If your child is around six months old, it does not hurt to enter him or her into a nursery school environment. If the facility in question features a nurturing environment, it is advised to have your child begin interacting with other children at a young age. The facility you choose should take a holistic approach to care – a method that meets all of a child’s needs at this early stage of development.
After all, each child is unique. Therefore, children have individual requirements that must be met if they are going to thrive. With this objective in mind, the nursery environment you choose should provide each child in the program with a customised learning experience. For example, places such as Toddler Town Nursery in Dubai ensure a low teacher-to-pupil ratio for the individual age groups. This individualised approach highlights each child’s needs.
Types of Nursery School Classes
Examples of age groups and classes in nursery school environments are shown below.
- Baby Classes are designed for children from six months to two years of age. The maximum teacher-to-pupil ratio for this type of class should be 1:4. By using this type of ratio, the teacher is able to provide plenty in the way of support and encouragement to a child. These classes are designed to help older children creatively express themselves through art, educational toys, and interactive materials.
- Toddler Classes are available in nurseries for children who can walk; up to two years old. Children in the classes involve themselves in a variety of physical and interactive activities. The ideal teacher-student ratio for this class, again, is 1:4.
- Nursery Classes are designed for children that are two to three years old. In these classes, the ideal teacher-student ratio is 1:6, which is much lower than most nursery schools. However, if you want your child to receive the care, encouragement, and support he/she needs, this ratio must be followed for success. In these classes, children tend to participate in group activities so they can develop their social skills.
- Foundation Classes are designed for children who are ready to enter their first year of official schooling. Therefore, a program is created to enrich your child’s future academic experiences. Teaching children new concepts to satisfy their curiosity creates a great foundation for further schooling.
An Excellent Start in Life
Over time, when enrolled in a nursery school program, each child will develop personally, intellectually, and emotionally. In order to do this, you have to make sure the nursery facility has a low teacher-to-student ratio, and that the backgrounds of the teaching staff are of the highest calibre. The teachers should be devoted to a teaching career, and should have an inherent love for children. If you have this sort of combination, you can be assured that your child will have an excellent start in life.
The philosophy of any nursery school should be to foster a child’s development, regardless of their strengths, weaknesses, religion, culture, or race. The school should value parent partnerships and work to keep parents engaged in their child’s experiences in the nursery school environment. Open communication between the student and teacher, and between the teacher and parent, will enable a child to reach his or her full potential in nursery school.