Many educators agree that the successes and overall wellbeing of a person's life can be traced to their early childhood. It is for this reason that parents take their children to an early learning centre where they can interact with other children and begin their cognitive, social, emotional and psychological development. However, the success of the program depends on your choice of the learning centre. Most parents tend to prioritise the outlook of a centre when making their decision. On the other hand, other parents focus more on the qualifications of educators. While these are all crucial factors, you are more likely to ignore subtle, but equally critical, areas when looking for a new learning centre. This article highlights the most commonly overlooked areas.
Availability and Waiting List
You have finally found a centre that offers precisely what you are looking for and all that remains is enrolling your child. However, upon asking for availability of a vacancy, you are astonished to find out that the centre has a three-year waiting list. It can be frustrating because you have to start the search process again. Therefore, leaving your search until the last minute is a recipe for disappointment. Early learning centre directors encourage parents to register their details with a specific centre as early as possible. It increases the chances of your child getting a spot at the right time. You can also place your child on several early learning centre waiting lists to boost your chances of admission.
Food and Nutrition
You want your child to have a healthy, well-balanced meal during their time at a learning centre. Unfortunately, some parents spend little time examining the centre's menu. Therefore, make sure that you ask for the centre's menu and go through it thoroughly. The menu will give you a clear picture of the different kinds of foods that your child will be eating. If your child is a fussy eater, you need to check on a centre's flexibility with regards to children bringing in their snacks and meals.
Staff Ratio
Inasmuch as educators might be qualified, the quality of service provision primarily depends on the staff ratio. If a centre has many children and very few qualified educators, then the quality of service will be affected. A centre with a good ratio will ensure that the educator spends enough time catering to each child's individual needs, thereby increasing the quality of guidance.
