10 TIPS FOR CHOOSING A PRIMARY SCHOOL

Time flies so fast! You can still picture it, the day you first brought your child to daycare. Less than two years later you already have to think about primary school. If you look at your toddler now, it is probably hard to imagine that it will soon make the ‘big’ step to school. How do you choose the right primary school that suits you and your child? We would like to list some tips to help you with this.

1. Start on time!

If your child has only just finished ‘toddler’, then it is already time to start looking for primary schools in the area. 2.5 years is a good time to start. There are all kinds of primary education and in most neighbourhoods you can choose from different schools. Especially in child-rich neighbourhoods, some schools can be a storm and there are waiting lists. So make sure you knock on time to assure your child of a spot.

2. Know what to choose

Primary schools distinguish themselves with 2 things: their educational concept and their religious identity. The educational concept explains from which pedagogical vision or educational method the school offers its teaching programme. Examples include international schools in pune, preschool in pune, cbse schools in pune. You can read an explanation about the different educational concepts in this blog.

In addition to the educational concept, schools distinguish themselves with their religious identity. There are also public primary schools without religious affiliation.

3. Affordability

Greatschools come at a higher price. Therefore, are you able to bear the expense of the fees without overly stretching your budget and straining your family? You may even want to look around for schools that have a reasonable fee structure and offer good academic studies even if they are low on sports and extracurricular activities. The latter can be supplemented at home or by coaching outside of school.

4. How far do you want to travel for the perfect school?

Have you decided which educational concept appeals to you the most? Consider how important the perfect school is to you, and how far you want to drive to get it. If your child goes to school in the area, he or she will be able to cycle there independently in a few years. It is also handy for future play dates that friends live nearby. If you choose a more distant school that better suits your views, this practically means that you will spend more time bringing and collecting.

5. View the schools near you

In the city you have the luxury of several schools a short distance from your home. You probably know most of them. You can quickly check on the internet which other cbse schools in pune are in your area.

6. Go taste the atmosphere

Perhaps the most important thing in choosing a good primary school: a tour and getting to know the schools that appeal to you. Does the school feel as good as it looks on paper? Do you feel that your child will feel at home here? Does the method appeal to you, and do you find the same things important? Also pay attention to the outdoor space; is there sufficient space to play and is the playground equipment well maintained?

If possible, talk to the teachers or school principal. You can ask questions like:

• How are you kept informed of your child’s development?
• What is expected of you in the field of parent participation?
• At a school with a religious background: what do you notice in practice?
• How big are the classes and are there combination classes?
• Is a lot of time spent on sports and exercise?
• What does the school do to develop teachers?

7. Discover the quality of schools

There are some aspects such as attitude of office staff, attitude of principle, mix of new and veteran teachers, student centered schools, mentoring programs of schools, involvement of faculty, teamwork, honest and frequent communication and parental involvement are some aspects which help you in quality checks of schools.

8. Don’t forget the BSO!

Every school is obliged to provide out-of-school care. Many schools have a partnership with a childcare organization for this. It is important to know that as a parent you can choose which BSO your child goes to. There are often several BSOs that pick up the children at a school. You will often not find this information on the school site or guide.

Not all BSOs offer the same. For example, one focuses more on art and culture, while the other has fantastic outdoor space. There are also, for example, special 8+ BSOs, outdoor, and sports BSOs . If you do your own research, pay attention to things like the activity program, the garden and the indoor space and whether they are getting healthy food.

Registering for the BSO is separate from your registration at the primary school. So you have to arrange this separately. Don’t forget it!

9. Register and register for primary school

Once you have made a choice, you can register your child for primary school. Some schools require your child to be at least 1 year old. You will then receive a response as to whether there is room for your child, or whether it is on the waiting list. You can therefore enroll your child at a second school .

Registering is not the same as actual registration. You can see registration as a way to reserve a spot. Legally speaking, you can only register your child when they are three years old. So don’t forget to officially register your child at the school of your choice when it has blown out 3 candles!

10. Interesting sites that can help you make the choice

In any case, we recommend that you do some online research before you start your quest. Here you will find a lot of information about the schools in your neighborhood, such as the type of education, the number of students and the core values. You can also compare up to five schools in your area. This way you quickly get an idea of which schools might suit you and your child.