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Create a preschool that delivers what parents want

How do you create a preschool that delivers what parents want? This question lead us to look into several aspects of creating a preschool.

Walking around any residential area in any city in India, one is able to spot at least half a dozen pre-schools or billboards advertising preschools. How well are they able to deliver what parents need? And how well do they understand their roles as the bridge to primary education? And most importantly, how well are they able to deliver on the promises they make.

What do parents want?

What parents want out of preschools is very different from what they want in a regular school. Their focus is more on child safety, hygiene, social interaction and play.

  • Take care of my children
  • My child should feel safe
  • My child should want to go to school
  • Children should be engaged
  • Children should be engaged with several different activities
  • Learn how to appreciate everything
  • Children should want to learn
  • Children should be excited about their day and school
  • Children should be happy to tell us about their day in school
  • Want a safe environment to grow
  • Encourage my child to be curious, to learn
  • Build the confidence of my children
  • Instil curiosity and want to learn
  • To be able to ask questions
  • To be able to think independently
  • My child should be able to express himself well
  • My child should make friends
  • Children should learn how to interact with others
  • My child should learn how to play with others
  • Help children develop emotionally and socially
  • Help my child express himself
  • Fun, clean safe
  • Welcoming and an open mindset to make children comfortable to foster creativity!
  • Making children learn and have a POV on the alphabet
  • Safety first (sending my child to someone with trust), teachers should be friendly with us and have to be guardian to the kids
  • Basic entertainment without screens like dance, playing, little bit learning
  • Fun and social interaction

preschoolOver the years we have seen multiple versions of such statements researching and understanding parents looking for a preschool to enroll their children. And, of course we have spent several years creating schools that promise these and deliver them. It is a layered understanding of creating a right balance between target parent requirements and the needs of a 21st century education.

At the outset parents will look for safety of their child and the convenience of the school location. From that starting point the rest of the statements become differentiating factors in determining the right school for their children. This differentiation between schools is often layered with how the schools speak about themselves, what the parents see and what they hear from other parents about the school.

Some of these observations are conscious, others subconscious.

  • Are the spaces safely designed? Are they welcoming, are they engaging? Is there diversity?
  • Who is in the school? Do the teachers and the head of the school inspire confidence in their ability to take care of my child?
  • How does the preschool acknowledge my child is special? Is the school geared to give adequate attention and care to my child

What makes the preschool better suited to the needs of each child?

It is not possible to address all individual needs of parents as often they can be contradictory.
E.g. Some parents will want a digital element in the school others will want nothing to do with it

Importance of research

nursery-schoolWhen we partner with clients, our projects often involve local area research. We delve into requirements such as these and identify the higher level needs of parents. Only by understanding where the requirements of the parents are coming from can one seek to fulfil them effectively. And as a result serve the needs of the larger target group. Often there are instances where parents need help in managing the behaviour of their children and this help comes from the environment set up in the school.

New entrepreneurs often identify one set of parents and build a school around their needs. Sometimes it is the needs they missed when they sought a preschool for their children. In other instances it is the perceptions of their peer group. It runs the risk of being a limited view. When preschool-teachers set up the school, they may have a great academic plan but will miss out on the administrative or operational efficiencies. Each of these runs the risk of resulting in a siloed view of the needs of the market.

We have created such an appropriate environment across diverse geographies. We are quickly able to understand the root solution that will address diverse needs of parents. We are also able to define the linkages between these solutions and the school brand, vision and mission.

Our approach is to help the entrepreneur articulate their vision of the school and map out how best it suits the market requirements. We then draw inspirations from developments in the sector across the world. For our projects we need regular interactions with architects, designers, academic counsellors, school founders, teachers, parents and vendors. This means that we have a continuously updated list of vendors and school needs. We also have a historical perspective on what worked and what didn’t. That allows us to deliver insights quickly.

A school where a child is safe, happy, socially comfortable and learning/developing according to their age. The ability to deliver this, to deliver the high level requirements of the target parents and to pull the triggers will enable those parents to see value in the school promise. That will result in the success of the school.

