Ask what they will work on first
A good answer is specific and comes after some assessment. A vague answer about covering the syllabus usually means the plan is the same for everybody.
You should be able to come away knowing the first two or three things that will be worked on and why those were chosen.
Ask how you will hear about progress
Find out what you will receive, how often, and whether it will tell you anything you could act on at home.
Progress reporting that only ever says things are going well is not reporting. You want to hear what is not working too.
Ask about group size and who else is in the room
Group size changes the experience considerably. Ask how many children are in the session and how similar their stage is.
A small group at a similar stage can be better than one to one for some children. A large mixed group rarely is.
Ask about safeguarding and policies
Ask about staff checks, supervision, collection arrangements and how a concern would be handled. A centre that takes this seriously will answer without hesitating.
Ask to see the current safeguarding and privacy policies. Any reluctance there is worth taking seriously.
Ask what is included and what happens if it is not working
Get clarity on fees, what is included, notice periods and what happens if a session is missed, before the first lesson rather than after.
Ask directly what they would do if your child was not making progress. The willingness to answer that honestly tells you most of what you need to know.
Ask what will be worked on first, how progress will reach you, who else is in the room, what the safeguarding arrangements are, and what happens if it is not working.
