Text: Kate Sidley. Article from the January 2015 issue of Living and Loving Magazine.
Choosing a crèche or preschool is a big decision. Here’s some advice to help you make a good choice.
There comes a time when every parent has to drop off their precious child with a perfect stranger … and leave her there! For some, it’s when mom goes back to work; for others, it’s when a toddler is ready for further stimulation. You want to make sure that you’re leaving her in an environment where she’ll be safe, stimulated, happy and well cared for. Choosing a crèche, playschool or preschool involves practical considerations and gut feel. Word-of-mouth and personal recommendations are a good way to get started.
Genevieve, mom to Angela (4) and Harry (2), relied on instinct. “A friend had kids at the school and she was very pleased with it, so that was our first stop. It just felt right from the word go.” The staff were a key factor. “I don’t believe there’s a huge difference in what preschools offer academically. Our top priority was to have a good feeling about the people who would be looking after Angela. At age two, she couldn’t really express herself verbally, so it was important that we felt comfortable talking to her teacher and the preschool owner, as we would be relying on them for much of our information.”
The school also met their practical considerations: Although the school day ends at noon, there is aftercare until 2pm, which is helpful when you have two working parents; the school goes up to Grade R, which meant that they would have both kids in the same school for a few years; and there were extramural activities on offer on the premises, so they don’t have to transport kids to activities.
Natalie Webster is a preschool principal and the founder of the Preschool Association of SA, a private regulation and accreditation body for Early Childhood Development Centres, whose objective is to ensure high standards of care, stimulation and safety. She shares Genevieve’s view: “A parent’s instinct is powerful – you must be happy with the vibe at a school and that it’s in line with your own approach at home, whether formal or casual.”
Natalie says that a preschool that is run and managed by the owner, is often a good choice. “Working with children is not like any other business – a child is not a file that can be put in a cupboard at the end of the day. It requires a certain type of person, someone with lots of patience and a real commitment to the children.”
What’s what?
Crèche or daycare?
A crèche, also sometimes called daycare or childcare, usually accepts children from a couple of months old, and offers a full daycare service. In South Africa, this term is often used to indicate a facility whose focus is on childcare, rather than on academics.
Playschool
Playschools usually take kids from age two to three. The emphasis is on play, socialisation and enjoyment. In suburban environments, you often find small home- based playschools with one owner-teacher and perhaps a helper, looking after a group of 10 or 12 children. These playschools usually offer a mornings-only option, and some operate only three or four days a week. Larger or more commercial playschools may have longer hours and offer aftercare, and they’re sometimes combined with a preschool.
Preschool
Preschools usually take children from the ages of three to five (Grade 000 and Grade 00). Some preschools include Grade R as well. The programme is slightly more formalised than the playschool programme, with more focus on preparing children for ‘big school’. Kids are exposed to a variety of activities, including music, singing, physical games, art, puzzles, and so on.
Are they registered?
According to the law, any establishment that cares for 12 or more children up to the age of six, must be registered with the Department of Social Development, which is the government agency responsible for early childhood development (ECD). In practice, there are many unregistered schools and creches operating. Natalie Webster, preschool owner and founder of the Preschool Association of SA, says that parents should ask about registration, but adds that registration is not a quick or an easy process, and it’s not unusual for a legitimate school to wait many months for theirs to be finalised. “The Department is understaffed, so it can take a while from the time a preschool owner starts the process, until the time they’re fully registered. The Department of Health is often involved, in terms of food service and preparation, bathrooms, and so on; the Department of Environmental Services will look at emergency plans in case of fires, etc.; and Town Planning might also be involved, as there could be zoning issues.”
Start early – begin the process of choosing a as early as possible. ‘Find out about the deadlines for applying to the schools you are considering. Note tnat some schools require applications much earlier than others.
Write down five things that are most important to you as you consider the options. As you go through the selection process, you may want to add to and revise your list. Is yours education, location, price and aftercare? Or is it qualified staff, education, location, price and feeding programmes?
