With no prior experience, you may not know where to start and what to look for when choosing the best programme for your child. For starters, it is always good to think through what you want for your child in a kindergarten programme and use that as a criterion for selection. For example, do you want a flexible experiential learning experience for your child or do you want something more streamlined and rigorous? 

While it is natural to be focused on the teacher and the quality of teaching and instruction, think through the school as a unit and evaluate if it is the kind of place your child will enjoy spending time and feel at home in. At kindergarten hoppers crossing you will find a programme that suits your needs for your child as well as one that accommodates your child’s needs and requirements.

To begin with look for a school that dovetails with your learning needs and outcomes for your child. Different schools will employ different approaches to kindergarten learning. Think also about your child’s approach to learning does your child do better alone with one-on-one interaction or does group interaction work well? Ask questions about the school’s approach to teaching and discuss your needs and your child’s, to gain a better understanding of your child’s fit with the programme. 

Take time to speak to the teachers who will be interacting with your child, you will understand how enthusiastic they are about their work at the school, and you will gain an insight into their training, qualifications and experience with kindergarten children by having a chat with them. Teachers are of course a big influence on your child in these early years of learning and adjusting to socializing with other children, possibly of other races, religions and nationalities. Observe if the children seem at ease and are happy and engaged in what is going on in class this is a good clue to good teaching skills.

You will also want to find out about the curriculum. A programme that has an equal focus on creativity, exploration, working together in groups and playtime is as important as academic learning. The number of children per teacher is also an important consideration. Young children need more supervision and one-on-one interaction compared to older students. Smaller class sizes would be beneficial for your child’s development and confidence as the teacher will be able to modify the curriculum to suit your child if required and give your child the attention needed to help them succeed in their school endeavours.

You will also want to find out about how they deal with children who are demonstrably ahead of the class and children who struggle to keep up with the rest of the class, possibly needing extra attention. Finally, talk to other parents and read online reviews to get a sense of how well the kindergarten is faring.