Creating an environment that fosters children’s physical, social, and emotional development is your greatest commitment as early childhood educators. A safe classroom helps children feel valued and enables them to explore their surroundings in a controlled way.
Some students come from tumultuous home environments, and school is one of their few safe escapes. To ensure student safety, consider the following tips:
Safety First
When parents choose a preschool, they usually consider their child’s safety a top priority. After all, the best preschool near me will be appropriately licensed and have strict guidelines for dealing with problems like biting or bullying.
Clean and safe environments enable students to thrive. Schools should follow proper cleaning routines, sanitizing and disinfectant practices, and make sure that there are enough supplies of hand sanitizer and wipes for all students.
A quality school will have a system for granting or refusing access to a building, and it should be able to keep visitors, such as workmen, from entering without the presence of an employee. They should also have a well-fenced playground with gates that can be locked.
Preschool children should be potty trained before starting school, and they need to have a good amount of stamina to get through a day with playtime and learning activities. Children who still need long naps may not be ready for preschool.
Physical Environment
The physical environment of the classroom and learning centers should be arranged to give children clear messages about what is expected in class. This could include placing books at different reading levels, arranging materials to be easily accessible, and creating ample space for students who use wheelchairs.
Indoor spaces should be clean, safe, and secure. A quality preschool will be able to monitor who enters the building and prevent anyone not on the list of staff members (like workmen or parents picking up children for the first time) from entering without the Director, Assistant Director, or another staff person present.
Staff Training
Your child’s staff members should be regularly trained in areas that are relevant to their job. For example, a teacher will be trained on curriculum and other classroom procedures, while an administration employee will receive training in computer software or human resources issues.
Training and certifications not only help with morale, but they also serve as a selling point for your child care center. Many families want to know their children are in a place that is committed to staff growth and development, so advertising your staff’s credentials will increase interest from potential clients.
Establishing standard policies that your entire staff should know will help keep children safe. This includes policies regarding who is authorized to pick up a student, where the cleaning supplies are located, how to document injuries, and lock-down instructions in an emergency. Also, ensure that large toys or bookshelves are only sometimes blocking teachers’ view of students.
Communication
Preschools have many natural opportunities to promote communication. They have spaces where kids can express themselves through verbal language, drawing and writing, music, and body movement. They also have responsive communicative partners—teachers and other children—available to support their learning.
In the physical environment, a safe preschool provides clear sightlines so that all areas are observable and accessible, unused spaces are closed off, and staff members can control and monitor access. This includes a system where visitors and tradespeople must use a buzz-in security system to enter the building, and staff must verify who they are before allowing them to take children out of school.
It is also important to communicate with families in a way that respects their individuality, including their cultural background and family composition. This can be accomplished by addressing them using their preferred pronouns and ensuring that all communications respect gender identities, parenting arrangements, and family structure.