How To Choose The Right Childcare
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Choosing the right child care can be a bit daunting – especially if you’re a new mum! But there are some key things you should look for, ask about and research when making your choice:
Look For
- First Impressions What was your first impression when you walked in? This reaction is almost always right.
- How were you greeted? Did you and your child feel welcome and at ease?
- How does the childcare centre / preschool smell? They should not have an offensive odour.
- How are the teachers dressed? Do they look like professional teachers?
- Are the children happy and engaged? Children should not be wandering around aimlessly.
- How do the teachers speak to the children and each other? Is respect shown for both adults and children?
- How tidy is the childcare centre / preschool? As you can imagine all child care centres get untidy with so many children there! However, they should be tidy and items put away if children are not engaged with them.
- Is the childcare centre / preschool clean? Not untidy – as we mentioned before that’s normal! But the rooms, bathroom / toilets, kitchen and playgrounds should be clean.
- Areas of learning – a good child care centre has many areas of learning that enable the children to engage in “open-ended learning”.
Ask about
- Policies on sun safety, allergies (if applicable) and anything else you are concerned about.
- Supporting your child’s routine – how do the teachers work with you and your child (especially if they are under 2 years old) to ensure there’s consistency between home and centre routines.
- What an average day consists of Early Childhood Education (ECE) is not like school where there is a very regimented routine – instead, the day should have a loose structure so children know what to expect, but be free enough to allow uninterrupted play and learning experiences.
- Ratios The Ministry of Education’s minimum guideline is:
- Under 2s – 1 teacher : 5 children
- Over 2s – 1 teacher to 10 children
Obviously the more teachers there are the better.
- Food Does the childcare centre / preschool offer all food? Or morning and afternoon tea only? Or no food at all? If so, then what is considered appropriate to pack for their lunch? Centres should encourage healthy eating.
- Programming This is the terminology used to describe how teachers provide opportunities enabling each child to learn and develop. It is a Ministry of Education requirement that all children have a “portfolio” of learning stories. These are documented accounts of how and what a child has learnt. Good centres will also have displays on their walls of the programming and learning outcomes.
- Fees, holiday discounts, sibling discounts and 20 Hours ECE Ask about all the costs and discounts associated with the service. Remember though, if you are comparing two child care centres on price, make sure they are offering the same service so you get a true indication of the cost. For example, it would be expected that a centre that has 100% qualified teachers, provides food and is open 10 hours a day would charge more than a centre that has only 50% qualified teachers, doesn’t offer food and is only open 6 hours a day.
Research
- ERO Reports – ERO (The Education Review Office) reviews schools and early childhood education services every three years on average, and publishes national reports on current education practice. Every child care centre report is available on the ERO website.
- Child care assistance – the Government supports many families with a child care subsidy. Families can earn a surprising amount and still receive a subsidy. Click to find out if you qualify for child care assistance.
- Visit other child care centres – not just ABC centres either! You need to find the perfect place for you and your child, so the more centres you visit the better chance you have of finding the right one. As a parent you will know as soon as you walk into a centre if it’s got a good “feel”.
We have childcare/daycare and kindy services  across the country in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Whangarei, Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Palmerston North, Hawkes Bay, Rotorua, Tauranga, Coromandel, Waikato, Invercargill, Blenheim, Oamaru and most points in between.