Over the years, Newton Schools has provided services as project consultants in developing the school concept, marketing strategy and the financial projections. Such engagements begin at the concept stage when the school is an idea and perhaps even the land has not been acquired. We have also worked in already initiated projects as academic/management consultants defining the curriculum, the teacher training and recruitments. And in other projects as management consultants building a bridge between school owners and everyday operations of schools.

Post to follow: Approaches to early years education.

 

Other related posts:

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Planning CCTV for schools

A question that we often face is about planning the CCTV system for schools. When a new school is being constructed or an existing school is being renovated, a CCTV system needs to be planned. We have planned and installed CCTV systems in many schools and have the benefit of seeing them work over a period of time. This article will summarise our experience and views on the same.

Are CCTV cameras mandatory in schools?

planning-cctv-for-schoolsWhile the CBSE affiliation bye laws themselves are silent on the topic of CCTV, they do mention several indirect points connected to the topic of safety. The bye laws direct schools to follow the National Building Code and the School Safety Policy issued by the National Disaster Management Authority, along with a few other relevant policies and documents. These codes and guidelines, and state laws make it mandatory to have CCTV coverage in ‘vulnerable areas’ of schools, however, that is no guideline that all areas, including classrooms need to be covered.

Should schools have CCTV camera’s inside classrooms?

This is a much debated topic. In most organizations, employees do not like being directly monitored by CCTV while doing their work. In a classroom with only 1 teacher, the teacher feels directly monitored and feels it is an invasion of her/his privacy. It restricts their freedom to run their classes as they wish and the culture then lacks trust.  On the other hand, school administration often feels that having a CCTV camera in the classroom will ensure safety and security of students.  One view on this is the following:

  • In cities and developed areas where the staff is well qualified, trained and motivated, it is better to avoid CCTV cameras in the classrooms. If we can’t trust our teachers, who can we trust then? Students in classrooms are monitored by teachers, and they too deserve that much freedom to negotiate their time with their peers without constantly being monitored.
  • In some scenarios, like in pre-primary sections or in classrooms that have expensive equipment, CCTV cameras could be installed.
  • If the school is located in areas with high attrition of teachers, or in areas where security of kids is a key concern, only then should the administrators consider planning a CCTV in classrooms
  • Besides classrooms, all corridors and outdoor spaces should have CCTV coverage.

How do we plan a CCTV system for a school?

In our experience, a well planned CCTV system is effective not as a deterrent but as a post-incident analysis tool. While we may have eyes on monitors, the possibility of preventing incidents while they are happening is rare and difficult. Therefore, the following points can be kept in mind while designing the CCTV system for a school:

  • Cover all common areas such as corridors, lobbies, entrance and exit gates and try to cover open areas like playgrounds when feasible. Based on the schools locations, specific cameras may be planned to cover boundary walls, parking lots and basements.
  • Connect all the camera’s to a central place like a security room or in the admin offices.
  • Provide for multiple viewing displays at places like the guard room (for outdoor cameras only), reception (for indoor cameras only) and the Principal’s room / meeting room (for reviewing incidents after authorised access).
  • The access to all recordings must be password protected, with the password closely guarded by the head of school and / or authorised person.

Technical specifications to keep in mind while planning a CCTV system for a school

While detailed drawing and technical specifications can only be made specific to a project, here are some key points to consider:

  • Plan for an IP based system with POE cameras- it will avoid the need to provide a separate power connection to each camera, reduce wiring costs and increase reliability.
  • The NVR (network video recorder) should have extra capacity to add camera’s when  required. It should also have enough storage to store all recordings for at least 1 month.
  • The NVR and connected switches should be powered by a UPS system only, with sufficient backup to outlast power outages.
  • In addition to providing wiring at planned camera locations, leave additional spare wires at  locations where cameras might be required in the future.
  • Good brands to use for CCTV are Bosch and Honeywell, while brands such as Hikvision and CP Plus are common as they are slightly less expensive.

 

There are many other considerations while planning a good CCTV system for a school. Do reach out to us if you have any questions.

 

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The PreSchools Opportunity

The preschools opportunity, post pandemic, is large and needs to be explored.

Most of the last 18 months have been spent under lockdown or uncertainty over the future of work, education and normal life. The reopening of the country after the first lockdown and the ensuing second wave has created more uncertainty in the future easing of restrictions for regular business. During this time work from home has been forced upon almost everyone. Schools have also tried online schooling / hybrid schooling. It has been difficult. Parents get to spend more time with their children but they must manage their work and the online sessions of their children. 

