Are you a first time parent, about to go back to work? Or just want to put your child into childcare? And need to start looking for childcare for your child? Your child is your precious bundle of joy, so it is a big thing to leave them with strangers, right?
It can be a daunting time, looking for a childcare centre. Below I will offer you some insightful tips and questions to ask, what to look for when you begin looking.
Google search childcare centres in the area you are wanting to place your child. Then start by choosing three that you will closely look at. Things to look for on their webiste are: their philosophy (read it, and see if you feel it matches your values). Do they have photos of the environment and teachers for you to look at and get a feel for? Have a look at their ERO report.
Once you like the look of three centres, go and visit. Some centres like you to phone and make an appointment (this is often for teacher ratio reasons, as visitors do get the teachers off the floor). But you will get a feel of being welcomed or not if you just show up.
Questions to ask when you are there: Do they have space, what is their waiting list? What is their settling/transition process? This is really important (I have another blog on this in the making), the more visits your child receives before they start at the centre, the better. Ask how do they communicate with parents with how their child is doing? How do they manage behaviour? What are their ratios? Number of teacher to child. Will your child be assigned a key teacher (special person who will help settle them in)?
Visit the centre as many times as you need to, let your child explore the environment, watch them how they interact with the children and the teachers. Are they looking comfortable in the environment?
Its a big decision to make, and you will make the right one based on your feelings. Trust your intuition. If it doesn't feel right, then chances are it's not right.
The Ministry of Education has a great website with great information on there also about choosing a centre: Choosing an early learning service – Parents.education.govt.nz – Practical information about education for parents and carers