Enrolling your child in an Accra school from abroad: the step-by-step

You do not necessarily need to be in Ghana to start a school application. What you do need is a clear process. For a family abroad, the biggest risk is spending weeks collecting information without knowing which schools are genuinely suitable or what each admissions team needs.

Here is a simple way to manage the process from overseas.

Step 1: decide what you are applying for

Start with your child's age, current year or class, intended start period, likely Accra neighbourhood and budget. Add any educational requirements that matter to your family.

Then build a working shortlist. EarlyDays' preschool directory and primary-school directory are useful starting points, but treat a directory listing as the beginning of research, not proof that a place is currently available.

Aim for several candidates first. You can reduce the list after speaking to schools.

Step 2: contact admissions directly

Send a short, consistent enquiry to each school. Include the child's age, current school/country, intended start date, where you expect to live and whether you are currently abroad.

Ask four things immediately: whether the school is accepting enquiries for your child's age, what the application process is, which documents are required and whether a remote conversation or virtual tour is possible.

Do not assume that a school that replies quickly has a place available. Ask the question directly and confirm any deadline with the school.

Step 3: prepare your documents

Schools can have different requirements, so do not create a universal document list and assume it applies everywhere. A sensible starting folder may include recent school reports, identification documents, previous school information and any documents specifically requested by the school.

Keep digital copies in a clearly labelled folder. If several parents are involved in the move, make sure everyone is using the same version of each document.

For younger children, ask whether the school needs information about routines, development or previous childcare arrangements.

Step 4: understand placement

A child coming from the UK, US or another country may use a different year-group naming system. Ask the admissions team where they would place your child and what evidence they use.

If the school requires an assessment, ask whether it can be completed remotely or must happen in person. Also ask what happens if the assessment suggests a different placement from the one you expected.

Step 5: ask how payment works

Once a school tells you that you can proceed, get the payment instructions in writing. Schools may use bank transfers or other payment arrangements. If you are using a third-party currency or transfer service, check the recipient details carefully before sending money.

Do not send money to a personal account simply because someone on WhatsApp says they represent a school. Verify the payment details with the school's official admissions or finance contact.

Ask what a payment represents: application fee, registration fee, deposit or tuition. Ask whether it is refundable and request a receipt or confirmation.

Step 6: decide whether you need a physical visit

A physical visit is valuable, but not every part of the process has to wait for it. You can research, speak to admissions, review documents and narrow the field remotely.

If you are moving permanently, try to visit your final candidates before committing where practical. If the family cannot travel before the start date, ask for a detailed virtual tour and a live conversation with someone who can answer your questions.

Use the questions to ask before enrolling guide to prepare for that call.

Step 7: keep a written admissions trail

Create one record per school with the contact person, date of enquiry, answers, documents sent, payment instructions and next step. This is especially useful when you are dealing with several schools across different time zones.

Do not rely on memory. A short spreadsheet can prevent confusion between similar school names, fee structures and application stages.

Step 8: confirm everything before the move

Before you book flights around a school start date, confirm the current admissions position. Ask the school to confirm the child's proposed start arrangement and any outstanding documents or payments.

If you are relocating as a family, also think about the practical daily route. A school that works beautifully on paper may be difficult if the commute is unreasonable from your eventual home.

What if you cannot narrow the list?

That is often the hardest part for diaspora parents. There are many schools online, but online information is rarely enough to tell you which three are genuinely worth your time.

This is where a focused shortlist is more useful than more research. EarlyDays Concierge is built for families doing the process from abroad: you provide your child's age, preferred area, intended start date and budget, and the service shortlists three schools and arranges tours.

The important thing is to separate research from commitment. Start remotely, verify details directly with schools, keep your documents organised and only pay after you have confirmed who you are paying and what the payment is for. If you can make one Accra visit, use it to validate the final shortlist rather than beginning the entire search from scratch.

What to do when the school requires you to be present

Some parts of an admissions process may genuinely need a parent or child to be in Ghana. If that happens, ask exactly what must happen in person and what can be completed remotely beforehand. You may be able to complete the application and document review first, then reserve one short visit for the assessment or final meeting.

This matters because “you need to visit” does not always mean “you need to start the whole application after you arrive”. Ask the school to separate the remote steps from the physical ones.

Keep your shortlist flexible but disciplined

Your first-choice school can change after a conversation or visit. That is normal. What you want to avoid is changing the criteria every time a new school appears. Return to the original requirements and change your ranking only when you have new evidence.