School is a crucial part of your child’s life, and getting them into the right one is a significant issue all parents face. Luckily, the guide below is designed to help make the whole process easier. Keep reading to find out more.
Know the options.
Number one of the list of things to do when picking a school for your child is to know about all the options available. There will be state schools in your area that you can apply to, as well as Public and Private schools that charge termly fees.
Some of these may be boarding schools where children stay for the term as well. However, it’s is essential that you discuss this with your little one before deciding for them, as it can be a massive change from living at home.
Also, as well as the options as mentioned above, there may be religious schools that you can apply to.
Lastly, do not forget either that there is always the option of homeschooling your kids. Something that you can find out more about at http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/home_education/.
Do your research.
Once you have all of the options that are available, it’s time to do some research about any of the serious contenders. One way to do this is to find the official school website and read up on their policies and the initiatives that they are currently running.
Be sure to check that they are on the cutting edge of using IT and interactive learning, and also that they are partnering with providers that offer trips for Primary and Secondary schools for their students. In fact, the latter is particularly crucial because it means that your child will get the opportunity to learn about the outside world as well as just what goes on in the classroom. This chance, being something that is essential to their growth and development as a rounded individual.
Attend the open evening.
Next, it’s time to make some appointments and attend the open evenings that your top school choices are offering.
In fact, open evenings are usually when a final decision is made because it is so much easier to get a feel for the place, the other students, and the teachers when visiting in person.
Also, remember that it is always useful to go to these events armed with a short list of essential questions that you want answers to, so make sure to sit down to write this beforehand.
Get your choices in early.
Lastly, you will need to make a formal application. For state schools, this will be done via the local council, but do bear in mind that it is vital to get them in on time. Otherwise, you will end up losing sleep over whether your child has a good chance of getting into their first choice.
Also, don’t forget that for private schools the application process can be somewhat different. In fact, children’s name can be added to waiting lists while they are very young, although they may also have to sit an exam and go to an interview before they are granted a place formally.
