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Choose the right school for your children with Ginny

The school lays a foundation for the holistic development of children. Effective education builds a mindset that molds the character and behavior of your child. Saying that there is no one best school for all kids. There are different reasons that parents can choose certain schools for their children. However, one thing that every parent wants or doesnt wish to compromise on its an good development of their children. The admission process is in full swing, post the summer vacations. Year after year as the admission processes begin parents are bolting from place to place. Selecting a school is a crucial decision that parents make for their kids.

How to start looking for schools?

Parents can be in a dilemma to choose the best school for their kids. With different teaching styles, public or private school and the board of education parents need to decide what they want for their kids. An effective education system can boost confidence and inculcate correct values in the kids. A good education system can establish a strong groundwork for children to have a prosperous career and grow into responsible citizens of the society.

Here are a few steps that can help parents go through the process of selecting a school for their kids.

1: Consider your child

Choose school best for your kids in 2023

Parents can start their search for a school by thinking about what they want the school to impart to their kids. If your child has a special language or an educational need, parents can keep that in mind while shortlisting a school. Parents should choose a school that prioritizes the development of students. An effective education system is inclusive and equitable. It provides quality learning, promotes lifelong learning, and supports holistic development.

Must Read: Why education should be inclusive in schools?

2. Research the School

While selecting a school, parents must collect all the necessary information about the school. Parents should go through the school curriculum alongside taking feedback from relatives, friends, and alumni. Selecting a school that emphasizes the academic as well as non-academic development of students is pivotal.

3. School Visits

Parents should visit school before shortlisting school. It is ideal to visit a school during their school hours. School visits can assist parents in understanding the school curriculum, culture, principles and learning about the teaching as well as the non-teaching staff. Parents should set a checklist of criteria for selecting a school.

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Checklist of criteria for selecting a school

School is a second home for each child. As parents, you want your child to receive the best education and growth. Let’s have a look at the negotiable and non-negotiable factors for selecting a school.

Non-Negotiable Criteria

 

1. Diversity in the classroom

Schools need to create a comfortable and inclusive environment for all. Diversity in classrooms creates an inviting learning environment. Schools should be encouraging and accepting students from diverse backgrounds. Read this blog to know how to promote diversity in schools. https://www.ginnysplanet.com/diversity-in-schools/

2. Adherence to the rights paradigm

The schools should be adhering to the local laws and policies to help children learn and evolve. Focusing on the entitlements of children to access education is an important indicator of a school’s intention to help each child, including children with disabilities.

3. Teachers and staff experience

A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love for learning in kids. It is necessary to check the teacher’s credentials, academic achievements, behavior, and personality. Selecting a school that has qualified and well-trained teachers is essential as they assist your child to grow and flourish.

4. Relevant school curriculum

Learning empowers students to grow into responsible adults. A school curriculum should take care of the overall development of students. Selecting a school that only gives importance to theoretical education is not relevant in today’s time. Parents should be selecting a school that fuels the holistic growth of kids along with developing essential skills for the future. A good school curriculum adapts to the evolving world by teaching future ready skills.

5. Extracurricular activities

Extra Curricular Activities in school is necessary - Ginnys Planet

Extracurricular activities are an important part of learning and development. Participation in extracurricular activities can increase their brain function, help kids concentrate, and manage time in a better manner. It also gives kids an opportunity to explore a range of interests and unlock a different perspective.

As parents, it is necessary to research the school curriculum and select a school that balances academics with extracurricular activities.

While selecting a school parents should take care that extracurricular activities like sport, dance, music is included in the school curriculum. It instills skills like team spirit, leadership, and self-confidence. Academic studies and activities are two sides of the same coin as they contribute to the formation of an individual’s personality and their holistic development.

6. Management guided by a leader

Management are decision makers for every policy decided in a school. Having a good school management team that takes decisions for the development of students is necessary. A strong school management team can incorporate future skills in daily schedules of students in the school. A management system that values creativity and growth can instill the same in their students.

In all this ensuring the well-being of teachers should be the utmost priority of a good school management team as it directly impacts values and skills imparted for the development of students.

7. Student-Teacher ratio

Teachers give attention to children at school

The student-teacher ratio is the number of students for every teacher in a school. The student-teacher ratio reflects the teacher’s workload and the time the teacher can devote to each kid. In a smaller group, kids feel more comfortable speaking their opinions and ask questions.

This helps the teachers to give personalized attention to each kid. Lower student-teacher ratios can increase the development of students by giving one-on-one guidance which can improve test scores, give a better understanding of each subject and boost confidence.

8. Out-of-the-box thinking

While selecting a school parents should see that schools boast the creative and curious mindset of kids. School should encourage kids to think out of the box. This can help kids have a creative and practical mindset.

It will assist children in attaining analytical and problem-solving skills. Activities like science fairs, exhibitions, debate competitions, fun-fairs can boast out-of-the box thinking of kids.

Negotiable Criteria

 

1. Infrastructure

Infrastructure is one of the significant criteria when selecting a school. A school with a well-sized playground, maintained campus, tidy rooms, and hygienic washrooms is necessary. The infrastructure of a school doesn’t need to be like a luxurious five-star hotel.

A smartly planned school can motivate children to go to school every day and improve their performance. Infact a school should be a very comfortable or luxurious place. Such places cannot help children learn the necessary habits or motivate them to push themselves.

While selecting a school parents should look for infrastructure that ignites creativity in the mind of kids through various concepts like art room, chemistry lab, computer lab a bio-garden etc.

2. Location and commute

kids travel to school

The location and travel time of a school play a crucial role in selecting a school. Parents should not necessarily look out for schools that are hop-skip-jump from the house and disregard other important factors. A school with effective education, which takes care of the development of its students should be the main goal. Location and commute can be a criteria for selecting a school, but not the most important ones.

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Expert advice on selecting a school

Janyce Lastman, an education consultant from the Tutor Group says that a school should be able to answer three questions: who are you? What do you do? What do you do well and differently?

Parents should choose a school that doesn’t give motherly answers but focuses on effective education and a good school curriculum. By asking these questions to the management of school, parents can get a clear perspective on the values, education system and their unique propositions. This can help parents make informed decisions in regards to selecting a school with effective education for their kids.

Questions to ask while choosing a school

  • – What extra curriculaqr activities are offered? Are they covered in the school fee or is it extra
  • – How often do children make use of worksheets or textbooks?
  • – How many hours in a month is dedicated to library period and how do we ensure children are inculcating the habit?
  • – Does the school encourage creative writing and how?
  • – Know a little about how children get assessed
  • – How much time is dedicate to art, music, physical education etc and how?
  • – What all extra competitions or contest students get to participate in?

Selecting a school that creates opportunities for children to interact with their peers, teachers, and parents without force leads to their holistic development. This can have various benefits like improved social skills, better grades, and enhanced attention span, along with a boost in self-confidence and individuality.

It’s rightly said that one book, one pen, one student, and one teacher can make a change. So let the change begin by selecting the right school for your kids.