9 Questions To Ask On A Preschool Tour At INIC Round Rock
Preschool tour questions in Round Rock, TX to help families compare classrooms, teaching styles, and safety practices before making a confident choice. At INIC Round Rock, a well-planned tour lets you observe how teachers engage children, how routines support learning, and how the environment nurtures social-emotional growth. Arriving with a clear list ensures you gather consistent details from each school you visit.
This guide focuses on curriculum, daily schedules, teacher qualifications, health procedures, and family communication. With the right questions ready, you will leave your visit with practical insights that align with your child’s needs and your family’s expectations.
What To Look For In A Spanish Immersion Preschool During a Tour?
A great immersion tour shows how children acquire Spanish naturally through play, curriculum, routines, and conversation. As you observe, notice consistent language use, teacher expertise, and how culture and curriculum come alive for every age.
Language Use and Instruction:
Ask what percentage of the day is in Spanish and how teachers stay in the target language during centers, meals, and outdoor play. Look for visual cues, songs, gestures, and peer modeling.
Teacher Qualifications and Fluency:
Confirm lead teachers are fluent or native speakers with early childhood credentials. Inquire about coaching and professional development focused on immersion methods, early literacy foundations, and child development.
Curriculum and Early Literacy:
Ask how vocabulary, phonological awareness, and print concepts develop in Spanish and transfer to English later. Strong programs align with Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and sequence skills across ages.
Cultural Integration:
Scan shelves and walls for authentic books, music, and materials from diverse Spanish-speaking cultures. Ask how traditions, stories, and celebrations are integrated to build identity, empathy, and global awareness.
Assessment and Family Communication:
Ask how teachers share children’s language and social-emotional progress with families through daily updates and conferences. Ask how INIC Preschool sets goals, shares updates with families, and supports non-Spanish-speaking caregivers at home.
After exploring what to look for in a Spanish immersion classroom, families often ask how to evaluate safety and facility standards.
2. Preschool Facility Checklist in Austin: What Safety and Cleanliness Standards Are Met?
Use this facility checklist to confirm secure entry, consistent hygiene routines, safe classroom materials, well-maintained playgrounds, and practiced emergency plans.
Secure Access and Supervision:
Look for controlled entry, ID checks, and clear sightlines into classrooms and halls. Ask how staff verify pickup authorizations and supervise transitions, nap areas, and restroom breaks.
Health and Hygiene Practices:
Ask how often cleaning takes place in classrooms, restrooms, and high-touch surfaces. Confirm that handwashing routines, diapering areas, and illness exclusion policies follow best practices established by Texas Health and Human Services.
Classroom Safety and Materials:
Check anchored shelves, outlet covers, corner guards, and non-toxic supplies. Ask how toys are sanitized and rotated.
Playground and Outdoor Areas:
Verify fencing, cushioned surfacing, and age-separated zones. Ask how outdoor health and safety are handled during the hottest days.
Emergency Readiness:
Ask about evacuation routes, first-aid kits, and emergency drill processes. Ask about staff CPR and First Aid certifications, allergy action plans, and medication administration.
Documentation and Compliance:
Ask about classroom ratios by age, as well as incident reporting procedures.
Once you’ve confirmed safety and cleanliness, the next question becomes: does the environment itself fit your family’s learning goals?
3. Comparing Daycare vs Preschool Classrooms: Which Environment Fits Your Child?
A quick side-by-side can clarify how each setting supports care, learning, and your family’s schedule.
| Aspect | Daycare | Preschool |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Aim | Full-day care, safety, social play | School readiness, structured learning, full-day, safety, and social-emotional growth |
| Daily Rhythm | Flexible naps, rolling arrivals | Set blocks: circle, centers, outdoor, purposeful play |
| Curriculum | Play-based routines | Standards-aligned, evidence-based, intentional lessons |
| Teacher Role | Caregiving, social guidance | Facilitate inquiry, document growth |
| Assessment | Daily notes/photos | Portfolios, progress reports, conferences, and daily notes |
What You’ll See in Daycare:
Mixed-age groupings, longer operating hours, frequent transitions accommodating varied pickup times, and open-ended free play with embedded language and social coaching.
What You’ll See in Preschool:
Defined learning centers, small-group instruction, explicit pre-literacy and numeracy, and consistent routines that build attention, independence, and cooperation.
Fit Finder — Quick Checks
Choose daycare if…
You need schedule flexibility.
Your child thrives with mixed-age social play.
Naps and individualized routines are priorities.
Choose INIC Preschool if…
You want a written curriculum and clear goals.
Your child benefits from predictable blocks and centers.
You value ongoing assessment with documented growth.
You want your child ready for kindergarten upon graduation from preschool
You need extended hours
Tour Tip:
To compare programs consistently, ask for sample daily schedules, ratios by age, a lesson plan sample, and how progress reports are handled.
