How to choose the best school for your child

School is one of the most important developmental phases in a child’s life, therefore, making the right decision on choosing the right school at this age is crucial. Before sporadically deciding onto which school to enroll their kids in, here are a few pointers to help guide the selection process.

• Understand your child

A good school could have all the hallmarks of crafting caliber students, but if it does not fit with the psychological needs of your child, chances are it’s not the place to register them in. The first thing to take into account is understanding your child. The environment they will likely thrive in, whether the facilities and academia path is what they seek or if they have any special learning needs.

• Evaluate the school

The courses offered at study at should be taken into consideration as schools offer different curriculums such as O’levels, SATs and International Baccalaureate (IB). If you want your child to learn a second language, then choosing a school with foreign languages in their curriculum is something that you should be looking out for. If you want arts education given to your child, then pick a school that offers various art subjects such as music, painting, pottery etc. as electives.

• Tuition affordability and location

Tuition fees play a huge role in deciding which school your child will end up in. Schools offer various payment plans and even financial aid, which is something you should research on to find the most suitable option for your family. The other thing to consider is the location of the school. You wouldn’t enroll your child in a school that will take 3 hours to reach.

• Check policies and guidance

“Behaviour Management Policy” will give a great insight on how a school addresses issues such as bullying, harassment or any other safety measures. The rate at which these issues occur says a lot about the discipline that is being dealt with at these school. You want a school that will encourage students to take full responsibility for their own actions, behaviour and ultimately weigh the consequences. Mindful discipline, that is the key. Robert W. Coleman Elementary School in West Baltimore is one of the few schools in the United States that sends naughty kids to the “Mindful Moment Room” filled with yoga mats and essential oils where they practice meditation and deep breathing as a way to decrease anxiety and depression and increase mindfulness.

• Talk to other parents and students

Meet with other families who send their kids to the school you are considering for your child. They will provide you with the ups and downs of that particular school during the selection process. You can also talk to children attending the school to learn more about the teachers, the environment in classrooms and their experiences as your child will also be in the same boat as them.

• Visit the school, yourself

Did you find the winning school? Great. Now go visit it. Relying on opinions you’ve heard about the school or reviews on social media/websites is not enough. The best way to judge a school is to visit it to see the classroom ambient, meet staff and the administration. You will get a good idea of what kind of environment the school has and the children studying there. You can also meet with the principal or teachers to get to know them or clarify any queries that you may have about the school. Some venues, like ADNEC, collaborate with schools to arrange introductory sessions – think of it like a Comic-Con convention but for parents – to tell people more about the environment of the school. This is great because you will get involved throughout the entire journey.