Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Choosing a School After Preschool

Choosing where your child will go to school after attending a  Preschool in Dubai can be a very important decision, as well as a stressful one, as there is a plethora of schools available in Dubai, that offer the best in education. 
Each family has different priorities when choosing a school for their child. For instance, you may want a strong sports curriculum for your budding sportsmen. Perhaps a top arts program or language immersion is what you're after. Or, maybe the most important feature to you is simply a school with an enthusiastic faculty, strong leadership and produces highly successful individuals. 
The following considerations will help guide you closer to choosing the best school for your child. 
  • Look for your interests and your child's needs, such as,
  • What are your child's educational needs, are they purely academic, or do you prefer a curriculum that is structured, child initiated, or a combination of both.
  • What do you want the school to achieve for your child, whether it is the various clubs and societies or extra-curricular activities.
  • Are the ideology and values of the schools compatible with yours, just like it was at the Nursery Schools in Dubai.
  • What size school are you looking for, as some children do well in a small school while others may excel in a large school with more options and more children to interact with. 
  • Determine the logistics, such as,
    • Is the school affordable. Parents should invest accordingly.
    • Would the school transport be used
    • Does the school offer extended day programs or flexible entry similar to schools with a Day Care in Dubai
  • Select a particular school type, such as
  • District Public Schools that offer curriculum choices outside of the traditional neighborhood school curriculum, like arts, language immersion, Montessori, open, fundamental or others.
  • Public Charter Schools that are run by a variety of organizations, like nonprofits or for-profit, founded by parents, religious groups, entrepreneurs, or corporations that are customized to a particular population, educational approaches, or content.
  • Private Schools range from long established schools to brand new schools.  Their approaches range from very progressive to very conservative, and perhaps a place for higher status families.
  • Montessori Schools are private Nurseries in UAE that provide an individualized Montessori curriculum that emphasizes on hands-on learning. 
  • Develop a school search strategy, such as,
    • Start early and organize your research
    • Make a list of the schools that meet your profile
    • Research the schools in your area and request for brochures
    • Visit your top choices of five schools
    • Check the application process 
  • Visit and assess schools and look for the following,
  • Ask questions, observe the environment, and talk to the educators
  • How is a student's progress monitored
  • Does the school individualize curriculum
  • Does the school support students who have academic, social, or emotional difficulties
  • How is technology used to support teaching and learning at this school
  • What extracurricular opportunities are available for students
  • What is the school's approach to student discipline and safety
  • What professional development opportunities and experience do teachers have
  • How does the school encourage parent involvement
  • Is there an active Parent Teacher Association?
  • What is the school's history, organizational structure, financial stability and reputation

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