We have an upcoming parent-child interaction and I do not want to coach our child into memorised answers. What did schools ask your child to do — colours, conversation, simple play, separation from parents? Also what questions were asked to the parents?
We asked what happens when a child is struggling, not just what happens to top performers. The answer told us more about the school culture than the brochure did. My spouse had a different view initially, so we tried it for a few weeks before deciding. I wish we had asked this before paying the registration amount. We made the change gradually rather than all at once.
This helps. I am going to add this to the questions for our next visit/meeting. We found this out only after doing a second school visit. We made the change gradually rather than all at once.
For us commute became a bigger issue than expected. A school can be great, but an exhausted child spending 90 minutes a day in traffic is also a real cost.
Talk to parents with children already in the grade you are entering, not only parents from preschool. Homework and communication style can change a lot in primary classes.
For us commute became a bigger issue than expected. A school can be great, but an exhausted child spending 90 minutes a day in traffic is also a real cost. We changed our approach after about a month because the first plan was too hard to sustain.
Interesting — we had assumed the opposite. Helpful to hear a first-hand experience. For us, the admission office answer and the parent answer were not always the same. We are in Pune, so local logistics may be a little different.
Thank you. I like that this does not require changing everything at once. I wish we had asked this before paying the registration amount. We made the change gradually rather than all at once.
Thanks for saying this. Online advice often makes normal family life sound much more organised than it really is. We found this out only after doing a second school visit. I would still test it for a short period before making a long commitment.
Thanks for saying this. Online advice often makes normal family life sound much more organised than it really is. For us, the admission office answer and the parent answer were not always the same. Your child's response may be different, but this was our experience.
Get the entire fee structure in writing, including transport, books, uniform, activity charges and annual increases. Comparing only tuition was misleading for us. We found this out only after doing a second school visit. In our house, the practical routine mattered more than the ideal plan.
This is useful, thank you. The practical detail is exactly what I was looking for. I wish we had asked this before paying the registration amount. In our house, the practical routine mattered more than the ideal plan.
We tried something similar once, but probably gave up too early. How long did you continue before judging it? The commute piece changed our final shortlist more than expected. In our house, the practical routine mattered more than the ideal plan.
Can I ask roughly what age/class your child was when you tried this? For us, the admission office answer and the parent answer were not always the same. We made the change gradually rather than all at once.
Do a second visit on a normal working day if the school allows it. Open-house days can feel very different from the everyday atmosphere. My spouse had a different view initially, so we tried it for a few weeks before deciding.
Ask specifically how often teachers change. We focused on infrastructure the first time and later realised teacher stability mattered much more to our child. I would still verify it with the school for the current academic year. I would still test it for a short period before making a long commitment.
Thank you. I like that this does not require changing everything at once. I wish we had asked this before paying the registration amount. We only reached that conclusion after trying the other approach first.
That makes sense. I think consistency is the part we are currently missing. I would still verify it with the school for the current academic year. In our house, the practical routine mattered more than the ideal plan.
Did your child take time to adjust, or was the improvement fairly quick? We found this out only after doing a second school visit. Your child's response may be different, but this was our experience.
Could you share what you would do differently if you were starting again? The commute piece changed our final shortlist more than expected. Your child's response may be different, but this was our experience.
Talk to parents with children already in the grade you are entering, not only parents from preschool. Homework and communication style can change a lot in primary classes. I would still verify it with the school for the current academic year. We made the change gradually rather than all at once.
Can I ask roughly what age/class your child was when you tried this? I wish we had asked this before paying the registration amount. I would still test it for a short period before making a long commitment.
Talk to parents with children already in the grade you are entering, not only parents from preschool. Homework and communication style can change a lot in primary classes. My spouse had a different view initially, so we tried it for a few weeks before deciding.