It’s an exciting time when your child is ready for school, but it can also feel a little overwhelming, particularly with so many options available. It’s important to do your research and discuss everything with your child to ensure you make the right decision for your family. There will be many factors that influence your decision; to help you, here are some top tips from a prep school in St Albans on choosing the right school for your child. 

Research local schools thoroughly

Take a look at each school’s website or brochure to see if the values they demonstrate align with yours; for example, you might want to see that their priority is children’s happiness over academic achievement in itself. You should be able to access the latest Ofsted report or recent test results to see how pupils perform academically. You could ask in local forums or online groups for feedback from parents whose children already attend the school – ask specific questions rather than for general opinions or you may end up swamped by mixed feedback!

Consider the practicalities

Of course whichever school you decide on needs to fit in with your daily life as a family. If you don’t drive, for example, you’ll want to choose a school that’s near enough to walk to or which is on frequent and accessible public transport routes. If you have other children attending a school that might also influence your decision, as may fit the school runs in with your work schedule. 

Visit schools

See if you can visit all the schools you’re interested in if possible and ask to speak to key staff members, such as the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) if relevant, so you can ask them specific questions about the school’s provision. Take your child with you so they can get a feel for the school and give you their opinion (which is of course very important!).

Think about your child’s personality

Once you’ve researched and visited local schools and considered the practical aspects, the next thing that’s important to do is assess how suited your child is to each school you’re interested in. If, for example, they don’t like large groups you might want to opt for a smaller school with fewer pupils. Perhaps your child likes to keep busy, so they might prefer a school that offers lots of extra-curricular activities.

Taking the time to do some research and consider the practicalities along with your child’s personality will give you the best chance of finding the right school for them to thrive. 

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