Talk to parents in the community and the congregation to assess the interest level in a preschool program. Get an accurate count of children who will be attending so you have an idea of how much staff you'll need to hire to meet the needs of the preschool. You can also advertise your preschool program by hanging up fliers at local businesses, putting an ad in the newspaper and announcing it in the church bulletin.
Discuss starting your own preschool with people from other schools or day care centers that have a preschool component. This will help you to understand all of the necessities and work that will go into beginning your program. Day care centers or established preschools can also give you ideas for teaching or clue you into valuable educational resources in your area.
Discuss using the church hall or a room in your church for the preschool program with the pastor or priest. Talk about the availability of the room on certain days and times so you can establish when you will run your program. Ensure this room is used strictly for your preschool. If it must be used by someone else, be certain your teaching items and the classroom materials are respected.
Meet all standards and regulations for your state. The National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education has a list of all the regulations by state online (nrckids.org/STATES/states.htm). It's updated on a monthly basis with any changes or revisions to the policies.
Purchase educational materials and supplies for your school. This includes crayons, markers, construction paper, glue, safety scissors and developmentally appropriate toys. You will also want to have ideas and lesson plans drawn up, generally on a monthly basis.
Select and train your staff prior to starting the program. Include training in first aid and CPR and also on serving children with special needs, such as autism and developmental delays. Providing your staff with the proper training will help ensure your program runs smoothly once you get started.