Family day care checklist

Visiting a family day care educator's home is the best way to work out whether it's the right place for your little one. You'll see the space your child would spend their days in, meet the educator and get a feel for how the children in their care are getting on.

A first visit can go by quickly, especially if you've got a little one in tow, so it helps to know what to look out for before you knock on the door.

What should you look for when visiting a family day care?

When visiting a family day care, pay close attention to how the educator interacts with the children and how openly they answer your questions. Relaxed, busy children and an educator who makes time to talk with you are good early signs. The toys and the fit-out matter less than the relationships you see.

A good educator will also be happy to walk you through their policies, from sleep and meals to how they handle illness and incidents.

Choosing a quality early childhood education and care service is an important decision for your family. — StartingBlocks.gov.au,

How do you check the quality of a family day care?

You can check the quality of a family day care by looking up the service's rating against the National Quality Standard and asking how the educator is supported by their approved service. Both give you a picture beyond what you'll see in a single visit.

A ratings certificate, which outlines the overall rating of the service and the current rating levels for each quality area, must also be clearly visible from the main entrance at each FDC residence or venue used to provide education and care to children as part of a family day care service.” — ACECQA, Guide to the National Quality Framework

NQS ratings range from Significant Improvement Required to Excellent, and you'll find them on each service's Care for Kids listing. Our explainer on what NQS ratings mean for families breaks down each level.

How do you get the most out of a family day care visit?

You'll get the most out of a family day care visit by going during care hours, when you can see the educator with the children. A few other things help as well.

Bring the checklist. Print it or keep it open on your phone so nothing slips your mind.
Visit more than one educator. Seeing a couple of homes makes it easier to notice what feels right.
Ask about settling in. Find out whether you can stay for part of the first session or do a short trial visit.
Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, it's okay to keep looking.

Your family daycare checklist

Use our checklist as a reminder of all the important things to look out for when you pay a visit to a potential Family Day Care provider for your child.

Initial Impressions		Yes	No	n/a	?
	Is the atmosphere relaxed and happy?
	Do you feel welcome?
	Does the home seem well organised, clean and tidy?
	Is there anything that appears to be out of place?
Security & Safety		Yes	No	n/a	?
	Does the home seem safe and secure?
	Are there safety gates & safety caps on electrical outlets?
	Have all educators and their immediate family who may be in contact with the children undergone police and background checks?
	Are the radiators and heaters covered?
	Are medicines and household cleaners locked away or out of reach?
	Are there cords dangling from curtains or drapes?
	Is there air conditioning, good light, heat and ventilation?
	Are the fire exits adequate?
	Are there established emergency procedures?
	Are outside play areas safe from traffic and water?
	Is the furniture and play equipment safe?
	Are policies in place to report and document any accidents?
	Are educators who know how to administer CPR and/or first aid available at all times?
	Transportation of children - what is the child restraints policy if children are transported by car/taxi?
Hygiene		Yes	No	n/a	?
	Are food preparation and eating areas clean and tidy?
	Is the rest of the house clean and tidy?
	Is all food cleaned up after snack and meal times?
	Is information on policies such as hygiene procedures available?
Cost		Yes	No	n/a	?
	What are the daily fees?
	Does the service offer occasional or sessional care?
	Can you claim the Child Care Subsidy?
People & Environment		Yes	No	n/a	?
	How long has the family day care service been running?
	How many children are cared for and what are the ages?
	What type of background checks are completed on the educators and family members who may come into contact with the children?
	What is the minimum qualification requirement for educators?
	Does the educator care for children everyday? If not, how often are other educators used and how are they chosen?
	How do educators deal with emotional issues eg: separation anxiety?
	Is there an orientation program for new parents and children?
	Is there a planned program for day-to-day activities?
	Do educators interact and play with the children?
	Do the educators spend time talking to and encouraging the children?
	Do children appear to be relaxed, happy and playing cooperatively?
	Are there a wide range of toys and books supplied for the children?
	Are you welcome to visit at anytime?
	Do toileting, nappy changing and rest times meet individual needs?
	Do snacks and meal times meet individual needs?
	Do you feel welcome to discuss your child and their policies?
	Do the educators have similar thoughts on discipline to your own?
	Are cultural differences recognised and accepted?
	Will your child's individual needs be met?
	What is the procedure for handling complaints against educators?
	Do you feel a warm caring relationship will be developed with the educator and your child?
	Will this arrangement contribute positively to your child's total well being?
Scheme & Co-ordination Unit Support		Yes	No	n/a	?
	Which scheme is the educator registered with?
	Do they provide regular and spontaneous visits from trained and knowledgeable coordinators?
	Does the unit support and provide resources, training and mentoring to the educator?
	Are alternative care arrangements available when required - back-up care, emergency care?
	Is there support services eg transport, playsessions, toy library, access to specialised funding
National Quality Standards		Yes	No	n/a	?
	Has the service been assessed under the National Quality Framework?
	If so, what was the rating?
	Does the service have a Quality Improvement Plan? Can you view the plan?

For a printable version of our family daycare tour checklist, click here.

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