Saska Kępa is a neighbourhood where private preschools grow next to each other. For a parent who has just finished maternity leave or moved to Praga-Południe, the offers look similar: „small groups”, „friendly atmosphere”, „English every day”, „own kitchen”. Everyone promises similar things. So how do you choose a place where your child will spend the second half of their day for the next three years?
This guide grew out of 16 years at Siedmiu Krasnoludków and the conversations we have every day with parents visiting us. It’s not a „why we’re the best” list — every family has different criteria. It’s a set of questions that will help you assess any preschool, ours included.
1. Check how long the place has been operating
This doesn’t mean „older is better”, but a long history reveals things you can’t hide — local reputation, referral network, team stability. A preschool that’s been on the same Saska Kępa for 10+ years has neighbours who’ve sent two children there. Those are the opinions you won’t find on Google Maps.
In practice, ask one question: „what year did you start?”. If the answer is „from September” — not necessarily a red flag, but it needs supporting evidence (founder CVs, staff experience). If it’s „since 2009” — you have 16 years of data to check.
2. Meet the staff, not just the management
The director or founder will share the vision — and can be very convincing. But your child will spend time with the teachers in the room, not with whoever’s name is on the contact page. Ask: „who will be my child’s group teacher? Can I see this person at work?”.
Good sign: the director happily walks you through the groups during their work. Red flag: only empty rooms, „because we don’t want to disturb the children’s routine”. (That routine gets disturbed 5× a day by parents anyway — the excuse doesn’t hold.)
3. Check staff turnover
The question: „how long have your current teachers worked with you?”. Individuals change everywhere — but if the entire staff arrived in the last year, that’s a signal. At Siedmiu Krasnoludków most of our teachers have worked with us for 5-10+ years — it’s not chance, it’s the result of how we treat the team.
Low turnover means: stability for the child (no new „aunt” each semester), accumulated know-how (each teacher has seen hundreds of children, so Antek’s odd reaction doesn’t surprise her), educational coherence (a team that works together speaks one language to children).
4. Ask about educational philosophy — and for specifics
„What educational methods do you use?” — a standard question. Most places will list: „Positive Discipline, Sherborne, Klanza, Orff”. The second question separates professionals from marketing: „show me this in action”.
Specifically: „how do you respond when a child hits another?”, „what does the teacher do when a 3-year-old refuses to enter the room in the morning?”, „are there punishments for bad behaviour — if not, what consequences?”. A good preschool will answer with concrete scenarios — because these happen daily. A weak preschool will slip into generalities.
In our culture we work with Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen — without punishment, without reward, with natural and logical consequences. Boundaries are clear, but set with respect. A child’s anger isn’t „bad behaviour” — it’s a signal of an unmet need. Our role is to help understand it.
5. Check the foreign languages — and how they’re taught
„English every day” can mean anything: 30 minutes with a native speaker, 15 minutes with a Polish teacher after a course, or „English songs in the background”. Ask for specifics:
- Who teaches? (native speaker — from which country? Polish teacher — with which certificate?)
- How many hours per week?
- In what format? (separate lesson, or „immersion” — accompanying children through daily activities?)
- Are there measurable outcomes? (e.g. by year’s end, can children introduce themselves, name colours, days of the week?)
At our place the native speaker is in the group every day from 9:00 to 13:00 — not running a lesson, just being there. He speaks English to the children during meals, play, getting dressed. That builds the listening foundation that supports later school learning. We also run our own French programme „Les Petits Français” — three times a week, in age groups.
6. What about children with difficulties?
Even if your child is developing typically, ask: „do you have therapy support for children who need it — and how does it work, if my child were to need something?”. This question reveals the place’s culture.
A good preschool answers calmly: „we have a speech therapist / psychologist / SI therapist on site, we consult as needed”. A weak one: „our children don’t need therapy” (signal: they can’t recognise difficulty and probably push struggling children to the public preschool).
At Krasnoludków we run therapeutic activities on site — SI, TUS, speech therapy, psychology, special needs education, hand therapy. Early intervention is our philosophy — the earlier we notice, the easier to help.
7. See the kitchen and the dining rooms
The best quality sign for a child’s place: warm food cooked on site. Catering isn’t bad in itself, but a preschool with its own kitchen has more control over quality and a better chance to adapt the diet for a child with allergies or food selectivity.
Questions:
- Do you cook on site or use catering?
- Can I see this week’s menu?
- How do you adapt the diet for a child without gluten / dairy / meat?
- Can I see the kitchen? (signal of openness)
8. Price — and what exactly it includes
Price is what parents most often compare, but apples are often compared with pears. Important questions:
- Base tuition: how much?
- Is meals included? (breakfast + lunch + snack)
- Are extracurricular activities included (rhythm, art, languages)?
- Are there enrolment fees, insurance, contributions?
- Holidays: do you pay in July/August when the child isn’t there?
- Are there subsidies? (Aktywnie w żłobku, municipal subsidy)
Our current pricing for 2026: nursery from 700 PLN/mo (with Aktywnie w żłobku subsidy), preschool from 2000 PLN/mo. Included: meals, native speaker, French, all extracurriculars except individual therapy. No hidden costs. No enrolment fee.
9. Ask about adaptation
The first days at preschool are often the hardest moment — for both child and parent. Check:
- How long does adaptation take? (typically 1-3 weeks)
- Can the parent stay with the child the first days?
- What happens when the child won’t enter the room?
- How long is the first stay? (an hour? all day?)
A good preschool has a clear, individually adapted adaptation plan — because every child is different. A weak one: „bring them at 8:00 and come back at 16:00, we’ll manage somehow” (signal: they don’t work with emotional difficulties).
10. Check how they communicate with parents
Daily communication decides your peace of mind for 3 years. Ask:
- How will I know what my child did today? (notes, app, brief chat at pick-up)
- Are there regular individual meetings with the teacher? (typically: 2× a year)
- How fast do you reply when I write a question?
- Can I call mid-day to ask how my child ate?
Red flags worth noting
- „We don’t want to show rooms during sessions” — signal of hiding
- All photos on the website are stock — the place probably doesn’t have the time/trust to show real children
- No address / map / mobile phone — lack of transparency
- Pricing only „on a phone call” — the preschool fears comparison
- All teachers are „new” — high turnover
- „Every child will be adapted on day one” — unrealistic, signal of pressure
- No info on educational philosophy — what does „stress-free” mean exactly?
- Ads like „speaks English from day one!” — magical thinking
What you can’t check online
The atmosphere. The tone teachers use with children. Whether the children come home smiling. How you yourself feel standing in that room.
That’s why the final decision should always be after a real visit — ideally 30-60 minutes, during sessions (not after), with the option to ask a few questions of the teacher. If a place doesn’t want such a visit — that is your answer.
At Siedmiu Krasnoludków we always gladly arrange individual tours — without crowds, at a calm pace, with the option to enter any of our groups. Write to biuro@siedmiukrasnoludkow.pl or call +48 510 915 565 to book.
We’re at ul. Irlandzka 7, in the heart of Saska Kępa. Since 2009. With current pricing, full preschool offer and nursery offer — all transparent.
And if you choose a different preschool — we wish that it will be a good place for your child. The fact that this article was written from our perspective doesn’t mean we’re always the right choice. We’re one of the good ones — among several other good ones in Saska Kępa.