 

Need for parents

Beyond a certain time it becomes difficult to manage both effectively and efficiently. It is easier with older children who can sit on their computers unattended. But for preschoolers it has been particularly difficult. They have lost a crucial year of social interaction and education. Parents have seen little benefit in enrolling their children in preschools for a year of online education. It can be very challenging for a parent to get their children to sit at a computer for the duration of a class. Several preschoolers have missed out on school education altogether. 

So what now? After the lockdown, working parents will need good preschools, even when they are working from home (Assuming working from home continues for them). In such a scenario the preschool needs to be close to their homes. For preschool education parents will continue to prefer proximity, safety and comfort for their children. That we feel is an opportunity.

The PreSchools Opportunity

Premium preschools that offer engagement, safety and security. More experiential engagement centres than just classroom based schools. We had already seen a shift towards premium preschools before the covid pandemic and we feel it will be more so now. Over the last few years we have overseen the launch of premium pre-schools offering diverse experiential learning. Specially designed engagement zones as opposed to traditional classrooms, that children are raring to explore their spaces. Spaces that are designed keeping in mind social engagement of groups of multiple sizes. Spaces that are flexible to handle multiple use, that can be safe even when special norms such as social distancing or other public health measures are required.

preschools-opportunityGiven the needs of a 21st century education, we have always laid great importance on flexibility, innovation and creativity even in designing schools. Schools of this nature are better able to handle change. Such schools set their infrastructure in place, at the same time they also develop their team. The leadership is highly qualified with experience in imparting a 21st century education. Also a focus on growing the rest of the team with tactical hires that bring their expertise, knowledge and experience. Key roles are assigned responsibilities that meet the needs of the school, ones that build collaborative and constructive relationships.

Over the years, Newton Schools has provided services as project consultants in developing the school concept, marketing strategy and the financial projections. Such engagements begin at the concept stage when the school is an idea and perhaps even the land has not been acquired. We have also worked in already initiated projects as academic/management consultants defining the curriculum, the teacher training and recruitments. Our parent firm, Newton Services has executed projects in civil construction and interiors to make the concepts come alive.   And in other projects as management consultants building a bridge between school owners and everyday operations of schools.

Contact us for more information here.

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Premium Pre-Schools: Need and Design

There is a new segment of premium pre-schools or nursery schools opening up in India. These are premium preschools, where the infrastructure is owned instead of rented and a higher investment is made in design, interiors, facilities planning and overall delivery of services. To understand this segment and the design of such pre-schools, let us look at the following:

a. Existing market for pre-schools

Till 2020, the following segments of pre-schools existed:

i. Rented apartments / houses being used as pre-schools: These could be found in almost every neighbourhood. Some of these would be franchise brands while others would be self-started pre-schools. As the facility was rented, minimum levels of investments were made in starting the school and these facilities were not even designed to be child-friendly.

ii. Pre-schools built on dedicated plots: In most states, the govt allowed plots for nursery or kindergarten schools and buildings had been made on these plots. These buildings were then rented out to brands / franchises or in some cases, the owners would themselves run a pre-school operation in the building. While these were better than the rented apartments / houses in terms of space usage and facilities for children, many of these buildings were dated in terms of design and planning.

The pandemic since 2020 has started changing the face of these pre-schools. All the preschools have been shut since April 2020 and continue to be closed as of July 2021. Many of the rented facilities have permanently shut down as it was unviable to keep paying for the premises without knowing when students can officially join the school back.

