Finding a school for your young child is never an easy process. Deciding in which institution you would like him or her to grow up in is a significant step and one which needs to take into account not simply the quality of the education, but also of convenience, compatibility and price.
Spend some time on the internet and research local schools in your area. Unless you're willing to send your child away, remember that location, while apparently trivial, is actually a very important factor to consider. Ask yourself if the school is close enough for you to drop off or collect your child and check whether the institution offers a bus or shuttle service from your area.
From the websites you research, try to get a sense of the school's ethos and guiding principles: be sure to read things like mission statements and to take stock of the site design. If the page is covered in kids art prints, you may be licensed to conclude the school values the humanities; if it appears to prioritise maths and science, it may signal that these subjects are where its focus falls.
The next step in your process is to make appointments with the heads of short-listed schools, or to book yourself a place on any open days the institution may have. While you're at the school, ask questions about things like discipline, curriculum and sports programmes.
Remember that there is much more to a school than its good test-scores and high pass rate might suggest. While these things look good on paper, they don't necessarily indicate that an institution is right for your child. In short, you need to find an educator that is right for your family's ethos, values and character.