Help me choose a nursery school

[sarahr]

We have to choose between two schools for my dd next fall; she will turn 3 a couple weeks after school starts.

Both schools are play-based, non-academic, lots of unstructured free play schools. Both are quite close to my house. Both have classes of 12 kids with 2 teachers.

School A is very large; I think we've been told 125 kids. We liked the classroom we visited and thought the teachers were very good with the kids, although we assume that we were being shown their best/most senior teachers, and there's no guarantee that DD would have them. The vibe I get from the administration is downright hostile. We've spoken to many, many current parents, most (but not all) of whom say it's a wonderful, warm, nurturing place. DD would go 3 days a week, 3 hours a day.

School B is tiny; two classrooms, for a total of 24 kids. When I went on the tour, I got a wonderful, warm, welcoming vibe, but I haven't had the opportunity to sit in the classroom for an extended period of time. The school is associated with a religion different from ours; the only sign of this religion is that they say a non-religious poem/blessing before snack. Because it's smaller than School A, the facilities aren't quite as nice. We haven't been able to speak to a lot of parents, mostly because it's so small, but those that we have talked to all say it's the best choice they've made for their children. DD would go 5 days a week, 3 hours a day.

As I type this, it seems obvious that School B is better, but the 5 days a week thing makes me nervous.

Thoughts? Thanks.

[mammastar2]

I would clearly pose the religion question to School B, to be sure there are no surprises later. If the answer satisfies you, I think I'd go with School B. A "downright hostile" administration is just something you can't really get around, I think.

Just curious, in what way is the admin hostile?

[fadedgirl]

School B may require full-time tuition, but did you ask them if your DD could attend 3 days even though you are paying for 5? If paying for the five days doesn't cause you hardship monetarily, and the school doesn't mind, that could be an option. Also, there may be times that your DD does want to go the extra days, and if you'd be able to pick and choose which days...that could be invaluable.

First and foremost, I'd trust your gut instinct.

[sarahr]

Originally Posted by mammastar2

I would clearly pose the religion question to School B, to be sure there are no surprises later. If the answer satisfies you, I think I'd go with School B. A "downright hostile" administration is just something you can't really get around, I think.

I have asked them about the religion, and that's how I know about the poem before meals. School A is also religious, the religion that we are, but School B is certainly less religious, which is a plus for us.

Originally Posted by mammastar2

Just curious, in what way is the admin hostile?

We were given an extraordinary attitude when we asked to see the classroom where my DD would be. The tours pre-application were only given on Tuesdays, when her class meets M, W, F. When I asked if we could come one of those days, so we could actually see it, we were told no. After we were accepted, I had to practically beg to be allowed to see it. I have called several times to ask questions of the director, and she has never been there and never returned my phone calls. So maybe unfriendly is a better description, but I definitely get the attitude that parents are not welcome as equal participants.

Originally Posted by fadedgirl

School B may require full-time tuition, but did you ask them if your DD could attend 3 days even though you are paying for 5? If paying for the five days doesn't cause you hardship monetarily, and the school doesn't mind, that could be an option. Also, there may be times that your DD does want to go the extra days, and if you'd be able to pick and choose which days...that could be invaluable.

First and foremost, I'd trust your gut instinct.

That's a great idea. I had already considered that we could play hooky whenever it got to be too much or I just wanted a day with my baby.

It still bothers me a little that we haven't seen School B in as much detail -- we haven't seen circle time or spent time just watching the teachers and kids interact (although the interaction I saw on the tour I loved). We're going to try to get in to see it sometime next week, but unless we see something terrible, I think we'll go with School B.

[lightheart]

The reason School A may not allow you to go into the room with kids already enrolled there is because your child isn't actually in there and it is a sftey thing of not allowing 'strangers' into the classrooms with the kids. I would find out if that's the policy and if it changes once your child is enrolled and actually in class.

I would try and get into B and do an observation like you are wanting so you have a better comparison.

About the religion, my brother and I were sent to very small religious based schools up until I was in 5th and my brother was in 7th grade. All the schools we attended seemed to really emphasis their relgion, a couple of different denominations. It was not just a poem, we had chapel every day, an extended service one day a week and they were heavy on scripture verses. Our parents had no formal relgion, it was a totally different world/ experience for us. I think by being exposed to something like that really opened both of us to be more understanding... whatever you want to call it... I still follow in my parents steps of not having 'a relgion' because that's where I'm at.. but it did give me a good foundation in life. I guess I'm saying just because it's not the same as what relgion your family is I think it''s okay.

Personally I would pick the small school over the large one.