Introduction
Every pre-school institution needs to adopt best practices in all its programs (Click, Karkos, & Robertson, 2013). This paper analyzes the programs in the Little School’s parent handbook with the purpose of rating them. This center provides childcare, preschool, and before and after school care services. The paper considers enrollment, attendance, finance, illness, and security programs.
Enrollment
Little Scholars enrolls children of ages between six weeks and twelve years. Their handbook states their commitment to enrolling learners without discrimination. They clearly state their readiness to admit children from any race, religion, culture, and gender. The school issues questionnaires for parents to fill prior to the admission of their children. Parents need to provide their children’s medical information and contact details. The school also requires parents to provide tuition fees and security deposit for the first week during registration. In addition, parents must pay for each program (Little scholars School, 2014).
I think the school adopts good practices in enrolling learners. They clearly show that they are against discrimination. They admit children and teach them without considering their color, gender, or background. They also ensure that they have enough information regarding the health of all the children during admission. This practice makes them aware of health problems among learners.
Attendance
The school requires all learners to attend school every day. It has set aside an area for parents to drop off and pick their children every morning and evening. The school administration asks all parents to accompany their children to their classes every morning. They punish parents who pick their children after the stipulated time by asking them to pay $ 10 for every ten minutes. The school also requires parents to say goodbye to their children (Little Scholars School, 2014).
These attendance programs are very appropriate. They ensure that all the children reach school safely in the morning. Taking them to school eliminates the likelihood of meeting kidnappers or being involved in accidents on their way to school (Click et al., 2013). Picking them in the evening ensures that they reach home safely. However, I do not agree with them regarding their punishment on parents. It portrays the administrators as greedy and opportunistic. They should have looked for other ways of punishing parents, but not taking money from them.
Security
The school values the security of learners more than all other issues. They always lock their gates from morning to evening. In addition, they always ensure that parents sign their children in and out every morning and evening. The school allows only parents to pick up the children. They also have surveillance cameras in all places in school (Little Scholars School, 2014).
According to me, Little Scholars has the best security programs. The administrators have taken all possible steps in ensuring that the children are secure. For example, the cameras monitor and detect threats that the teachers may not be able to see. Asking parents to bring their kids to school and pick them up in the evenings ensures that the kids are secure at all times.
Finances
Parents must pay for educational and security programs during registration. In addition, they must pay registration fees for all the programs on the day of enrollment. They also need to apply for the security fees after giving the school a two-week’s notice (Little Scholars School, 2014).
These financial programs are very useful. They effectively ensure that parents pay for all the programs. When parents pay for all the programs in advance, they reduce the occurrence of interruptions during the term. However, I do not think it is fair to ask parents to apply for the money they deposit as security fees. The school should give them the money on closing days because they willingly gave it out.
Illnesses
The school’s health policy does not appropriately cater for the children’s health needs. Therefore, parents must have separate health care programs in case of emergencies. The school administration secludes all the children who show signs of illness. The symptoms that cause seclusion include:
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Eye infections
- Rash
- Nausea and
- Jaundice
Their policy requires every class teacher to check all learners for these signs and other communicable illnesses. The teachers also check for signs of abuse and mistreatment. They then record their findings in every child’s file. Teachers can only administer medication to the children after getting permission and prescriptions from doctors (Little Scholars School, 2014).
These health policies are very appropriate. They ensure that the learners are healthy at all times. They also help prevent the likelihood of transmitting diseases from one kid to the other. However, I think the school should do more than what they are doing. They should provide first aid for the kids during emergency cases. They should employ a nurse to provide first aid to kids who may face serious cases of illness or accidents.
Conclusion
The managers of Little Scholars adopt good practices in the administration of their programs. However, they do not perfectly accomplish these programs. They have good enrollment programs, which help admit learners from all races, sexes, and regions. Their programs also ensure that all learners attend school every day and are secure from all dangers. However, they make themselves appear greedy by imposing unnecessary penalties on parents who do not come to pick their kids from school on time. Their health programs ensure that the kids get medication whenever they show signs of illness. Nevertheless, they do not have facilities and labor that can provide first aid for the children who may need it. Therefore, their programs are fair.
References
Click, P., Karkos, K., & Robertson, C. (2013). Administration of programs for young children (9th Ed.). Stamford: Cengage Learning. Web.
Little Scholars School, (2014). Little Scholars Preschool – Parent Handbook. Web.