| If you are looking for an independent primary school | | | | conditions, you can move on to examine the civic |
| for your child, you may need to consider certain | | | | amenities. It is often seen that parents don't give much |
| factors. Parents' search for schools usually starts by | | | | importance to playgrounds. They think that a child is in |
| making a list of the schools available in the vicinity. So | | | | the school only to get education. However, a good |
| first of all, make a long list of schools present in your | | | | primary school provides more than just classroom |
| city. Next, parents would need to collect information | | | | education. |
| packs from various schools. Each school provides a | | | | Games, sports and extra curricular activities are |
| booklet containing valuable information about its values, | | | | equally important for your child's overall development. |
| curriculum, fee structure and admission procedure. | | | | Who knows, your child may have the potential to |
| Parents can access the information pack of every | | | | become a world-class athlete, swimmer, football |
| school through its website, as most of the schools | | | | player, rugby player or a chess champion one day. |
| today have their own websites. | | | | Parents should not forget to ask about the sports and |
| After collecting the data, parents should start | | | | extra curricular activities provided by the school. The |
| evaluating each school. First of all, they would need to | | | | head teacher is the right person to ask such questions. |
| take a look at the curriculum. The curriculum should be | | | | You may request the head teacher to spare |
| broad and balanced. It should cover all the aspects of | | | | sometime to give answers to all your queries. |
| education as prescribed by the National Curriculum. But | | | | During your interaction with the head teacher, you can |
| only a good curriculum is not enough. The teaching | | | | ask about the medical facilities provided in the school. |
| method is also a consideration. Parents may need to | | | | Also ask about the security of your child in the school |
| visit each school to observe the teaching techniques | | | | premises. In fact, most UK schools today get their |
| of the staff as well as the activities and learning | | | | staff checked by the Criminal Records Bureau. |
| experiences planned for the children. For this, they may | | | | The last thing to consider is the distance your child is |
| need the permission of the head teacher. Parents | | | | going to travel from home to preparatory school or |
| would find no difficulty in getting the permission, as a | | | | primary school. A distant school means your child is |
| school head teacher is a well-read person and he/she | | | | going to spend his/her maximum time in commuting. |
| understands the concern of parents. | | | | Extensive travelling can make your child tired. In |
| While visiting schools, parents should also carefully | | | | addition, your child will not get enough time to play or |
| examine the size of classrooms and seating | | | | study at home. |
| arrangement. See whether the classroom is properly | | | | Consider all these factors carefully and make a |
| ventilated or not. Student-teacher ratio should also be | | | | prudent decision. After all it is a matter of your child's |
| of your prime concern. Satisfied with the classroom | | | | future. |