Setting Up A Preschool: Things You Should Know

What’s better than imparting knowledge to young minds and nurturing them to become bright young individuals! This is what schools do, right? With its enormous range of diverse faculties with up to the mark infrastructure, they try to provide just the right kind of environment to aid growth & development. But it’s easier said than done. It requires continuous watering and support to keep up with the pace of the moving world. In an interview, a beautiful insight was outlined by Ms Srilatha Attuluri, the founder of Springboard International Preschool, Attapur branch, Telangana.

How did she go about setting up her preschool?

Ms Srilatha always had a passion for starting something of her own. Completing her master’s in management from London, UK, she worked for a while. But a spark of creating something of her own where she’d be managing everything and provide herself with new opportunities never died. With the help of her family and her father, a retired teacher, she found her passion and set up a school of her own that she has been running successfully for years.

She provides the emerging enthusiasts remarkable guidance on setting up & running a preschool.

What is the formula for the successful setting up of a preschool?

She emphasizes the uniqueness of every child. Each child is creative and intelligent in his way. Providing opportunities to children and making learning a magical experience is pivotal. Setting up a preschool is mostly about delivering an impeccable experience. Not only it involves a large of how the preschool imparts holistic development to a child. But also how the parents react and assist in achieving this. Making the learning ambience comfortable and friendly is a must. Children don’t learn from whom & where they don’t feel like themselves. Preschools should focus on extracurricular the same way they do on seated academics. Balance is a must. The prime goal is a clean, hygienic and nurturing environment.

Common Mistakes while setting up a preschool. 

She says that in the current scenario, many schools have popped up all over the country. Every locality, every society will already have a well-equipped school in it attracting a huge crowd. Thus, the competition between schools has increased due to their omnipresence. She clears that preschools set up only for monetary gains don’t last in the long run. Money can only fuel development to a certain level which comes plummeting down if there’s no creativity and zeal. Hence, the prime aim should be to nurture young minds to bloom. It’s a big responsibility that one has to take. So if you’re ready to give what it takes, then the time to move forward with it is now!

There are specific points to keep in mind when planning to set up a preschool, they are –

1. Financial Planning: One should know about the capital required for building a preschool within a particular area. It is also important to remember that one will have to face losses. It’s not like that you set up a school, and it will instantly attract the crowd. Having a security deposit that will keep you going for 2-3 years is an excellent way to start.
2. Marketing Plan: As the name suggests, it’s how you portray that sells anything. Innovative classrooms, playgrounds, toys, total infrastructure are a few of the vast list usually provided by schools in their advertisements.
3. Operation Planning: This forms a pretty crucial part because even after you set up everything with top-notch facilities. It’s always about how and who will run it. People of experience know how to deal with difficulties and day-to-day tasks efficiently. Some popular questions are: How would the school academics be conducted in parallel to playtime, workshops, entertainment days, events, etc. All these simple questions and brainstorming upon their help in better conducting & managing operations.
4. Infrastructure: It’s all about the environment with tangible items that a child dwells in and interacts with for a certain amount of hours. Having a child-friendly infrastructure is quite essential. Having spacious, colourful classrooms, nicely maintained play area that offers an interactive learning environment is a prerequisite.
5. Location: Opening up a preschool in proximity to a residential area is quite logical. Otherwise, you’d have no audience to attract or cater to. The preschool should not be too far from the residential area to have easy transportation. No parent would want their kids to go to a far-off location for primary education. A significant reason is security issues too.

Few important points to keep ingrained in oneself when opening up a preschool:

1. Anticipating success overnight: Success doesn’t come overnight. It will take up all the time and efforts required. Keep your patience while moving forward.
2. Compromising on facilities: Compromising on essential facilities just to build a great preschool will inhibit growth.
3. Compromising on quality: Quality makes the difference, which is quite evident in a world that’s is rapidly growing. Staff shouldn’t only be selected based on their academic achievement; they solely interact and take care of the kid’s plates, which is a pretty important role.

Exciting activities that can be employed at preschools.

Unorthodox ideas must be explored in preschools. This would make learning an enchanting experience and provide an example to other preschools to live by. She says that after the integration of Go Alpha in their school curriculum, kids have gotten super enthusiastic about everything. They are more charged up and attentive in academic sessions. They are imbibing values from the faculty and peers alike.

Activities where the child can learn, are imperative such as summer camps. Summer camps attract a considerable number of children at a time when the school is academically off. Such activities provide kids with an opportunity to learn, explore, and develop at every step. Srilatha is a proud partner of Mr Gaurav and his company – Go Alpha. After all, who wouldn’t want their kids to be smiling while learning!

Written by Aditya