Author: Giselle Lobo| February 20, 2021
Your child has turned 3 years old. If you are like most parents, you are getting ready to choose a preschool for your child. IF you are a parent of a typical child this is not a difficult choice, however, if you are a parent of a child with special needs this task becomes daunting. How do you know which is the right school for your child? Will they accept your child? Will they support your child? Will your child be safe? If you are asking these questions, it is a good approach to working through the myriad of concerns you most likely have.
For many parents, there may not be a choice. They have to go to a school that is close to them or financially feasible. However, if parents are in the position of being able to choose a school, here are a few tips that they should keep in mind:
1) Does the school have a welcoming attitude to ALL children? You can get this information by talking to other parents of children with special needs who are already part of the school.
2) Is there a separate admission policy for children with special needs?
3) What are the co-curricular activities that the school offers?
4) Does the school have a support system for children with special needs?
5) Are there assistants in the classroom?
6) Does the school have a reputation for working with parents?
7) Does the management view parents as partners in the schooling journey?
With the answers to these questions under your belt, you will be better placed to make the right decision as your child embarks on the wonderful journey of learning.
GISELLE LOBO
Head of Inclusive Education
Sethu conducts short lectures or full training programmes on Inclusive Education. Please contact us if you want to make your school more inclusive, mention ‘Inclusive Education’ in the subject. You can email us on [email protected].