Taking your child to their first pre-primary school is a wonderful, heart-string pulling but also nerve-wracking experience. If you've never really let your child be cared for (for instance, in a creche environment) before, you will probably have all the normal fears that a parent will have when taking your child to their first pre-primary school.

Knowing that you've made the right choice in choosing a pre-school for your child hinges on whether you feel that they will be safe, secure and well cared for in that environment. Here's a helpful checklist we've compiled to help you put your mind at ease.

1. The overall school environment, their teachers and carers should have made you feel, immediately upon visiting, that it is a safe, clean, healthy and loving environment where your child will be happy. First impressions will always be the right ones and if your gut feel is that there's something amiss, you should always investigate further.
2. Examine all the equipment the school has to offer. Are all the classroom materials in a neat, tidy and safe place? The playground, where your child will be spending the bulk of their time: is it large enough to accommodate all the kids at the school? Is all the equipment age-appropriate, plenty and of course, is it safe and regularly checked and repaired? Can you imagine your child having fun there?  
3. Are there enough staff members to mind the children during school and play time? Are they all qualified appropriately? Have the staff been trained in First Aid? Are there nurses on the school grounds? This may not be apparent when you visit the school: it is your responsibility to ask.
4. If the school has a canteen and/or a tuck shop, do they have the appropriate Health Permit to serve food and snacks?
5. Does the school have a clear and concise fire emergency and evacuation plan? It should be clearly marked out with good visibility of fire extinguishers, hose reels and evacuation routes and doors leading out of harm's way. Inquire whether the school has regular fire drills.
6. What prevention measures does the school take against crime? How many entrances, exits and access points does the school have? Does it have CCTV, security guards, electronic gates? What is the collection policy? You will want to know that no-one but you, or the person you've arranged to pick your child up will be allowed to do so.
7. Do you have a good relationship with the admin and staff at the school? This is of utmost importance; knowing your child's environment will help you be able to problem-solve a lot easier. If your child changes his mood, or no longer wants to go to school, having a good rapport with the staff will determine the cause much quicker. The staff will also know if someone dodgy is trying to pick up your kid, through simply knowing you and yours better.