How to Choose a Safe Preschool: Parent's Checklist

As a parent, nothing matters more than your child's safety. When choosing a preschool, you're not just selecting an academic environment — you're entrusting someone with your child’s well-being every day.

The problem? Many safety risks in early education settings are invisible during a short school tour. From security protocols to sanitation routines, it's the details behind-the-scenes that make the difference.

This checklist is designed to help you ask the right questions and spot the signs of a truly safe preschool. And as you read through, you'll also see how Apple Montessori has made these priorities a core part of our schools.

Bonus: Learn more about The Importance of Health & Safety at Apple Montessori Schools!

A safe preschool begins at the front door. Open access or shared entryways can put children at risk, even in seemingly calm neighborhoods. Schools should have clear policies for who can enter, how, and when.

What to look for:

• Locked doors with keycard or code access.
• Visitor ID checks and sign-in procedures.

At Apple Montessori:
Every school is equipped with secure access systems that only allow parents/guardians and authorized others inside. All visitors are required to show identification and are granted entry only after staff verification​. This helps ensure a safe and predictable environment for every child.

Even if a preschool is secure, peace of mind often comes from being able to see what’s going on. Live video access is a valuable layer of both transparency and trust.

Why it matters:

• Parents can check in during the day without disruption.
• Staff know their actions are visible, reinforcing accountability.
• It signals that the school has nothing to hide.

At Apple Montessori:
We offer live video monitoring access to your child’s classroom, giving you a real-time view of their day. You don’t need to wonder — you can see for yourself​. Administrators can also check in any time they need to, from wherever they are, while additional cameras are stationed in areas such as hallways and parking lots for surveillance purposes.

In a preschool environment, colds and viruses can spread fast. Schools must go beyond surface cleaning and follow professional hygiene protocols daily.

Questions to ask:

• How often are classrooms and toys sanitized?
• What equipment or products are used?
• What happens when a child shows signs of illness?

At Apple Montessori:
We use germ-sanitizing machines that eliminate 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. Our cleaning routines follow — and exceed — CDC and health department guidelines​. This helps reduce illness and keeps classrooms safe and healthy year-round.

It's not enough for teachers to be friendly — they need to be vetted, trained, and fully prepared to handle emergencies. Any preschool that takes safety seriously should have rigorous hiring and training standards.

What to ask:

• Are all staff members background-checked and fingerprinted?
• Do they receive CPR, First Aid, or EpiPen training?
• How often are safety drills practiced?

At Apple Montessori:
Every staff member is fingerprinted and passes a full background check upon hire. They are certified in CPR and First Aid, which includes training on AED and EpiPen usage, with safety procedures and emergency drills reviewed and practiced regularly​.

Emergencies are rare — but preparation makes all the difference when they happen. A safe preschool should have clear plans for fire, weather, lockdowns, and medical events, plus a reliable way to keep parents informed.

Things to consider:

• Does the school have written emergency procedures?
• How quickly are parents notified in case of an incident?
• Are all staff trained to respond, or only some?

At Apple Montessori:
Our safety procedures are practiced regularly across all schools. Staff are trained for multiple emergency scenarios, and communication with families is a priority when situations arise​.

Children need outdoor time — but outdoor areas can pose risks if not properly secured and supervised. Look for physical safety measures and thoughtful layout.

Key features to check:

• Secure perimeter fencing around the entire play area.
• Soft surfaces like turf or padding to prevent injury.
• Clear lines of sight for supervision and emergency communication tools.

At Apple Montessori:
All playgrounds are built with secure fencing, impact-absorbing surfaces, and equipped with landlines, cell phones, or two-way radios to ensure immediate response if needed. Outdoor time is always supervised​.

True safety isn’t just about equipment and protocols — it’s also about how much a school includes you in the process. A safe school welcomes questions, communicates proactively, and keeps you in the loop.

Ask yourself:

• Do I feel comfortable asking about safety policies?
• Does the school provide updates or daily reports?
• Are concerns taken seriously?

At Apple Montessori:
We believe that parent-school trust is foundational to safety. With daily communication, live video access, and an open-door approach, we make sure you always feel informed and included in your child’s care​.

