Enroll Offer Due Friday, Accept or Continue Search?
I'm currently in the midst of the grueling search for a preschool for my 2 yr old daughter. I went on my first tour last week at the LePort Preschool in Emeryville, and, although I was impressed by many aspects of the campus, being such a new facility, it has its drawbacks (no rooftop garden as advertised, small/lacking outdoor play yard with plans to build new one in near future, and being only on their 2nd year a fairly new program). The positives include the level of education the teachers all have, diverse community, Clean and safe environment, extracurricular's, the parents social network community used to share students individual daily activities, and the overall facility. I was advised that they were currently full but expecting a couple open spots once their academic year program ended. There were a few family's already on the waitlist when I added my daughter, but the admissions director said we had a good chance of being offered a spot come fall.
I had scheduled tours at other schools throughout the month, leaving enough time to really process the pros and cons each program offered and to hopefully avoid being overwhelmed by the whole experience. I'm sure you can understand my surprise when I received a call/email from LePort yesterday offering us a spot in both their full year or academic year program. They gave me a deadline to have a decision by this Friday to accept or decline the offer, which is not what I had expected, especially with my 2nd tour scheduled for the end of the week.
So now I'm beyond flustered. Although I did like LePort, it was my first school, i haven't had the chance to look at even one other preschool yet, and there are a few I was eager to explore. Problem is, I know I'm limited when it comes to programs that still have spots available that she meets the age requirement needed to enroll. I want her in preschool by this fall because waiting until next year means she be well into her third year, limiting her time in preschool to just a yr and a half. Plus, she's more then ready to be in school and I know she will flourish much more in an environment amongst her peers than with her mom.
So in short, do I accept or decline? Accept the offer, securing my daughter a spot in a program for the fall, which will be a relief all in itself, however, also causing the constant "what if's?" As to whether I should've waited, or if our "perfect fit" preschool is still out there. Decline, voiding pretty much any chance of being offered another spot at LePort again, risking guaranteed enrollment for the fall, taking a chance I will find a better fit somewhere else, with a spot available, that they will offer to our family, all in the next few months. Any advice is welcome and encouraged. Any experience with LePort will also be greatly appreciated. Help!
Parent Replies
Unless there are no financial obligations to enrolling now I would hold off until you've had a chance to tour other schools. This is definitely a major decision that is definitely not cheap so you don't want to jump on the first offer unless you're sure you want it.
1. Ask for an extension. Could the offer be a marketing ploy by the school to make you make a quick decision?
2. On the other hand, when I was looking for a toddler preschool for my daughter, I narrowed down the search by price and geography (had to be walking distance to our apartment because I didn't have a working car at the time). I signed her up for the first one I found, as I had ruled out most others for being too expensive. It was not a "name" preschool; it did not have a waiting list, it did not have a "school year," it rarely came up for reviews on BPN, it was basically very basic with a month-to-month commitment. Anyway it did turn out to be a perfect fit and she stayed from the age of 20 months until 5.5 years old.
3. If you sign her up and it is not a good fit, you can look for alternatives later.
Ask for a second tour before Friday, and ask yourself:
To my mind, the lack of outdoor areas is the biggest negative, the parents social network the biggest positive. Can you provide the outdoor time on your own?
My guess is that your gut is your best guide. Whatever you decide, please don't agonize over your choice and indulge in "what ifs"; your anxiety isn't good for you or your child. And please, please let go of "perfect." She doesn't need "perfect" to learn and grow. She needs somewhere nice to go for preschool and a mommy who isn't too stressed out.
Do you think your child will be happy and well-cared for in this preschool? If so, say yes and be happy!
My kids went to two different pre-schools. Each one had pros and cons, but each one did an excellent job helping my kids learn, grow, make friends, and love school! There are many lovely pre-schools. It doesn't have to be a perfect fit in every possible way, but it does need to be a place where you trust the staff completely and your child will thrive.
If the school doesn't fit your budget or have hours that work for your family, those are other good reasons to keep looking, but it seems like those worked for you.
Good luck!
Hello!
If you are really deadset on it and def want your child to be in SOME program next fall, you could always accept, look at other places, then drop and go elsewhere (though there will be costs involved, but at least you could get the best of both worlds that way). I'd highly recommend the White Pony/Meher School in Lafayette. My kids are there, we've been there for about 4 years and we love it! It's a very empathetic apporach to learning and child care. 2 yr olds are welcomed and assisted with potty training and all. They are a very gentle and loving group. Diversity, the arts, love for nature and care for others are some of their tennents. Ask for a tour and ask to be put on their wait list if emeollment is full for this year. They always have last minute openings with others' chnage of plans/moves/chngng jobs, etc. All the best!!
Decline. Don't believe the hard sell. There are lots of excellent preschools around, you WILL find a space, so take your time and tour the schools to find something you like. From your email it sounds like you are not loving LePort, so move on. If you tour all the schools and you realize LePort was the one, and the spot is gone, then add yourself to their wait list. Spots do open up mid-year because children move around and switch schools. BTW, there is no "perfect" preschool because children are all so different, and sometimes you won't find out whether it is a good fit until your child is actually enrolled. My son entered what seemed like a "perfect" preschool when he was 2, but neither he nor I ended up loving it. I switched him when he was 3, and it was a much better fit. Sometimes you just don't know till you've tried.