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The Signs of a Good Preschool
To determine if a preschool takes safety seriously there are signs to use to evaluate this.
The Signs of a Good Preschool
To effectively evaluate if your child’s preschool takes safety seriously, you need to look for certain telltale signs.
The Preschool Has an Excellent Reputation
One of the best ways to evaluate a preschool is to get recommendations from parents with preschoolers attending the school. Although good reputation is important, your own perceptions and feelings after visiting the preschool are equally important. Follow your first instincts, if you feel uncomfortable with a preschool look elsewhere.
The Preschool Is Licensed
Ask to see a current license to operate the preschool and the credentials of the owner/operator as well as of the caregivers themselves. It is also a good idea to call the local social services to confirm that the license is valid.
The Preschool Follows Safety Rules
While visiting the preschool look for some basic signs that safety is taken seriously. These include:
- Toys are not left lying all over the place to pose trip hazards to preschoolers.
- Toys are in good repair; broken toys are dangerous to preschoolers as edges can results in cuts.
- Windows, heaters and other dangerous items should be properly secured so that preschoolers cannot reach them.
-Fire detectors and fire extinguishers should be visible and extinguishers should be located in easy to access places.
- A nurse’s area with medication securely locked, and best of all, the presence of a trained nurse on staff.
- Find out if there is a written sick child policy; this is necessary so that you know when not to send your preschooler out so as to protect other children and vice versa.
- Entrances and exits should be secured so that preschoolers cannot walk out easily, or allow anyone to access the premises easily.
The Preschool is Clean
Check out the cleanliness of the preschool. Ask to see the eating area as well as the rest room facilities. Preschoolers’ immune systems are still developing and it is important that anywhere they spend lots of time is clean.
A Final Note on Preschools
Be sure to drop in unannounced periodically. And if possible, watch from afar when they're not aware you're watching (e.g. watch from your car when the children are outside playing).
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