4. How Does INIC Round Rock Teach and Assess Learning Across Ages?
At INIC Round Rock, teaching is designed as a continuum—meeting children where they are today and guiding them toward the next milestone. Families see consistent methods: playful exploration, intentional instruction, and clear evidence of growth.
Multi-Age Continuum:
Infants build sensory awareness and attachment, toddlers expand language and motor skills, and preschoolers deepen inquiry through projects. Teachers scaffold within each band and bridge skills to the next.
Standards-Aligned Curriculum:
Weekly plans map language, early math, science, motor, and social-emotional domains. Hands-on centers and brief small-group lessons reinforce concepts through repetition and play.
Intentional Teaching:
Educators model rich vocabulary, ask open-ended questions, and embed executive-function practice in routines. Visual schedules and choice boards promote independence and regulation.
Ongoing Assessment:
Daily observations, photos, and work samples are tagged to age expectations. Portfolios show progress in drawing, early writing, counting, and problem-solving across months.
Family Communication:
A secure app shares snapshots and notes. Conferences set short, practical goals.
5. What Are Teacher Qualifications, Ratios, and Staff Training Practices?
Families deserve to know who is in the room, how many children each adult supports, and how teachers keep their skills current. Use this guide to review credentials, ratios, and ongoing professional development confidently.
Qualifications and Hiring Standards:
Lead teachers should hold early childhood care and teaching skills, and strong references in infant–preschool settings. Ask about Spanish fluency, background checks, and ongoing training for new hires.
Ratios and Group Size:
Confirm posted ratios by age and how they’re maintained during arrivals, nap, and outdoor play. Ask what happens when a teacher is out: Who floats, who covers breaks, and how group size is capped to protect quality.
Core Safety Certifications:
Verify current Pediatric CPR/First Aid, medication administration, allergy response, and safe sleep training for infant rooms. Ask about the emergency procedures.
Instructional Training and Coaching:
High-quality programs schedule frequent teacher training on curriculum, assessment, language modeling, behavior supports, and more.
Substitutes and Continuity Plans:
Reliable substitutes should know classroom routines and children’s care plans. Confirm how the school communicates staffing changes to families and maintains consistency during transitions.
6. What Do Daily Schedules, Routines, and Transitions Look Like?
A strong day feels calm, predictable, and purposeful. Children know what comes next, teachers have time to connect, and families see a steady rhythm that supports learning and self-regulation.
Morning Arrival and Community Time:
Greeters welcome children, support goodbyes, and guide them to choice activities. A short circle sets intentions with songs, movement, and a visual schedule that previews the day.
Learning Centers and Small Groups:
Rotations balance child choice with targeted instruction. Centers—blocks, dramatic play, literacy, math, art, and sensory—embed objectives, while brief small-group lessons build early reading, numeracy, and problem-solving.
Built-In Routines That Teach:
Handwashing, snack, and restroom breaks follow posted steps so independence grows. Transitions use cues—chimes, visuals, timers—to keep groups moving without rushing or long wait times.
Rest and Reset:
Infants follow individualized sleep plans; toddlers and preschoolers enjoy quiet rest with soft lighting and stories.
Outdoor Play and Gross Motor:
Daily outside time includes climbing, running, and cooperative games. Teachers scaffold turn-taking, risk assessment, and vocabulary—naming actions, tools, and nature discoveries.
7. How Are Health, Nutrition, Allergy, and Security Procedures Handled?
Families should see clear routines that protect well-being while keeping the day calm and predictable. Ask how the preschool and families communicate with each other.
Health Screening and Hygiene:
Daily arrival checks, posted handwashing steps, and designated diapering/restroom areas reduce illness spread. High-touch surfaces and toys follow a cleaning schedule.
Nutrition and Menus:
Weekly menus meet age-based guidelines and highlight whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and balanced proteins. Portions are developmentally appropriate, water is available, and mealtimes are joyful.
Allergy and Special Diet Plans:
Individual care plans list allergens, symptoms, and response steps.
Medication and Illness Management:
Authorized staff are trained in CPR/First Aid and medication administration. Secure storage, double-check procedures, and incident forms support accuracy.
Building Security and Verification:
Controlled entry uses keypads or buzz-in systems and documented pickup lists. Live classroom cameras aid supervision, and emergency drills are conducted regularly.
Family Communication:
A secure app and posted notices summarize menus, health reminders, and policy updates. Teachers share same-day notes so families can reinforce healthy habits at home.
8. What Makes This Preschool Better or Different Than Others?
Choosing a preschool often comes down to what truly sets it apart. Use this question to compare philosophies, day-to-day practice, and outcomes—not just features.
How INIC stands out:
100% Spanish immersion throughout the day (routines, centers, mealtimes, outdoor play), plus Mandarin enrichment moments.
