size, how many employees have been there for more than a year, my daughter seemed to like one school so far, you should also review the records for the preschool you decide to go with, I hope I have helped you some, good luck!

We just enrolled our daughter into preschool for this school year. I went to the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County and they were very, very helpful. They help you find a preschool, get you signed up for Voluntary Pre-K (which is free), and give you some literature to read over about preschools. Their phone number is ###-###-#### and they are located at 3636 N. "L" Street, Suite A (off of Fairfield Drive)in Pensacola. Make sure you do a walk-thru with the principal of the school. That is what we did and that is what they recommend first thing. Our daughter's preschool principal would not let our daughter sign up until we did the walk-thru and interview with her. The literature the Early Learining Coalition came in handy during the interview. Good luck!

Hi T., I used to work in a Pre-School. I would ask what structure does the school have for the class. By that I mean do they have a set time for play, outside, art, nap etc.

Do they provide the lunch, or do you have to send it with your child. Check out the classroom as well, to see how well the teacher interacts with the children.

Hope that helps. If you have any more questions, contact me.

L..