What to Ask on a Trial Day: A Parent’s Checklist

A trial day can be one of the best ways to understand fit — but only if you know what to look for.

Most parents leave a trial day with a general feeling (“my child liked it”), but without the information needed to compare schools confidently. This checklist gives you a few simple things to observe, and a short set of questions that are easy for schools to answer.

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Before the trial: align on expectations

Ask the school:

• Which class will my child join?
• Will they follow the normal schedule?
• Who will be responsible for onboarding them during the day?

Then ask yourself:

• Is your child shy, social, sensitive to noise, or easily tired?
• Do they need structure, or do they thrive with flexibility?

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During drop-off: watch the greeting

The first five minutes can tell you a lot.

Observe:

• Do staff greet children by name?
• Do they guide children kindly but firmly?
• Do children seem calm, or rushed and anxious?

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In class: look for three simple signals

1) Attention and engagement

Is the teacher doing all the talking, or are children actively involved?

2) Support without dependence

When a child struggles, do adults step in with coaching — or do they take over?

3) Classroom culture

Do children help each other? Are corrections respectful?

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At pick-up: ask for specific feedback

Good feedback is concrete.

Ask:

• What did my child enjoy most?
• Where did they need the most support?
• If we enroll, what would you recommend for the first month?

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Questions that help you compare schools

Keep it short. These are enough:

1. What is the typical class size for this age?
2. How do you support a child new to the school culture?
3. How do you communicate with parents (weekly update, app, meetings)?
4. What costs are usually missed by new families (uniforms, transport, after-school care)?

Helpful context:

• Fees overview: /fees
• Admissions timeline: /blog/admissions-timeline-and-documents

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Next step: narrow your shortlist

After one or two trials, you should be able to narrow to 2–3 schools.

Use the directory tools:

• Compare schools: /compare
• Browse areas: /areas
• Browse curriculums: /curriculums

If you want help shortlisting based on your area and your child’s age, you can ask here:

• Get guidance: /contact