In a highly competitive education system such as Hong Kong's, parents can feel pressured to help their child get ahead of the pack. Although the city provides parents with a wide range of learning centres, how can they be sure that the one they choose will be a good one?
Parents should look for a learning centre that uses a well-researched, high-quality programme as a foundation for lessons, she explains. A good learning centre should have a multisensory approach to teaching, conduct lessons that are visual, practical and engaging, and provide a pleasant and encouraging environment for its students.
But how can parents get past the reception desk to find out if a centre has these elements in place? There are some relevant questions that all parents should ask when visiting a learning centre that will help to discover how suitable it might be.
'Parents should ask about the programmes the learning centre uses and what the methodology behind it is. They should ask where the programme was developed and what credibility it has,' Woodyatt says.
Other questions can include: What materials does the centre use during lessons? How do they support the professional development of their teachers? What are the qualifications of their teachers and how long have they been teaching? And how long have the teachers been working at the centre?
With classes for English, Putonghua and mathematics being the most popular, many parents look for centres that offer classes in a specific language or mathematical skill. Other parents ask for classes that focus on getting their child through an important interview or passing a specific exam.