The first eight years of a child’s life are formative years, which are recognized as critical time for brain growth and development. This stage is also important as a foundation for the inculcation of social values and personal habits. It is also known that within the span of the early childhood years, there are certain ‘critical periods’ for the development of significant cognitive, linguistic, social and psychomotor competencies, which are known to contribute to success in later life
Therefore, it is crucial to invest in these early years through ensuring an enabling environment for every child, which is not only their right but also a way to ensure a sound foundation for life. This can be done by ensuring better provisions for quality preschool for young children.
Essential Points to consider before finalizing a Pre-School.
There are Few Main topics which are to be considered on which we will know in details so that you make the right Decision.
- Physical Infrastructure
- The Preschool Staff
- Admission Process
- Preschool Curriculum
- Safety, Health and Hygiene
It is observed that a very large number of children in Nashik come into primary school (Grade 1 to 4) with inadequate school preparedness, and they tend to continue with low learning levels and higher probability of dropping out in the early primary classes. There is also a lack of national level standard pattern of preschool program that is flexible enough to be contextualized and adapted by the implementers
Hence Choosing the right school by observing and looking for the following points in your Childs future Pre-School is More then Important.
1. Physical Infrastructure
Preschool is essentially a play and activity based programme for which adequate infrastructure including indoor and outdoor space is a prerequisite. Adequate infrastructure would imply not only sufficient space for free movement but also appropriate in terms of safety, sanitation, light, ventilation and transportation. Given below are the essential as well as desirable physical infrastructure a Pre-School should have.
- Location– The building in which the preschool is located should be at a site that is:
- Easily accessible to the children.
- Away from heavy traffic, ponds, wells, ditches, nallahs, heaps of garbage, cattle shed or animal shelter, slush, stagnant water and uncovered drains.
- Surrounded with a boundary wall or a fence with a gate to mark the safe area.
- The preschool may be located on the ground floor.
- The immediate surroundings of the preschool may have plenty of natural resources which can be used as educative material.
- Play and Activity Areas (Outdoor and Indoor Space)
- Outdoor play area must be large enough for Children to play and run around safely.
- A Sand Pit and Water Play should be used.
- A preschool classroom should be well ventilated and well lit. It should have proper roofing, windows, doors and flooring with provision of mats wherever necessary.
- There should be provision for a blackboard according to the height of the children.
- Facilities for Information and Communication Technology
- School should have New Age IT Tools and Audio Video Technologies to teach kids.
- School should Make use of Online Communication Medium to share information with parents.
- Facility for Basic Amenities
- Facility for Clean Drinking Water and Washing Hands.
- There should be child-friendly toilets.
- Sleeping or Rest Facility.
- Transport Facility.
2. The Preschool Staff
A preschool should have dedicated staff, who can collaborate to create a cohesive and joyful learning environment for children in preschool centres. The preschool staff, especially teachers provide opportunity to children for holistic development inside and outside the classroom. Apart from the teachers, administrators and helpers are equally important for the successful functioning of preschool programme.
Parents should always ask about the teachers who will be teaching there kids and there education qualification as it helps then to make an informed decision.
Basic Staff which a Preschool Should Have are Administrator – Teachers – Helper.
- The Healthy Classroom Ratio for a Teacher -Student is 1 Teacher for 20 Students Age 2-4 Years and 1 Teacher for 20-25 Students Age. 4-6 Years.
- Similarly Helpers play an important role as well, and a School Should have 1 helper at least.
3. Admission Process
A child is ready to enter in an organised preschool programme if he/she has completed three years of age in the beginning of an academic year and when the child:
- Is able to tackle separation anxiety from family.
- Has developed some verbal competence and can communicate basic needs.
- has developed some verbal competence and can communicate basic needs.
- Age for Admission
- Admission Procedure
- The admission procedure in preschool programme should not involve any evaluation of children and parents in any form — written or oral.
- Total transparency should be maintained in the admission procedure.
4. Preschool Curriculum
A child is ready to enter in an organised preschool programme if he/she has completed three years of age in the beginning of an academic year and when the child:
- Is able to tackle separation anxiety from family.
- Has developed some verbal competence and can communicate basic needs.
- has developed some verbal competence and can communicate basic needs.
- Age for Admission
- Admission Procedure
- The admission procedure in preschool programme should not involve any evaluation of children and parents in any form — written or oral.
- Total transparency should be maintained in the admission procedure.
