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| Questions to ask when choosing a child care provider
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Choosing the right early childhood education and care provider for your child is a huge decision. A big part of the process is visiting the service to meet staff and get a better understanding of the day-to-day care. This is also the perfect time to ask questions, and don't be scared to ask as many as possible. Every service should be happy to address any questions and be able to set your mind at ease.
If you aren't sure what questions to ask, here is a list to get you started.
- What is the services philosophy?
- Is the service accredited? And how long have they been accredited for?
- Are parents encouraged to participate in activities?
- Am I welcome to visit at any time?
- How is information shared between administration staff, parents and carers?
- What is the daily routine?
- Is a journal kept for sleep, nappies, food?
- Where do the children sleep?
- Are meals provided? If so, what is an example of the meal plan?
- What is the learning/curriculum? Is there a planned program every day?
- What sort of play is it? Do the children get outside regularly to experience nature and messy play?
- Can my child choose particular activities of interest?
- What is done to encourage children to explore and take on new challenges?
- What is the security process, and what authorisation is in required for pick-up?
- What is the staff to child ratio? (Note the minimum government requirements are: birth–24 months = 1:4; 24–36 months = 1:5; 36 months–preschool = 1:11)
- What systems are in place to ensure qualified staff are always present?
- What is the staff turnover? Is there stability in the educators?
- Are nappies provided for those not toilet trained?
- Do I need to provide a sheet for rest time?
- How will I find out about my child's day?
- What happens if my child misbehaves?
- How will the service help my child to prepare for the transition to school?
The week before you go to visit, it's worth watching your child's routine and his/her particular needs - do they need a particular toy to sleep with; are they in the middle of toilet training - so you can also raise these particular issues when you visit.
For more information on choosing a high quality early childhood education and care providers click here. |
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