Choosing the best school for your child is a crucial and often challenging decision as parents. During their early years, kids spend a lot of time in school, so it’s important they enjoy their lessons and develop the right skills.
However, if your child has special needs, you are more interested in creating a nurturing and supportive setting that will enable them to thrive in a safe and conducive environment. Due to the challenges they experience, children with special needs have specific educational requirements.
So, if you are looking for a school for your child with special needs, here are some tips for picking the best school.
Visit the School
As parents, knowing what’s best to help your child with special needs thrive is important. Before visiting any school, seek professional advice from a specialist to better understand the tools needed and environment that is suitable for your child.
Bring your notes and cross off things as you go when you visit the school. It's acceptable for you to have a lot of questions. So, make a list to stay organised.
Observe the interactions between the students, teachers, or other personnel in one or more classrooms. When observing the classroom, stay for more than a minute or two. Consider whether your child could learn and succeed in this educational setting for a few minutes.
Bring Your Child Along To Visit The School
Allowing your child to see the school and evaluate their impressions will be critical in making an enrollment decision. While you are there, observing how the staff interacts with your child is crucial. Take note of how they interact with other kids as well.
While they might not always express their emotions in words, your child will usually notice specific things. They can remark that the school is exciting or that the food is delightful, all of which can be a good sign that your child may like it there.
The Environment of the School
The school should be tidy and well-maintained. Besides, there should be enough security staff for the school to be a safe environment. If your child has a physical disability, you should find out if the school has ramps and whether the restrooms are accessible.
Additionally, the atmosphere should be suitable for a kid with sensory impairments where noise, physical movement, and lighting could be important problems.
The Distance of the School From Your Home
This is important to take into account. You might not want your kid to travel far daily. Furthermore, you might need to make frequent trips to the school to bring your child for their doctor’s visit, therapy sessions or there may even be days when your child is feeling unwell. For both of these reasons, a school nearer to home is ideal.
You could also explore whether the school's transportation service is safe and competent.
Behavioural Guidelines
It's essential to understand the school's methods to control behavioural issues and reinforce good behaviour. Also, children with special needs are more prone to get bullied. Therefore, pick a school with a strict anti-bullying policy.
Cost of Education
The fee of the school is another important factor to consider. It can be costly to raise a child with special needs. The need to plan for the child's adulthood must be considered in addition to medical visits, prescriptions, and specialised equipment like wheelchairs and hearing aids. Keeping these things in mind, parents must account for the costs of schooling.
The Type of Curriculum
Is the school willing to make adjustments, such as assigning less homework or having flexible guidelines for evaluation? For instance, if your child has dyslexia, will the assessment focus more on content than spelling? Will your child get an IEP (Individualised Education Program)?
Additionally, is the school accommodating enough to provide an alternate curriculum if your child struggles with the standard curriculum? Parents must also know if their child is properly equipped with the skills needed for the future once they’ve graduated.
Access to Support Services
Ask whether any support services are available at the school, either on-site or by visiting. If the latter, how frequently do special educators, counsellors, psychologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists visit the school? Is the school equipped with the right tools and technology to assist students with special needs?
The Attitude of the Principal, Teachers and Staff
Both parents and kids should feel comfortable approaching and communicating with them. To track your child's development and address any potential issues, you may need to frequently speak with the teachers and support personnel as the parent of a child with special needs.
Additionally, ensure a good student-teacher ratio and a modest class size. Evaluate the likelihood that the teacher will engage in meaningful peer exchanges.
The Types of Extracurricular Activities Available
Parents need to be aware of the extracurricular activities available that are appropriate for their kids. If you know that your child enjoys music, art or sports, make sure that the school is equipped to support the growth of these skills.
Prepare Your Child For The Future By Equipping Them With The Essential Skills
The school where your children are most at ease will be the best choice. It will be the school that will provide them with the best educational experience available. Lastly, it's where they'll be driven to exceed their ambitions to accomplish their goals.
