The right questions during a preschool tour can reveal everything a brochure will not. This checklist covers 25 essential questions organized by category so you can quickly evaluate any program's safety, teaching quality, curriculum, and costs. Print it out, bring it on your tours, and take notes as you go.
Not sure which preschools to tour? Take the Bright Headstart match quiz to get a shortlist of programs in Orange County that fit your family's needs in about two minutes.
Safety and Licensing Questions
These are your non-negotiables. Every preschool should answer these questions clearly and confidently. Hesitation here is a deal-breaker.
1. Are you licensed by the state of California, and can I see your current license?
A valid CDSS license should be posted visibly in the facility. Ask when the last inspection was and whether there were any findings. You can also look up licensing reports on your own through the state database.
2. What is your emergency plan for earthquakes, fires, and lockdowns?
California preschools are required to have written emergency plans. Ask where children are taken during an evacuation and how parents are notified. The staff should know this cold.
3. What is your sign-in and sign-out procedure?
Find out who is authorized to pick up your child and how they verify identity. Good programs require photo ID for anyone not on the regular pick-up list. Ask about their policy if someone unauthorized shows up.
4. How do you handle medical emergencies?
Ask whether staff members are CPR and first aid certified. Find out where the first aid kit is kept and what happens if a child needs emergency medical attention. Are they authorized to administer basic first aid while waiting for paramedics?
5. What are your teacher-to-child ratios?
California requires 1:4 for infants, 1:6 for toddlers, and 1:12 for preschoolers. Many quality programs exceed these minimums. Ask what the actual ratios are in practice, not just what is on paper.
Curriculum and Learning Questions
These questions help you understand what your child will actually do all day and whether the teaching approach fits your family's values.
6. What is your educational philosophy?
Listen for specifics. "We follow a play-based curriculum" is fine, but ask what that looks like in practice. Can they describe a typical morning? What learning objectives guide their lesson planning?
7. Can I see a sample weekly schedule?
A thoughtful program will have a balanced mix of structured learning, free play, outdoor time, creative activities, and rest. Watch for schedules that are either overly rigid or completely unstructured.
8. How do you assess children's progress?
Good programs track developmental milestones and share updates with parents regularly. Ask whether they do formal assessments, portfolio collections, or parent-teacher conferences. Find out how often you will receive progress reports.
9. How do you prepare children for kindergarten?
Even play-based programs should be building skills that support kindergarten readiness: letter recognition, counting, following multi-step instructions, sitting for short group activities, and getting along with peers.
10. How do you handle children with different learning speeds?
Some kids are reading at 4. Others are still working on sharing. A quality program differentiates instruction and meets each child where they are instead of forcing everyone through the same activities at the same pace.
Staff and Teacher Questions
The teachers are the program. A beautiful building with disengaged staff is worse than a modest space with passionate, skilled educators.
11. What qualifications do your lead teachers have?
In California, lead teachers in licensed preschools must have at least 12 units of early childhood education (ECE). Many quality programs require a bachelor's degree or higher. Ask about ongoing professional development too.
12. How long have your current teachers been here?
High turnover is one of the biggest red flags in childcare. If teachers leave every year, the program likely has management or compensation problems. Stability matters for your child's emotional development.
13. What is your staff-to-child ratio when a teacher is absent?
This is a question most parents forget to ask, and the answer matters. Some programs bring in trained substitutes. Others redistribute children to other classrooms, which can blow up ratios for the day.
14. How are teachers supervised and evaluated?
Ask whether the director observes classrooms regularly and how teacher performance is assessed. Programs that invest in their staff tend to have better outcomes for children.
15. Can I meet the teacher who would be in my child's classroom?
If the school will not arrange this, that is concerning. You want to see how the teacher interacts with children and get a sense of their energy and warmth. This is the person your child will spend most of their day with.
Schedule and Logistics Questions
These practical details can make or break your daily routine. Do not assume anything here.
16. What are your hours of operation, including early drop-off and late pick-up?
Some programs open at 7:00 AM. Others do not start until 9:00. Ask about late pick-up fees, because they can be steep ($1 per minute is common in Orange County). Know exactly what the grace period is.
17. What is your calendar for holidays and closures?
Some preschools follow the public school calendar. Others have their own schedule. Ask for a full-year calendar so you can plan backup care for closure days. Find out if they offer a summer program or close for several weeks.
18. Do you offer part-time schedules?
If your child is young or you work part-time, a 2-day or 3-day schedule can be ideal. Ask which days are available and whether part-time families can add extra days when needed.
19. What is your sick child policy?
Every program has rules about when children must stay home. Common thresholds include fever over 100.4, vomiting within 24 hours, or contagious conditions like pink eye. Ask how strictly these rules are enforced.
20. What meals and snacks are provided?
Some programs include meals in tuition. Others require packed lunches. If meals are provided, ask about the menu, allergy accommodations, and whether food is prepared on-site or delivered. If you pack lunch, ask about nut-free and other dietary policies.
Cost and Enrollment Questions
Get the full financial picture before you commit. Tuition is just the starting number.
21. What is the total monthly cost, including all fees?
Beyond tuition, ask about registration fees, materials fees, field trip costs, and any annual charges. Some programs charge separately for art supplies, technology, or extracurricular activities. Get the all-in number.
You can compare tuition across Orange County programs on our tuition comparison page to make sure you are getting a fair deal.
22. Is there a waitlist, and how does it work?
Popular OC preschools can have waitlists of 6 months or more. Ask how the waitlist is managed, whether there is a deposit to hold your spot, and what the typical wait time is. Find out if siblings get priority.
23. What is your withdrawal and refund policy?
Life changes. Ask how much notice you need to give if you withdraw and whether any portion of prepaid tuition is refundable. Some programs require 30 days notice. Others require a full semester commitment.
Communication and Parent Involvement Questions
How a preschool communicates with parents tells you a lot about how they view the parent-school relationship.
24. How will I know what my child did today?
Look for daily reports, whether through an app like Brightwheel or HiMama, email updates, or a written summary. The best programs share photos, activity descriptions, meal and nap details, and developmental notes.
25. How do you handle parent concerns or complaints?
Ask about their process. Is there an open-door policy? Can you schedule a meeting with the teacher or director? How quickly do they respond to emails or messages? A program that is responsive to parents is usually responsive to children too.
How to Use This Checklist
Print this list or save it on your phone before you tour. You do not need to ask every single question at every school. Focus on the areas that matter most to your family and use the others as tiebreakers.
After each tour, rate the program on a 1-to-5 scale across these categories: safety, teaching quality, curriculum fit, logistics, cost, and overall feeling. Comparing scores across your top choices makes the final decision much clearer.
For a broader view of what to evaluate, read our complete guide on how to choose a preschool. And if your child is on the younger side, our preschool readiness checklist can help you figure out the right timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I schedule tours or just drop in?
Schedule your first visit so the director can give you a proper tour. But ask if they allow unannounced drop-ins for enrolled families. A school that welcomes surprise visits has nothing to hide, and that is a great sign.
How many preschools should I tour?
Three to five tours give you enough comparison without overwhelming you. Use the Bright Headstart match quiz to narrow your options first so every tour counts.
Is it okay to bring my child on the tour?
Yes, and it is actually helpful. Watch how the staff interacts with your child and how your child responds to the environment. Some schools offer trial visits where your child can spend a morning in the classroom before you enroll.
What if the school cannot answer some of these questions?
A few "let me check on that" responses are fine. But if the director cannot answer basic questions about ratios, licensing, or curriculum during your tour, that is a warning sign. The leadership should know their own program inside and out.