We expect that in 2022, students will be able to attend preschools again. There is a huge opportunity and a new segment of pre-schools that will emerge when that happens.

b. New segment of preschools

premium pre-schoolsWe are seeing a new segment of preschools open up, where a brand new facility is created, specifically designed for a premium experience. These centres, often in a 1000 to 3000 sq mtr plot, are designed to offer large learning spaces, pretend-play areas and other facilities for children in the ages 1 to 4. A significant investment is made, compared to earlier preschools, in ensuring the interiors and correctly planned and executed to cater to parents who are willing to pay a higher price for early education. These pre-schools are usually owned and operated by the investors.

c. Design of premium pre-schools

premium nursery-schoolPremium Preschools will attract parents who are young, used to comforts and want the best for their children. As these schools are created on plots owned by the operators, they can invest a higher amount and recoup it back with returns over a longer period of time. The design of the premium preschools requires a lot of inputs that many architects often don’t have. It cannot follow the standard norms of having classrooms along a corridor. Learning spaces needs to be spread and intermingled with play areas. By creating larger open spaces in the floors, design can allow flexibility to the pre-school teachers to change the look and feel of the spaces based on the themes planned to be taught. From the washrooms to the performance areas, significant details need to be planned while designing such preschools. Parents should immediately see the difference between a school like this and traditional preschools when they visit. The overall ambience of the preschool must reflect premium-ness while still being within a certain investment range.

We expect the premium pre-schools segment to grow rapidly, with at least two such pre-schools being created in most towns / cities within the next 3 to 4 years.

Newton has already been involved in creating such pre-schools as project consultants. From design to construction and interiors, we have teams that can create a unique, premium pre-school. To know more, contact us now.

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Setting up a new school?

Are you setting up a new school?

setting-up-a-schoolAre you creating a new school in India? Do you have land on which you plan to set up a new school? Or maybe you want to buy land to set up your new school? Do you have an existing school and are now planning to create another new school?  Before you embark on any one of these, do read this article – not only will it help save investments but also ensure that you create a school that will be successful.

Creating a new private school is a big project – it involves significant infrastructure investments and upfront costs, while the return on investment comes over a long period of time. Agreed that the returns are good in the long run, but they are not guaranteed for all schools. As competition increases and a sufficient number of schools have already been created, the chances that another one will make good return on investment is reducing. These are some of the points to consider before starting a new school, that can help guide you decisions:

Does your town or city need one more school?

A brief survey of your town or city will tell you if there is a dearth of schools there. In our experience, A, B and C class cities and towns in India already have sufficient schools and not all of them are able to achieve 100% occupancy.  So why would you want to create another and add to the chaos?

Our surveys also show that most schools in these places are similar in nature – they have a standard classroom based learning environment that delivers the CBSE curriculum with some additional extra curricular activities. Progressive, younger and educated parents are looking for more – international curriculum, experiential learning, exposure and a truly 21st century learning environment. If your town or city doesn’t have many schools offering all this, that is the kind of school you should create, so it stands apart from the crowd.

Do you have sufficient funds to create a good school?

schoolGone are the days when schools could be started by creating a small building on a large piece of land, and expanded slowly with the fees being received from students. Instead, schools are now being created on smaller pieces of land to reduce investments and are vertically built to add capacity. They are also constructed with a lot of facilities to showcase at launch from a marketing perspective. All this requires significant upfront investment. It is wiser to plan the investment, the phases in which it would be done, the sources of the investment and then start the project. You would not want to be in a situation with an incomplete school and exhausted funds.

Patient capital and patience:

The capital investment in schools can span 4 to 5 years or longer depending on the school project plans. The return of the investment can further take anywhere between 4 -10 years. As the investments are locked in during this time, we term it patient capital. In the first few years of the operations of the school, the revenue might be lower than expenses. Despite this, expenses cannot be curtailed as that would compromise the quality of education being delivered. Every investor’s patience is tested, the ones who can continually invest and maintain the quality of operations are significantly rewarded.

Planning an innovative, new school:

Once all of the above are sorted, you need to plan an innovative new school. Consider international curriculum like the International Baccalaureate or the Cambridge Assessment International Education. Implement experiential learning or problem based learning. Look at strategies for delivering 21st century education. Accordingly, design the building and infrastructure to deliver your choices in a planned way. Keep in mind that the building should be flexible enough to incorporate future needs. Invest in essential services – of a school and educational consultant who can guide and keep costs in control. 

With all of this, you should have a good future-ready school that becomes that city or town’s top choice in a matter of a few years. In our experience, all the investments done can be recouped back in 5 to 10 years, and thereafter, it can offer an additional 30-40% ROI, year after year.

Newton Schools has completed several greenfield school projects.

For all inquiries regarding setting up a new school, please contact us.