Quality of staff, surveillance systems and school cleanliness are just some of the many factors that set safe preschools apart from unsafe preschools. Knowing exactly what things to look for when enrolling your child in preschool will help you pick the safest option.

Every once in a while a certain news headline grabs your attention, shedding light on a preschool nightmare story that makes you want to hold your children tight and never send them to school again. Unqualified teachers, poor supervision and unsafe playgrounds can lead to serious issues. The preschool you pick has a lot to do with how safe your kid is at school every day. Use the following checklist to determine if a preschool is safe or not.

How Qualified Is Staff?

Preschool staff and teachers should be trained in CPR and First Aid. They should also have plenty of experience working with children. We pride ourselves on hiring highly qualified staff, all of which maintain CPR and First Aid certificates. Plus, all of our teachers are fully credentialed CDA and above.

How Many Teachers Are There Per Student?

Even the most qualified educators and staff members can’t properly watch over too many kids at once. Preschools should be staffed with plenty of teachers per students in order to provide adequate supervision and keep kids from harm. Make sure to inquire about teacher to student ratios to ensure your child gets proper supervision all day long.

Are There Cameras Rolling At All Times?

A school that is equipped with security cameras can make all the difference in terms of your child’s safety. Even if the teacher’s eye wanders momentarily, the cameras catch everything that happens. This allows staff the opportunity to go back through footage and inquire about certain events. It also ensures that there’s always an eye on your child so that nothing mysterious has a chance to take place. Cameras also help to eliminate poor teacher actions.

We have full video surveillance TV systems that actively monitor and record all classroom activity.

Are Play Areas Clean and Free Of Dangerous Materials?

Sharp barbed wire, messy play areas or slippery playground surfaces can all turn disastrous. The overall appearance of a preschool is very telling in regards to how safe it is. Use your parental intuition to scan everything from the playgrounds to the classrooms to ensure you don’t see any danger signs that could harm your child.

Important things to look for out on preschool playgrounds include:

-Playground equipment should be free of protruding nuts, screws and bolts that could harm children.

-All play equipment should have at least 12-feet of space in between the next piece of play equipment. 

-Soft ground covering should be applied all throughout the playground to help cushion unavoidable falls.

-Playground equipment should look sturdy and well maintained. 

-All elevated platforms should have guardrails in place to keep kids from falling off.

-The play area should be securely enclosed with a tall fence. All gates that lead outside should remain locked.

-Traffic areas and walkways are free of debris and tripping hazards such as tree roots, rocks or sudden changes in elevation.

How Are Classrooms Arranged?

It’s important that the classroom is arranged in a way that allows the teacher(s) to see all students at once. There shouldn’t be random dark corners where kids can get lost in the shadows. Chairs or desks might be arranged in a circle or square to help open up the classroom and allow the teacher to see all students at once.

Does The School Follow Food Safety Guidelines?

The storing, preparing and serving of food must be carefully conducted in order to keep kids from getting sick. If your child eats at preschool, be sure to inquire about food handling practices as well as what types of foods are served. You can contact your local daycare facility regulatory agency for a full comprehensive manual of food safety guidelines so that you’re prepared to ask all of the right questions.

Is There An Emergency Plan In Place?

No matter what the emergency may be, schools should have a plan in place to keep kids safe. Regular fire and other natural disaster drills should be held so that little ones and staff are up to speed on what happens if an emergency occurs.

Is There Open Communication With Teachers?

It’s important to enroll your child in a preschool that promotes participation from parents, while making it easy for parents to contact teachers at any time.

We invite you to come take a tour of ABC Learning! We’d love to show you what makes our preschool and daycare programs so safe.