The concept of preschool has been around a lot longer than you may think. In fact, preprimary schools were started in the late 18th century so children who had parents that worked outside of the home would have somewhere to go and be looked after. And today, sending your child to preschool is a popular choice. But choosing the right preschool can be more difficult than it seems. So to help you choose between the best private nursery schools in NYC, here are a few factors to consider during your search.
The teachers: One of the first things parents should look into when deciding between private schools is the staff. Not only should the teachers have the appropriate background and experience, but it’s important to know how the teachers interact with the students as well. Which teaching philosophy do they follow? How do they handle discipline? Do they actively engage with the children? Having teachers who genuinely care about their students is an essential part of a great private preschool.
Student development: While preschool-aged students won’t be completing complex math problems or conducting chemistry experiments, it is still important to choose a preschool that pays close attention to student development and performance. And it’s not just academic performance preschools should be focusing on — emotional and social development are crucial at this age too. So parents should always inquire about how school staff keep track of their students’ performance and development.
References: Before making a decision between private nursery schools in NYC, parents should always ask for references. Most schools have a list of parent references that they can share with prospective families. Talking to parents who have had children enrolled in a school can give a better insight into how the school is actually run. They can ask about what they did and didn’t like about the program, how involved they were able to be with their child’s education, and even how their child liked the school. Asking for a list of references can allow prospective families to learn even more about the school before making a decision.
There are a lot of different factors that go into choosing a preschool. So parents should keep these few important considerations in mind to ensure they make the best decision they can about which school their child should attend.