The preschool admission procedure can prove to be a nightmare for parents if they are not prepared for it. But once you have a clear idea of it, the entire process will be smooth one. It is always a very competitive scene in the popular preschools. 

The very first thing that the parents are required to do is to choose the program that they prefer and the schedule that suits them best. Here it is important to know the concept of a Feeder School. Those preschools are considered as feeder schools whose directors have a relationship or tie-up with some of the popular ongoing schools. So, parents like to get their child admitted in such feeder schools if they wish to later enroll them in a certain ongoing school.

Here is a brief overview of the preschool admission procedure.

Getting an Application form

After making the initial decisions, the next step is to schedule a tour around the preschool and get an application form. The popular schools give out a limited number of forms so the parents need to be very careful about the issuing dates and be early to make sure that are able to get one. So you need to know how you can get the applications form well in advance.

Getting Information about Lottery (If Any)

There are some schools that conduct a lottery. The parents should have all the detailed information on this. The best option is to personally call up or get in touch with the director and know about the dates that the forms are issued. Most of the applications are given out at the end of the year.  

Interview of Child 

Most of the preschools call for an interview with the child. Some term this meeting as a play-date. This is a second round of screening process after the application forms are sorted out. The principal objective of this meeting is to ascertain whether the child behaviour is conducive to their classroom environment. In other words, it is checked if the child has any behavioural problems.

Second Round of Interview

This is followed by a meeting with the parents. The purpose is to conduct a background check on the kid and get necessary additional information related to the child. Some of the preschools also use this opportunity to talk about possible donations to their institutions.            

Sending First Choice Letter

It is advisable to send a First Choice Letter along with the application form. This will maximize the chances of your kid getting admitted to the respective preschool. This basically assures the preschool that they will not have an empty seat. 

Analyzing the Environment and Choosing the Session 

If you are determined to get your kid into a particular preschool due to its environment, teachers or philosophy, you can consider applying for the afternoon class. Since majority of the people prefer the morning sessions, they can turn to the afternoon session if they do not get a seat in the morning ones. So you can get a priority if you choose the afternoon session as your first preference.

Once you have a clear idea about the admission procedure, it is indeed not much of a problem. You just need follow the instructions and act in time. If you take certain intelligent decisions like sending a First Choice Letter of opting for the afternoon class if you have already presumed that the school is in huge demand, you will succeed in enrolling your kid in the preschool of your choice. But perhaps the most important factor that must not be ignored is that you need to sure about whether your kid is indeed ready for a preschool. It is not always the biological age but the mental status of the child that decides this.