Ever found yourself wondering how to increase kindergarten enrollment – or better yet, looking for ways to increase enrollment in preschool—without tearing your hair out? If so, you’re not alone. Getting parents to choose your centre can feel like convincing a toddler that nap time is fun. It’s doable, but it takes strategy (and maybe a bit of charm).
Here’s the thing – it’s not all about fancy facilities or fluffiest class pets. Real success lies in connecting with families and making it easy for them to say “Yes.” Let’s dive into some simple, practical ideas to help you stand out, grow your enrolment numbers, and build trust in your community.
Some ideas on how to increase kindergarten enrollment
Start with a great reputation
Reputation is everything in early education. Parents trust other parents more than they trust glossy brochures, so if your kindergarten’s name comes up positively in conversations – that’s gold.
Building a solid reputation starts with the basics: great teaching, a safe and welcoming environment and the parents kept in the loop. From there, encourage families to leave reviews online. Honestly, even just a few glowing comments on Google can make a big difference. A recent study found that most people won’t even consider a service without reading reviews first.
Be part of your local community
Now, I’m not saying you need to go all out with bouncy castles and face paint every weekend, but showing up for your community matters. Host an open house, sponsor a local event, hold a parent coffee catchup at a nearby café.
Even better, offer something useful—like free parenting workshops or trial classes. When parents see your centre as a helpful part of the community, not just a business, they’ll be more likely to recommend you (and enrol their kids).
Make your marketing work for you
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that even the best kindergarten won’t grow if no one knows about it. Marketing isn’t just about fancy ads – it’s about reaching the right people with the right message.
Start with your online presence. If parents are searching for kindergartens online, then make sure your website is easy to navigate, has lots of useful information and is easy to find on Google. Include photos that show off how great your centre looks and a clear, easy way for parents to register online.
Then, get social. If you have the resources, Facebook and Instagram are ideal for your centre to add to the personality of your centre and share the stories it tells. Don’t forget to use local hashtags to get more eyes on your posts.
And lastly, don’t underestimate local ads. Even a small budget for Google Ads or a Facebook campaign can help you stand out to families in your area.
Show off what makes you special
Every kindergarten has its own charm – what’s yours? Maybe it’s your focus on outdoor play, your warm and caring team, or even your awesome mud kitchen (seriously, parents love those).
Whatever it is, make sure parents know about it. Add it to your website, bring it up during tours, and share stories on social media. Parents want to know what makes your centre better than the one down the street—so don’t be shy, show it off.
Build real relationships with parents
Parents are trusting you with their kids, so they want to feel connected. That starts with regular, honest communication.
Using tools like Kinderloop, you can keep parents updated with photos, notes about their child’s progress, or even little messages about their day. When parents feel included and valued, they’re much more likely to stick around and tell others about you.
Fix your waitlist frustrations
Waitlists can be a pain to manage. If parents don’t know where they stand—or feel like they’re being ignored—it creates unnecessary stress.
Tools like EnrolNow make this so much easier. Waitlist management and notifications save you time that would otherwise be spent trying to get in touch with parents for follow ups. Parents appreciate being in the loop, and it saves your team a ton of time.
Don’t underestimate the small stuff
Sometimes, it’s the little things that make a big impression. A personalised welcome letter, a quick thank-you email, or even a fun photo from their child’s first day can really stand out to parents.
One centre I know handed out tiny potted plants during their open house, with tags that read, “Watch us grow together.” It was such a simple idea, but parents loved it. Those little touches stick with people.
Keep learning and improving
If you’re not tracking what’s working, you’re guessing. Look at your enrolment trends, your website traffic, and even feedback from tours.
Tools like EnrolNow make it easy to figure out where you’re doing well and where you could improve. Whether it’s making your registration process smoother or tweaking your website, small changes can make a big difference.
Our final thoughts
Increasing kindergarten enrollment doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s about creating an environment parents can trust, showing off what makes you special, and making it easy for families to join your community.
With tools like EnrolNow to simplify your registration process and a focus on building great relationships, you can grow your enrolment numbers and create something parents will want to be part of.
Ready to grow your kindergarten? Embark on the journey of how EnrolNow can help make the entire process easy and stress free for anyone involved.
