Choosing where your child spends their days for the next few years is one of the biggest decisions a young family makes. In and around Olivedale and Randburg there are dozens of options, and the marketing all sounds much the same: caring, safe, stimulating. So how do you actually tell them apart?

After more than twenty-five years of welcoming little ones through our doors, we’ve watched thousands of parents work through this exact question. Here is the checklist we’d use ourselves.

What to look for in a good preschool

Registration as an ECD centre

This is the non-negotiable first filter. A properly registered Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre has passed municipal health, safety and zoning checks, carries the right ratios, and is accountable to the Department of Social Development. If a school can’t show you its registration, keep looking. You can read more about how we’re set up on our preschool page.

Small groups and good teacher ratios

Ask how many children are in each class and how many adults are with them. Babies and toddlers need far more hands than a room of five-year-olds. Low ratios are the single biggest predictor of whether your child will be genuinely seen, comforted and stretched each day, rather than simply supervised.

Qualified, long-serving teachers

Warmth matters, but so does training. Ask whether the teachers have ECD qualifications, first-aid certification, and how long the team has been together. High staff turnover is exhausting for little ones who are just learning to trust. A settled team, like the one that runs our nursery school, is a very good sign.

Real meals, included

Nutrition shapes mood, concentration and health at this age. Find out whether meals are cooked on-site, whether they cater for allergies, and whether they’re included in the fee or an extra. We publish our weekly menu so parents can see exactly what their child eats, all of it included.

Safety you can see

Look for secure access control, fenced play areas, clean bathrooms and clear fire and emergency procedures. On a tour, notice the small things: are gates latched, are cleaning products out of reach, do the children look comfortable moving around the space?

A curriculum, not just childcare

The best years for brain development are the early ones. A good preschool has a clear, play-based programme that builds language, fine motor skills, early numeracy and social confidence, and can explain how a three-month-old, a two-year-old and a Grade R child are each being developed differently. Ask how they prepare children for “big school”, and have a look at what school readiness actually involves.

Holiday care and practical hours

Working parents don’t stop working in the school holidays. Check whether holiday care is included and what the daily hours are. Our doors are open Monday to Friday with holiday care built in, because family life doesn’t pause for the December break.

The best preschool isn’t the one with the shiniest brochure. It’s the one where your child is known by name, fed well, and genuinely happy to arrive each morning.

Questions to ask on a visit

  • Are you a registered ECD centre, and may I see the certificate?
  • What is the child-to-teacher ratio in my child’s age group?
  • Who cooks the meals, and how do you handle allergies?
  • How do you settle a child who is struggling to say goodbye in the morning?
  • How do you communicate with parents day to day?
  • Do you offer holiday care, and are there extra charges?
  • What does a typical day look like for a child my child’s age?

A confident school will welcome every one of these. Our FAQ page answers many of them up front, which is exactly what you want to see.

Red flags to watch for

  • Reluctance to show registration, or vague answers about ratios
  • Parents not allowed past the front gate or into the classrooms
  • Overcrowded rooms and frazzled, constantly-changing staff
  • No clear meal plan, or food as a costly “add-on”
  • Children who seem subdued rather than engaged
  • No structured programme, just hours to be filled

Why local really matters

A preschool close to home is more than a convenience. A short drive means a calmer morning, an easy dash back if your little one isn’t well, and a community of neighbourhood families your child will likely grow up alongside. Choosing a school right here in Olivedale means your child’s first friendships, birthday parties and playdates all happen within a few streets of home. If you have a baby, that closeness matters even more, which is part of why families choose our baby care centre and Tiny Tots programme.

Don’t underestimate word of mouth either. Ask other parents in the area, and read what current families say. Our own parent reviews are the honest voice of people who’ve walked this same path.

Trust your gut

You can tick every box on paper and still walk into a room that just doesn’t feel right, or feel instantly at home somewhere the moment you arrive. That feeling matters. You know your child better than any checklist does.

The very best way to choose is simply to visit. Come and see the classrooms, meet the teachers, watch the children at play, and picture your own little one in the middle of it all. At Toddies, every day is Open Day, so book a tour and come and see for yourself, we’d love to show you around.