Bonus: Learn more about safety and security measurements taken by Apple Montessori!

Choosing a preschool isn’t just about finding a warm environment — it’s about making sure that environment is truly safe. The tricky part? Some of the biggest risks aren’t visible on the surface. Here are the most common safety concerns in preschools — and how to recognize whether a school is genuinely prepared.

Many preschools claim to be “secure,” but still leave side doors propped open or allow unverified visitors inside. A truly safe preschool limits access through one main entry, uses keypads or security cards, and requires all visitors to check in with valid ID.

What to look for during your visit: Are doors locked? Are you asked for ID? If you can walk in without question, that’s a concern.

Emergencies happen — from minor injuries to unexpected lockdowns. But not all schools have a plan in place. Some rely on “common sense,” which isn’t enough. You’ll want to ask whether they run drills, how staff are trained to respond, and how parents are notified in a crisis.

Red flag: If the school can’t clearly explain what happens during a fire drill or emergency, they might not be truly prepared.

Your child may spend more waking hours with preschool staff than with you — so it’s critical that every adult is trained to handle accidents or medical situations. Look for full-staff certifications in CPR and first aid, and make sure that training includes the knowledge of EpiPens and AEDs.

Ask: “Is every staff member certified, or only the lead teachers?”

Shared toys, high-touch surfaces, and group activities make preschools high-risk environments for spreading illness. It’s not enough to clean “at the end of the day.” Schools should disinfect regularly, use child-safe but effective sanitizing equipment, and have policies in place when a child shows symptoms.

Good sign: If staff can explain their cleaning routine in detail and mention tools like germ sanitizing machines.

At Apple, we go far beyond the minimum. Our schools are equipped with secure entry systems, real-time parent monitoring, certified staff, and germ sanitizing machines that eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. We also run regular drills and train every team member to handle emergencies — because real safety takes daily work, not just promises.

A school tour is your moment to dig deeper — not just admire the art on the walls, but to understand how the school protects your child day to day. Below are key safety-focused questions to ask, plus why they matter.

You’re looking for more than locked doors — the best schools use access controls, ID checks, and limit entry to authorized individuals only.

Why it matters: Open access, even for a few minutes, can put every child at risk.

Ask about fire drills, medical situations, and lockdown procedures. Bonus points if they offer to show you written protocols.

Why it matters: Clear plans save time when it matters most — and show the school takes safety seriously.

Not just the directors or select teachers — every adult working with your child should be prepared to respond in a crisis.

Why it matters: Emergencies are unpredictable. Every second counts.

A strong answer includes daily cleaning, disinfecting high-touch surfaces, and a clear illness policy (including when children must stay home).

Why it matters: Young children have developing immune systems — and no parent wants constant sick days.

Pay attention to fencing, surfaces, and sightlines. Ask how staff supervise children and how they communicate during outdoor time.

Why it matters: Playgrounds are where many injuries happen — secure designs and adult vigilance prevent them.

At Apple, we welcome these questions — and encourage you to ask more. From daily sanitization to live classroom monitoring and certified staff, we’re proud to offer full transparency. Because for us, safety isn’t just one department’s job — it’s our foundation.

Bonus: Learn more about why you should choose Apple Montessori over traditional schools.

Asking about safety doesn't make you an overprotective parent — it makes you an informed one. Many schools talk about safety, but the real question is whether they’ve built it into their daily routines, their staff training, and their physical environment.

When touring preschools, don’t hesitate to:

• Ask to see the entry procedures and surveillance setup.
• Inquire about illness prevention routines and emergency protocols.
• Request information about staff certifications and background checks.

These aren’t “nice to haves” — they’re non-negotiables when it comes to your child's well-being.

At Apple, we don’t just check these boxes — we've built our entire approach around them. From secure entries and live video monitoring to certified staff and state-of-the-art sanitation, we go above and beyond to provide an environment where your child can feel safe, supported, and free to thrive.

Schedule a tour at one of our New Jersey locations to experience firsthand how Apple Montessori prioritizes your child's safety, every single day. Let us show you how a safe environment can also be a joyful, enriching place for your child to learn and grow!