The President of The Red Pen, Namita Mehta, writes in India Today about the different ways that boarding schools help in the development of a child. For instance, children attending boarding schools become independent and they’re taught all the skills necessary for entering college. Boarding school children are even prepared for professional success and they’re highly adaptable since they’ve spent so many years living with their peers and learning to adjust to varied situations. 

While it cannot be said with certainty that a boarding school education is right for every child, but it is one of the best options for working parents. In a boarding school, children receive education in a supervised and safe environment. This nurturing environment not only empowers children academically, but also emotionally and mentally. 

So, if you have decided to send your child to a residential school in West Bengal or other parts of India, here are a few key things that you should consider. 

1. The reputation of the school is crucial 

As a parent, you will obviously want to send your child to a boarding school that enjoys an impeccable reputation. By gathering what the former and present students think of the residential school, you can assess whether it is the best CBSE boarding school in West Bengal, Maharashtra, or other places in India for your child. You can also conduct your research and reach out to the alumni of the school to get answers to basic questions like:

• Does the school truly prepare the students for the upcoming stages of life?
• What do the students think about the residential life and the campus?
• Does the school offer complete value for money?

You must also not hesitate to ask as many questions as you possibly can. When you finally enroll your child, you must do so with zero doubt in your head and heart. 

2. Faculty of the boarding school

When it comes to finding the right boarding school for your child, the faculty of the school matters a great deal. After all, you’ll be leaving your child in the care of the school’s faculty. It is crucial to know about the teachers who will be imparting education, along with the other members of the staff like, the mentors and the wardens of the hostel facility. All of them together are going to influence your child’s overall development and this is why you must check their credentials or ask about their behaviour from the present and past students of the school. 

3. Check the canteen facility of the residential school and make sure it is clean

Since your child is going to reside in the school, it is important to make sure that he/she is eating healthy. You can make sure of that by checking out the canteen facility. The kitchen ought to be spotless and clean, and they should have in place hygienic food preparation methods. You must also find out if students are served fresh food daily and the type of food that they’re served. The ultimate aim is to ensure that your child gets fed nutritious meals daily so that his/her health is not compromised. 

4. The academic excellence of the boarding school

This is a crucial point to consider because you would want to send your child to a school that teaches him/her all the necessary subjects needed for higher education or having a successful career. Make sure to check out the academic curriculum of the school. For instance, a CBSE-board residential school is typically going to have all the subjects that are approved by the CBSE-board and it might also have additional classes like, computer classes, robotics, and spoken English classes. It is these additional subjects that can make a huge difference in what your child learns. 

Also, you can gauge the academic excellence of a residential school by taking a look at the past board results of the school. 

5. Infrastructure for extracurricular activities 

The best boarding schools in Siliguri and other parts of India not only stimulate the academic and mental growth of the students, but also their physical growth. This is why the best residential schools have the right infrastructure for extracurricular activities. You must send your child to a boarding school that offers good boarding facilities, along with boasting of basketball courts, football fields, lawn tennis courts, and so on. The school must also encourage students to take part in drama, music, art, dance, and so on. 

This is important because a child’s overall growth & development needs to be stimulated. The child must become empowered academically and also have ample opportunities to hone his/her skills or talents. After all, a desk-job is not what everyone aspires for. Children also aspire to become the next M.S. Dhoni or VishwanathanAnand and so on. 

6. Safety measures are taken by the boarding school 

The safety measures taken by the residential school is of utmost importance since your child will be under the school’s care. Knowing that your child is going to be secure and safe will give you total peace of mind. Some of the measures that residential schools take to ensure students' safety include 24/7 CCTV monitoring of the entire facility, guards, and so on. All of this is going to make sure that your child is going to thrive in the boarding school that you have chosen for him or her.