Choosing a preschool in Randburg: 9 questions to ask on the tour
If you're touring preschools in Randburg, Randpark Ridge, or the broader northern suburbs of Johannesburg, the experience can blur together fast. Bright walls, friendly receptionists, a quick walk past a classroom, and you leave with a brochure but no real sense of how the school actually works.
Here are nine questions we encourage parents to ask on every tour. They're the questions we would ask if we were choosing a school for our own children, and yes, we welcome them at Luluki.
1. "What does CAPS-aligned mean for the day-to-day?"
CAPS, the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements, is the South African national curriculum. A CAPS-aligned preschool teaches the foundational skills that prepare children for Grade R and Grade 1 in any SA school. But "aligned" is a spectrum.
What you want to hear: specific examples. How is early literacy taught? How is numeracy introduced? How are children assessed, and how are those assessments shared with parents? A school that hand-waves "we're CAPS-aligned, don't worry" without specifics is a yellow flag.
2. "What is your teacher-to-child ratio?"
Ratios drive almost everything: how much one-on-one attention each child gets, how safely the group can move outside, how quickly a teacher can respond to a child who needs help. Look for ratios appropriate to age, smaller for babies, slightly larger for pre-primary. Then ask whether those ratios are guaranteed every day, including when staff are sick.
3. "How long have your teachers been here?"
Teacher retention is one of the best signals of a healthy school. If teachers stay for years, it usually means they're well-supported, well-trained, and in the right environment. Frequent turnover is hard on children, especially the youngest, who form deep attachments to their carers.
4. "How do you communicate with parents?"
You shouldn't have to chase information about your child's day. At Luluki we use a secure, user-friendly app to share daily updates, photos, and milestones, but the platform matters less than the philosophy. Ask: how often will I hear from you? Who do I contact when I have a question? How are concerns handled?
"Daily personal communication via the school's app is amazing. The school goes above and beyond in everything they do." — George Smith, Luluki parent
5. "How do you handle a child who's struggling, emotionally, socially, or developmentally?"
Every child has hard days. Some have hard months. The honest answer to this question reveals more about a school than any glossy prospectus.
You're listening for: structured observation, partnership with parents, a relationship with outside professionals (speech therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists), and a clear, calm process. Beware schools that imply they only take "easy" children.
6. "What does outdoor play look like, and how often?"
Outdoor time isn't a break from learning, it's some of the most important learning of the day. A good preschool plans for it deliberately, in all weathers (with the obvious exceptions). Look for varied outdoor environments: open grass, climbing equipment, sensory areas, shade, places to dig, and places to be quiet.
7. "What do meals and snacks look like?"
Food is a daily, repeated experience that shapes a child's relationship with eating for life. Ask whether meals are prepared on-site, what a typical menu looks like, and how allergies and preferences are handled. Walk past the kitchen if you can.
8. "How do you assess and report on my child's development?"
Termly assessments should cover the big developmental domains, language, cognition, fine and gross motor, social-emotional, self-help. They should be shared with you in plain language, not jargon, and they should lead to a real conversation about how to support your child both at school and at home.
9. "Can I see a typical day, not just the highlights?"
Brochures and websites show the best moments. The real test is the messy middle: drop-off, transitions, mealtimes, the moment after a child has a meltdown. Ask if you can visit during a normal morning, not a staged tour. A confident school will say yes.
The intangibles
After the questions, trust your senses. When you walked into the classroom, did the children look engaged? Were the teachers warm without being performative? Did the building feel cared-for? Did the school smell like food and fresh air, or like cleaning chemicals trying to cover something?
And finally, did your child relax? Children read environments faster than adults do. Watch theirs.
One last thing
The "best" preschool in Randburg isn't a single school. It's the school that fits your child and your family, your values, your routines, your child's temperament. The right place will feel like home, even on a first visit.
Considering Luluki? We're at 192 Dale Lace Avenue in Randpark Ridge, and we'd love to show you around. Book your tour here or WhatsApp us.