Top 4 Tips for Choosing the BEST School for Your Children - 50+ Questions to Ask

The Importance Of School Education In Child Development

For children, their school years are an important period in which they shape their personality and coping skills in life. Especially in the current information age and era of Education 4.0, there has been a shift in educational needs from simple memorization to accumulating life experiences, and this has created a noticeable trend of change in schools and their teaching methods. Rather than using education as a tool for achieving status and monetary success, people are increasingly adapting to the educational concept that turns learning into the key to well-rounded personal development.

Education should facilitate the development of a healthy thinking process according to the needs of the present era and develop children’s cognitive abilities to their full potential. In today's competitive world, education is as essential as the need for food, clothing, and shelter, and it plays a major role in the development of young children. This is why choosing the best school and education method is a huge responsibility for parents.

How to Find the Best School for Your Child

Parents can choose between a public, private, or home school for their child. No matter what their choice, it is imperative to conduct thorough research, accurately identify your child's educational, and undertake careful planning.

The following sections outline the milestones, tips, and frequently asked questions you may come across when selecting the best school for your child.

1- Confirm on Your Child’s Needs And Conditions

To find the best school for your child, you can start by thinking about how you want a school to shape your child’s development. You should think about what will work best according to your child’s personality, strengths, needs, and interests.

You also need to ask a wide range of questions to do so. Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself:

• Does your child have any special learning needs?
• Does your child need more individual attention?
• Does your child need lots of time to complete tasks?
• Is your child creative?
• Is your child passionate about the arts or music?
• Does your child need a language program?
• Does your child learn best by experiencing how things work?
• Does your child learn better by listening?
• Does your child challenge authority?
• Is your child interested in physical activities?
• Is your child an explorer?
• Is your child shy in group discussions?
• Does your child like to work alone or in a group?
• What are the best transportation options for your child?
• Is your child comfortable with being away from home?
• Does your child need after school care?

2- Do Your Research To Choose The Best School For Your Child

Even if you were trying to buy a new piece of furniture, you would talk to friends and family, conduct research on the internet, and visit shops to compare different models or just to collect information. Parents should follow the same method to identify the best school for their child. You can call friends who have made similar decisions before and conduct research to find any reports or comments.

While doing this research, some of the questions you should ask are;

• What is the school’s approach to teaching?
• What are the teachers’ backgrounds?
• Does the school offer group or individual learning?
• Does the school provide all the educational tools needed in the classroom?
• Does the school support gifted students?
• Does the school provide more support to children with extra needs?
• What is the school’s homework protocol?
• Does the school provide support for challenging courses, such as the International Baccalaureate?
• In addition to core courses like maths and science, are there any other courses?
• How are the classes organised?
• What are the school’s test scores?
• Have the test scores increased over the last few years?
• Has the school had any special achievements recently?
• What is the school’s discipline policy?
• What is the school’s attendance policy?
• How does the school handle problems?
• What is the school’s emergency policy?
• Does the school have after school or weekend activities?
• Does the school have a good library?
• Does the school provide computer and internet access?
• Is there a doctor or nurse available at school?

3- Visit Each School Personally

You can contact your shortlist of schools and meet teachers face-to-face in order to obtain more information you need. Take a walk and visit a few classes to understand how the school operates.

Here are some tips on what to ask when you visit the schools:

• Are the school staff friendly?
• Do the students seem happy and satisfied?
• Is the school clean?
• How does the school communicate with students and parents?
• Are the boards big enough?
• Does the school have a garden for students to play in?
• Is the school safe enough?
• Is the principal close to the students and their parents?
• Does the principal observe the teachers?
• How is the attitude of the teachers towards students with special needs?
• Are the teachers qualified enough?
• What is the attendance rate of the students?
• What do the students say about the school?
• Is the parent-teacher communication satisfying enough?
• Are parents involved in the development of school policies?
• How often does the school communicate with parents?
• Are other parents satisfied with the school?
• How is the school’s reputation among other people?

4- Choose and Apply to the Best Schools for Your Kid

If you have decided on the best schools, you are ready to go through the application process. To guarantee your kid’s school year, the safest option is to apply for more than one school as early as possible.

Keep in mind that different schools may have different acceptance methods, such as application tests or interviews. To be well-prepared, you should learn about the admission criteria of each school.

Just to make sure you have the right information on how and when to apply, see if you can answer the following questions:

• Which schools did you pick to apply?
• Do you have all the application information for each school?
• Do you know the exact deadline for each application?
• Did you complete all of the additional requirements?

We know it sounds like a lot of work but when you find the best educational environment for your child, it will be worth your hard work. Never forget that being involved in your kid’s educational needs are extremely valuable to their development.

You can also support your child’s learning and cognitive development with MentalUP, an educational app with scientific and special exercises. MentalUP uses daily brain challenges to help children improve their attention, focus, and working memory, as well as visual and analytical thinking skills.

Thanks to detailed performance reports screen, parents can track their children development day by day.