Practical considerations
• Proximity A crèche or playschool close to home is usually ideal, as you cut down on travelling time. Friends that you or your child make will likely live nearby, so playdates are easy. Parents who work far from home sometimes prefer a creche closer to work, so that they’re able to get to the school quickly if their child is sick or hurt, or even if they want to nip out for a birthday ring or other event. Travel time can be quality time too!
• Hours Suburban preschools generally have short school days, say from 7:30am to 12:30pm. Some offer aftercare, but not always for the full afternoon. Daycares and preschools that are geared for working parents, may take children for the whole day, so you’ll need to enquire about issues like snacks and lunch, and how they deal with nap times.
• Holidays School holidays can be tricky for full- time working parents. Some crèche, daycare or preschool facilities offer year-round care, rather than sticking to the school holidays. They usually close briefly over Christmas and Easter.
• Nappies and potties Some preschools will only take children who are potty or toilet-trained. Crèches and preschools are usually experienced in dealing with nappies and potty training when it becomes necessary.
Checking out the facilities
Once you have a list of schools that meet your practical requirements, it’s time to physically check them out. Schools prefer that you phone ahead to make an appointment, rather than just showing up.
You should be given the opportunity to meet with the principal or another staff member, and to see the school in action. Watch the children at play and in the classroom. Look for teachers who show love, good humour and dedication to the children, who gently guide and encourage them, and who interact with them in stimulating ways. Look for kids who seem happy, enthusiastic, engaged and co-operative (bearing in mind that even the best set-ups have their tricky moments).
Things to look for: Play equipment Toys should be clean, safe and age- appropriate. They don’t need to be complicated or fancy – young kids are often happiest with quite basic toys that offer scope for open-ended play. So don’t be too impressed by iPads for three-year-olds!
Outdoor area equipment
This might include slides, jungle gyms and ride-ons, should be well-maintained and safe to use. Sand pits should be clean and covered at night.
Security The school should be securely fenced, so that children do not have access to roads, driveways, swimming pools, dogs, kitchen areas, or other potential hazards. Access gates should be kept locked at all times to ensure that outsiders can’t wander in and children can’t wander out.
Ask about…
The curriculum What do the children do in a typical day? “Preschools don’t usually follow a formal curriculum, but they should have some structure in their programme,” say Natalie. “They might have a different theme each week, and ring time every morning. Their activities will be broadly directed at the developmental milestones of the age group, so that the children exercise their gross motor and fine motor skills, and work on different skill sets.”
Teacher-child ratio The general rule is: the younger the children, the smaller the ratio, says Natalie: “The recommended ratio for toddlers to teachers is no more than eight children to one teacher. In a class of 16 kids, there should be two adults. So, if one is changing a nappy, there should still be an adult on duty. And remember: you need supervision outside as well as inside.”
Class size Watch out for over-crowding. According to Natalie, each child should have 1,5m of unobstructed play area inside and out.
Discipline policies How do they deal with conflict or behaviour that is not conducive to a happy, stimulating environment? Is there time out? Does the child sit with a teacher or helper?
Safety Are teachers trained in first aid and CPR? Is there a plan in case of fire or emergencies?
The next step
Believe it or not, now is the time to consider primary school! In many urban areas, access to schools is a serious problem. Popular private schools are heavily over-subscribed and you really do need to put your child’s name down when she’s still a baby, to secure a place. Good government schools are, if anything, even more over-burdened and it’s not unheard of for families to move house to ensure that their children are in the primary catchment area for a top school.
Useful contacts
• www.isasa.org: The website of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA) is the largest association of independent schools in South Africa and the Southern African region.
• www.isasaschoolfinder.co.za/about.htm: ISASA’s comprehensive schools listing lets you search by area, and compare services offered and other information.
• www.schoolguide.co.za: Details of pre-primary schools and public and private schools, are searchable by area and school.
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