How to Choose a Kindergarten in Kampala: A Parent’s Checklist

Choosing a kindergarten is one of the first big decisions parents make about their child’s education. In Kampala there are many options, from small neighbourhood nursery schools to international kindergartens, and on paper many of them sound alike.

The best way to choose is to start with what your family needs, then look closely at how each school cares for and teaches young children. This checklist covers what to consider and what to ask before you decide.

Start with your family’s practical needs

A school can be excellent and still be the wrong fit if the daily logistics do not work.

• Location and the school run. Kampala traffic can turn a short distance into a long morning. Try the journey at drop-off time before you commit.
• Hours. Do you need a half day or a full day? Ask what time children can arrive, when the morning session ends and how late children can be collected.
• Age groups. Check which ages the school accepts, and whether your child could stay at the same school from their first year until primary school.
• Flexibility. Some schools offer half-day, full-day or single-day options. If your working week varies, ask what is possible.

Look at how children learn

Young children learn best by doing. Ask each school to describe a typical day and listen for a balance of free play, planned activities, outdoor time, rest and meals.

A good kindergarten builds early literacy and numeracy through play, songs, stories and hands-on activities rather than long periods at a desk. It also gives time to the skills that matter just as much for primary school: confidence, independence, taking turns, following routines and getting along with others. Our article on the kindergarten skills that matter more than reading early explains why.

Check class sizes and who cares for your child

Ask how many children are in each class and how many adults work with them. Smaller groups mean teachers can notice each child, support those who need more help and challenge those who are ready for more.

It is also reasonable to ask about teachers’ training and experience, and whether the school is registered with the Ministry of Education and Sports. Uganda’s Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy 2025 is reported to require pre-primary schools to be registered and their teachers to be qualified and licensed (Nile Post via AllAfrica).

Visit, and watch the children

A visit tells you more than any brochure. While you are there, notice:

• whether children look busy, relaxed and engaged
• how teachers greet children and speak to them
• whether classrooms, toilets and hand-washing areas are clean and child-sized
• whether outdoor play areas are safe and well supervised
• where children rest after lunch and where meals are prepared
• how the school helps new children settle in and say goodbye to their parents

Ask how the school communicates with parents

You will want to know how your child’s day went, especially in the first weeks. Ask how teachers share news and concerns, whether there are parent-teacher meetings, and who to call if something worries you.

Understand the fees in full

When you compare schools, compare everything that is included, not just the monthly figure. Ask about the registration fee, whether it is refundable, what full-day and half-day places cost, whether meals are included, and when payments are due. Our guide on what to ask about kindergarten fees in Kampala has a full list of questions.

Questions to ask on your visit

• What does a typical day look like for my child’s age group?
• How many children are in a class, and how many teachers?
• How do you help new children settle in?
• What do children eat, and is there time to rest?
• How do you keep parents informed?
• What is included in the fees, and when are they due?
• How do you prepare children for Primary One?

Visiting Kissyfur

Kissyfur International Kindergarten has cared for young children in Uganda since 1993. Our Kampala school is on Plot 98 Luthuli Avenue, Bugolobi, and we also have a branch in Entebbe. We welcome children from 18 months to six years, in small classes of 12 to 16 children, each led by a professional teacher and an assistant teacher, and our programme follows the PLAY-WAY method.

You are welcome to visit, see the school and ask every question on this list. See our kindergarten programme, find directions to Kissyfur Kampala, or contact us to arrange a visit.