LKG Admissions in Chennai - What should we be looking for?

Admission season is at hand, soon many schools in Chennai are going to throw their gates open to receive applications for the next academic year. Choosing a school is  quite a job and sometimes with the options given it's a tough decision to make. Few of the overall criteria to consider are.....

1. Distance from the school - Anything more than the recommended 5km radius is too much of a strain on the kids.

2. Mode of transport - School buses are as vital as good infrastructure in picking a school. If you cant walk to school then the most sensible option would be to use the school bus. So do check if this facility is available and adequate.

3. Board and Curriculum - In Chennai there were a few different boards till most of them were consolidated into "Samacheer Kalvi Thitam". Right now generally the question is between CBSE and The State Prescribed Board. Each  has it's advantages and disadvantages, research and find one that will fit your ward's needs. Though keep in mind that some kids might be better off with Montessori.

4. Choice of second language - It should be able to offer your mother tongue and may be one additional choice at least.

5. Structured Academics - The best schools have a great structural framework for academics. We need to know what the kids will learn on a day to day basis. Finding a school that is willing to share this information is vital.

6. Timings - There are schools that offer a full day KG program and some that offer half-a-day programs and some which do both based on the need of the parent. The more flexibility a school gives the parent the better it will be on the long run.

7. Academics or Extra Curricular - Not all kids are made for academics, some are destined to achieve in other areas of their interest. So of your ward shows signs of being the next 'Grandmaster' or 'Master Blaster', then the choice of school is doubly critical to their progress.

8. Strength of the class - This is still a debated topic, you can pick sides with either more classmates more competition or lesser the strength greater the individual attention. Some kids thrive with better teacher attention and some survive on sheer competition. Ask you kid.

These are some of the basics, apart from this if you are going to be with the school for the long haul then the fees and other financial aspects should be considered along with the schools performance in the final board exams. But in the end it should be a place that you are comfortable sending the child to in terms of opportunity, values and safety.