Information for parents:
What to look for when seeking a childcare centre...
Childcare is an experience that children have away from their parents. A child's experiences and development whilst in childcare reflect the quality of the childcare setting. Aspects of quality include how the care is provided (i.e., emotional warmth and developmentally appropriate activities), how care is administered (i.e., who provides the care, where it is provided, the cost of care, and the age, cultural background and temperament of children receiving care), how much care is experienced (i.e., the hours of care), and the stability of care.
The most immediate elements when considering childcare are:
- Location: is the centre geographically suitable being either near home or near work?
- Flexibility: does your work sometimes require alternative hours and can the centre assist at short notice?
- Cost: is the centre's fee structure within your means on an ongoing basis?
Having satisfied these basic essentials you will need to be comfortable with the childcare centre s approach to:
- Safety and health
- Carer education and training
- Nutrition
- Nurturing
- Stability
- Stimulating toys and materials
- Staff-child ratios
- Learning activities
On the following pages there is additional information and checklists that can help you in assessing a childcare centre. How you and your child feel about the centre being considered is the foundation for your decision, but we advise you to also look at some of the more technical aspects as well as talking to the centre staff, other parents and even other children.
Click here to download our very useful "Childcare Evaluation Checklist" (PDF 75k). |
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