Three factors to consider when choosing your child’s educational facility
There are over 9 million children of school age. And choosing the right kind of education plays a vital role in shaping their cognitive processes and abilities.
When searching for and selecting a school for young children through to their teen year, many parents prioritise getting the foundations right.
This is one important reason why you cannot overlook the benefits of a preparatory school. Many parents agree that certain factors play influential roles in selecting an educational facility. In this article we look at three of them.
1) E-learning inclination
E-Learning has been around since the beginning of the 21st century. However, it took a new dimension when the pandemic first hit the UK. Many schools realised the vast advantages that e-learning offers children and the continuity of education.
As of May 2020, 55% of children aged four to 15 studied online during the lockdown. The schools they were enrolled in quickly changed the mode of teaching and learning.
Reports, however, indicated that schools that already run e-learning concurrently with traditional forms of teaching had the easiest transition. Pupils and students were already conversant with these online teaching platforms and therefore hit the ground running.
Indeed, nobody wants another pandemic to necessitate a series of lockdowns. However, it pays to be ready for any eventuality. Due to this, choosing an e-learning-oriented school must be top of your list. Moreover, global education is being heavily influenced by digitisation. If your child is a bit older and you’re scouting private high schools, getting one that offers e-learning will be beneficial.
2) Approval by a recognised education board
This is one of the most important factors every parent must consider before settling on a particular school for their kids. A school recognised by the education board automatically means it has gone through processes to confirm if they are qualified to operate. An accredited school also means the risk of closure or shutdown is minimal. It would be disappointing to have your children enrolled in a school only for the authorities to crack the whip because the facility was unaccredited.
It takes a lot of pressure off you to find an educational facility that is recognised and accredited. In the UK, it is easy to check for these details online. Thankfully, the laws guiding the establishment and operation of schools are specific. If it helps, you can simply call the local education board or council to confirm if the school you’re settling on is recognised.
3) Educational infrastructure
In simple terms, educational infrastructure refers to suitable teaching and learning spaces for pupils and students. This includes the library, science and computer labs, canteens, and so on. A quality educational facility will have the basic infrastructure and more, and it is an advantage to choose a school that goes the extra mile.
Another factor to consider is whether the current school infrastructure is commensurate with the pupil and student population. When the latter is more than the infrastructure, that must be a concern.
It means that there will be excessive pressure on existing infrastructure in a short time, and your children may not benefit from it. A World bank survey revealed that educational infrastructure influences individualisation and stimulation needed in these spaces. In the long run, every parent wants an all-inclusive education for their children, starting with the selection process.
Photo by Mike Fox
