Deciding to change your child’s school can be triggered by relocation, the instinct to do something new, the current school not meeting your expectations for your child or just wanting a change for your child.
Below are seven factors to consider before changing your child’s school.
1. Location
The distance from the school to the house is significant because if a child spends almost all his energy when travelling to school, there is a higher chance that on getting to school, the child might be exhausted; the same thing also applies when returning from school.
So, ensure to take note of the school’s proximity to the house.
2. Reviews/Track Records:
It involves enquiring about the proposed school and ensuring that it’s a suitable place for your child.
Research should be carried out, ask questions from people around or people you think to know the school; their feedback will then determine if you will choose that school in particular or find somewhere else.
3. The School’s Curriculum Vs Your Child’s Abilities:
Changing your child’s school should be more of an upgrade to your child’s knowledge.
Knowing the school’s curriculum and teaching method helps you know if your child can adapt to whatever the school offers.
If, after the general evaluation of your child’s abilities, you find out that it is more than what the school plans to offer, then you have to revisit your options.
And if you realise that your child must repeat a class, you must prepare them for the challenge ahead.
4. School Fees:
When planning a new school, your budget should come first.
You don’t have to break the bank to get a good school for your child, and quality schools probably work with your budget.
Ensure that working with your budget is not dragging your child back anyway.
5. Consider Security Before You Change Your Child’s School
In the country today, Insecurity remains a pressing issue that needs attention.
As a parent, you must note what facilities the school has put in place to ensure the utmost security of the children.
6. Medical facilities / First Aid For Emergencies:
Also, accidents like minor injuries, tripping and falling etc., are prone to happen in the school environment, and the school must have the proper medical facilities put in place can help sustain a child before the arrival of medical personnel if need be.
7. Teacher-child ratio:
The teacher-child balance has to do with the number of children assigned to a teacher. A good teacher-child ratio to look out for can be 8:1,10:1 or 12:1.
The “1” in this ratio is the teacher, while the numbers “8,10,12” are the number of students that a teacher handles.
For effective learning, it is essential to go for a lower teacher-child ratio as it helps the teacher focus on the children.
If the number of children assigned to one teacher is much, some will lag, and some will not.
And when you finally decide to change your child’s school, you must mentally and emotionally prepare the child for the new class.
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