Children in Malaysia start primary school around the age of seven. However, parents have the option of sending their children to pre-schools to get them started on education early.
It is crucial to choose the pre-school wisely since it is the beginning of school life for children and the very foundation on which their future career will be based.
Hence here is a checklist on the things to look for when deciding on a pre-school:
• Location: Best to find a pre-school close to either the home or workplace of either parent, so that it’s easy for drop-offs/pick-ups and kids don’t get too tired from the commute.
• Day-care service: If both parents work, find a pre-school that also offers after-school care. This is crucial if there are no family members at home to provide child-care support because hiring a trustworthy nanny can be a hassle.
• Staff: The qualifications of the teachers are important because they are the ones who the children will be spending most of their time with. Apart from qualifications it is also necessary to see how the staff interact with kids. Are they professional? What is the primary language they use to communicate with children?
• Language of instruction: It is better for the children if the pre-school uses the same language as the children’s primary medium of instruction.
• Facilities: Visit the pre-school to see what facilities are offered. For instance, some parents want a school that has open spaces to run in, while others might prioritise teacher-student ratio above everything else.
• Fees: Fee structures can be varied depending on the type of pre-school, the infrastructure, facilities offered and the qualification of teachers. Fees would also differ depending on whether parents choose any after-school activities or day-care services.
• Curriculum: Last but possibly the most important point on the checklist should be the curriculum. There are many different curriculums offered by different pre-schools here with each following their own ways of teaching.
The most common and popular curriculums are as follows:
Montessori
A child-centred programme, the Montessori method allows children to explore and learn at their own pace. The responsibility of the teachers is to work as guides to the children by planning activities that foster learning.
Pre-schools with the Montessori system promote independence in children by encouraging individual growth and hence there are no structured classes or schedules.
Being outdoors is an essential part of this method because it is believed that nature should be an integral part of children’s lives.
Waldorf
With cultivation of creativity and imagination being the central focus, Waldorf children learn through different pursuits such as painting, singing and other varied group activities.
These activities are aimed at engaging their five senses to stimulate learning and understanding of the world around them. Imaginative play is encouraged in a Waldorf classroom and children learn through imitation of practical activities.
The classrooms are created resembling a home and, in most cases, only natural materials are used for the purpose. Apart from academics, Waldorf also focuses on overall development through character building and social interactions.
Reggio Emilia
The Reggio Emilia way of teaching promotes learning by allowing children to explore their environment through their personal experiences of touch, movement, listening and overall observation.
Children within the Reggio Emilia programme have control over the direction of their learning instead of being just passive followers. They are also encouraged to communicate and the classroom environment as well as the teachers act as facilitators, nurturers and guide to overall learning.
Social and psychological development are also important, and children are inspired to build up and explore relationships they have with their classmates and with others in their surroundings.
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme
With the world slowly moving towards inquiry-based learning instead of more structured programmes, international baccalaureate (IB) has been gaining in popularity because of its approach of encouraging creativity in students.
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) of IB is no different and is meant for children aged three to 12 years.
Pre-schools following the PYP curriculum aim to create responsible global citizens and hence emphasises as much on character building as on academics and extracurricular pursuits.
However, being a relatively new player in pre-school curriculums, there are currently very few schools in Malaysia offering this programme.
With this checklist, it should be easier for parents to look for, shortlist and decide on a pre-school for their children. However, there is still that one factor that transcends everything else – instinct. Every parent swears by it and believes that regardless of everything, if a school “feels” right for your children, then it is.
SchoolAdvisor.my provides information on private and international schools, extra-curricular activities as well as other education-related topics in Malaysia.