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How to choose a quality family day care provider
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In many ways, family day care is an ideal early childhood education and care service. Stimulating, cost-effective and flexible, it is an excellent child care option when done well.
Unfortunately, not all family day care providers are meeting their obligations when it comes to child safety rules. According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, a staggering one-third of family day care operators in NSW have been closed or suspended for breaching child safety rules.
Child care inspectors found failures in every one out of 412 centres checked since the start of 2016. And as a result, the Education Department has closed or suspended 119 operators for breaches, relating to issues like staff shortages, incomplete criminal record checks and first-aid failings. They also refused five applications from proposed family day care providers, finding two of them 'possibly fraudulent'.
Recognising the necessity of high quality child care, Early Childhood Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said, 'We do not apologise for being tough on rogue operators … We are not afraid to use the full extent of the law when necessary.'
And it is not just the NSW state government targeting lax family day care. The federal government has also cracked down on a 'child swapping' rort among family day care providers who claimed taxpayer subsidies to look after one another’s children.
Saying this, many family day care services around the country are providing excellent care. Here we cover the main advantages of family day care and identify what to look for when choosing this early childhood education and care service.
The benefits of family day care
Family day care is an attractive child care option for several reasons, including its:
- Very low child to carer ratios: Children form close bonds with their carer and the small group environment helps with early learning and social development. It’s a great option for children with disabilities or special needs.
- Cost: Family day care is more affordable than centre based care, costing $7.50-$16.80 per hour dependent on location and service.
- Location: Family day care is home-based, providing a familiar and secure environment for children.
- Appropriateness for a wide age bracket: Six-week-old babies and bigger kids can both go to family day care.
- Flexibility: Although educators usually work weekdays, family day care can accommodate full-time, part-time, weekend and even overnight care, to support parents' individual circumstances.
- Professionalism: Family day care educators are approved early childhood education and care professionals. The core elements of family day care are well aligned with the National Quality Framework, the National Quality Standard and the Early Years Learning Framework, ensuring children learn and develop. And as seen in NSW, state and federal governments work to ensure family day care providers adhere to child safety rules.
For more information read our Overview of Family Day Care.
What to look for when choosing a family day care service
With the news coming out of NSW, it is especially important that families know what to look for when choosing a family day care service.
For starters, here are some considerations when visiting a potential family day care service. See our Family Day Care Checklist.
- Initial impressions: First impressions are telling. Gauge whether the home feels welcoming, relaxed and happy. Determine whether it’s clean and tidy, with a well-organised approach.
- Security and safety: Children must feel safe and secure in the home. Look for any safety hazards such as dangling blind cords and medicine in reach of youngsters and for precautionary measures like safety gates and caps on power points. Ask about background checks, emergency procedures and first aid skills. Enquire about their child restraints policy when transporting children.
- Hygiene: Good hygiene is linked with good health. Ensure the food preparation and eating areas are kept clean and tidy. Ask about hygiene procedures.
- People and environment: Think practically and emotionally. Ask about things like educator qualifications and whether there are planned daily activities. Are individual needs catered for? And do you feel a warm, caring relationship will be developed between the educator and your child?
- Scheme and coordination unit support: Consider the benefits of backup. Ask what scheme the educator is registered with and what support they get such as resources, training, mentoring and access to alternative care arrangements.
- National Quality Standards: Ratings count! Has the service been assessed under the National Quality Framework, what was the rating and does the service have a Quality Improvement Plan you can look at?
There are many pluses to family day care and, with a thorough approach, you can find a home-based early childhood education and care service that provides excellent care and fits the needs of your family. May the checklist be with you! |
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