Evidence-based, standards-aligned curriculum (Texas Pre-K Guidelines) with ongoing observation and individualized goals.
A dedicated Social-Emotional Readiness program: feelings language, coaching, calm-down routines, and carryover tips for home.
Experienced, credentialed teachers with ongoing professional development in immersion and SEL.
State-compliant ratios and intentional small-group instruction for more language and feedback per child.
Bilingual family communication via a parent app (daily notes, photos, and learning highlights).
Safety first: secure entry, verified pickup procedures, routine drills, and clear health/sanitation practices.
Extended day options that support working families.
Two Austin-area locations (Round Rock and South Austin) using the same training and model.
What to look for while you’re there
Teachers modeling natural Spanish during play, with visual supports and print-rich labels.
Calm corners, feeling charts, and consistent language for problem-solving.
Child work labeled in Spanish (and English where helpful).
Posted small-group plans/centers that reflect intentional teaching.
A clearly controlled entry, visible sign-in/out process, and tidy, well-maintained spaces.
If you value bilingualism, whole-child development, and warm, ongoing communication, INIC’s immersion-first, SEL-rich approach is designed for ages 0–5.
9. How Should Preschools Encourage Friendship, Sharing, and Social-emotional Learning?
Many children learn how to be friends at preschool, taking turns, solving small conflicts, and using words to express big feelings. Look for programs that teach these skills (not just correct behavior) through everyday routines, play, and language.
What to ask on your tour
How do teachers introduce and practice friendship skills (greetings, turn-taking, inviting others to play)?
What is your step-by-step approach to conflict resolution? Are children coached to use words like “I feel… I need…”?
How do you help shy or new children make friends? Do you use buddy systems or small-group games?
How are feelings taught daily (feelings charts, role-play, social stories)?
How do you keep families informed about social growth and coach carryover at home?
Hallmarks of a strong SEL program
Explicit instruction of skills (friendship, empathy, sharing) through songs, stories, and role-play.
Consistent routines (class jobs, circle time, choice boards) that create predictability and reduce conflict.
Language scaffolds: sentence frames (“Can I play with you?” “I’m using it; I’ll pass it when I’m done.”).
Positive discipline focused on teaching replacement skills, not just “no.”
Family partnership with simple at-home scripts and updates on social wins.
How INIC supports friendships
Daily Social-Emotional Readiness routines: feelings language, calm-down tools, and teacher-guided problem-solving.
Spanish immersion naturally promotes listening, patience, and inclusive play; teachers model friendly phrases and invitations in Spanish (with support for non-Spanish-speaking families).
Small-group centers and partner activities to practice sharing and teamwork.
Bilingual family communication with notes on social milestones and simple carryover tips for home.
When children feel seen, heard, and included, friendships follow—and learning soars.
Conclusion
A thoughtful preschool tour gives you more than a quick look—it reveals how language, safety, curriculum, and relationships work together every day. With clear questions, you can compare classrooms consistently, notice the details that matter for your child, and feel confident about next steps. Use what you learned to weigh schedule fit, teacher expertise, family communication, and how each environment supports growth across ages.
INIC Preschool Round Rock welcomes families to observe real routines, review sample lesson plans, and see how health, nutrition, allergy, and security procedures operate in practice. When policies align with your values and your child’s needs, the decision becomes informed and straightforward.
Ready to schedule your tour? Call (512) 435-7868 or request a visit at https://inic-edu.com/contact-tours.
Experience the INIC Difference: The Best Spanish Immersion Preschool & Daycare
Learn. Play. Make Friends. Founded in 2012, INIC Preschool & Daycare (International Immersion Center) is a Spanish immersion school with locations in Round Rock and South Austin. Educators here are upbeat and enjoy a positive teacher-led work environment with access to many benefits. INIC’s evidence-based curriculum emphasizes social-emotional learning, math, reading, Dynamic Movement, Purposeful Play, and Creative Lab Arts for babies, toddlers, preschool, pre-k 3, and pre-k 4. The classroom experience is intentionally low tech for kids, but parents and grandparents are delighted to check in on their little scholar with high-tech, easy-to-use tools: WatchMeGrow and Brightwheel. All classes and activities are taught in Spanish, every day, as well as Mandarin Chinese. It’s much more than a daycare.
INIC Preschool Round Rock proudly serves families in Pflugerville, North Austin, Cedar Park, Leander, Georgetown, Hutto, Taylor, and Liberty Hill. INIC Preschool South Austin has served these communities since 2012: South Austin, Circle C, Oak Hill, Buda, Kyle, Dripping Springs, Driftwood, Bee Cave Township, Westlake, Onion Creek, Manchaca, and more.
Round Rock area: 2960 Jazz Street, Round Rock, Texas 78664 rrAdmissions@inic-edu.com
South Austin: 2100 W. William Cannon Dr., Austin, Texas 78745 Admissions@inic-edu.com