THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL

With so many schools offering different environments, curriculums, teaching styles and philosophies, it can be hard to choose a school for your child that ticks all the boxes.

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Finding a school that is best-suited to your child’s needs is an important decision that can have a significant impact on their academic and personal development, so don't go into it blindly. Here are some pointers to consider to help you make an informed decision.

Consider your child's specific needs
Before you think of the type of schooling you'd like your child to receive, think about their personality and the type of environment you think they'd thrive in. If your child is creatively inclined, you might want to consider a Montessori or Waldorf school where school ethos is based on respect for children as individual, spiritual and creative beings.

Likewise, if you think your child might have a learning disability, mainstream schooling might not be the best choice as they could struggle to keep up. Similarly, choosing a school with a strong academic focus might not be the right fit for a sports-focused child. You may want to get your child assessed by an educational psychologist who will help identify their strengths, weaknesses and abilities to point you in the right direction.

Make a list of non-negotiables
Once you have a better understanding of what your child's needs are, you can consider the needs of your family as a whole. It can be helpful to consider the type of schooling you had growing up and whether that benefitted or hindered you.

Are there specific values that are important to you as a family? Do you want your child to attend a religious school, or would you prefer a secular environment for them? Is it important to you that your child attend a same-sex school, or do you think they would benefit from a co-ed environment?

Another practical factor that some parents overlook in pursuit of the perfect school is location: look for schools that are conveniently located from your home or office.

Research schools that match your list
Once you've decided on your non-negotiables, you can start researching schools to get an idea of what they offer. The internet is your friend here and can help you get a read of the school’s atmosphere. Most official school websites offer comprehensive information about their ethos, curriculum, code of conduct, policies, school fees and extracurricular activities. Some websites even offer virtual tours and videos of the school grounds.

Conduct your field research
Now that you've narrowed down a list of potential schools, you can start visiting them. You can do this during official open days, but visiting a school when it's not on show can be a good way to see how it functions on a normal day.

This is not only a chance for you as a parent to establish what you and your child's expectations are of the school but to find out the school's expectations of your child. Make sure you come armed with questions to ask the staff.

Check out classrooms, school facilities, common spaces for students and other parts of campus to get a feel for the school. Ask yourself: 'Is this a learning environment where I can see my child learning, succeeding, being respected, being safe, and being happy?' At the end of the day, you want your child to be happy and stimulated, so make sure you choose wisely!