You’ll mostly be assessing these areas — even subconsciously — during a centre tour. This can be as short as 10 minutes depending on where you go and the centre’s tour process. That’s a very limited timeframe to decide on the centre! To help you determine whether a centre is right for you, here are some things you can look out for and ask about when researching and touring different facilities. 

1. Warm & friendly staff. 

How did you feel when you contacted the centre or rocked up for a tour? Hopefully, you felt welcomed! The Educator or Manager that shows you around should be vibrant, friendly, professional and warm. They should ask questions about your family and child/children as they give the tour (e.g. did they ask your child’s name and age?) as well as invite questions from you and answer them. Did the conversation between you flow easily? This person’s communication skills give you a glimpse into whether there’s clear communication between staff internally, and from staff to parents. 

Additionally, note how the children react when your tour guide enters the room. Are they excited? Agitated? Does the person acknowledge the children and interact with them? You’ll also want to observe how staff interact with each other. Is there genuine rapport, or does it feel tense? 

These small details will help you decide on the centre later. Don’t get too caught up in making a mental checklist or anything — you’ll be able to intuitively pick up on these elements. 

2. A safe & secure environment. 

We’re talking about emotional safety as well as physical safety, but let’s get into the building’s infrastructure first. For example, determine whether the boundaries of the outside area are locked and secure, and note how high the door handles are (higher is better so little hands can’t make a great escape). See whether there are separate areas for different age groups. For example, some centres have an all-ages outside play area, and you might not be comfortable with this if you’re putting a two-month-old baby into care. 

Ask about the sign-in and sign-out process. If you have complicated custody arrangements or occasionally need a grandparent to do daycare pickups, ask how the centre will support you in this. 

Emotional safety will be a bit more difficult to gauge, but see if you can get a sense of how the children are interacting with their spaces and the Educators. Do they seem relaxed to play and explore? Are they smiling at the Educators? You can also ask about how the centre accommodates children who are feeling anxious or distressed. How they deal with temper tantrums and what their discipline policies are will also be good to know. 

3. Hygiene & cleanliness. 

It’s no surprise that children do not implement good hygiene practices themselves. They’re still learning to sneeze away from others, blow and wipe their noses, wash their hands, and most children under three still explore with their mouths. As such, it’s up to the centre to take extra precautions when it comes to creating a clean and hygienic environment, and ultimately stop the spread of germs. 

Ask how, and how often, staff disinfect surfaces and toys — and whether they use natural cleaning products (not harsh chemicals). Ask about food preparation and kitchen cleanliness. How do they help children create their own hygiene habits? What is the centre’s sick policy? Are there appropriate nappy change and toileting facilities and procedures? If the centre provides sleeping materials, how often are linens washed? 

4. Communication & family relationships. 

This is a huge one. Leaving your little one in the care of others is a big deal, so it makes sense that you’d want frequent communication on a range of things. This includes milestones they’ve reached, how they interact with their peers, how they’re developing across all areas, what they’re showing interest in, and much more. Many centres send daily updates and photos with an app. This often includes how much food they’ve eaten, toileting, activities they’ve done that day, and sleep times. 

You’ll also want to ask how centres build relationships with families. All centres say they do it, but what does this actually mean for that specific centre? Do they invite feedback? Hold weekend picnics at the centre? Engage in parent nights? Do they accommodate parents who have shift work and may need altered care days? 

5. Education & stimulating environments. 

Explore what innovative and creative programs are currently running to support development. This needs to cover all learning and development areas — physical, mental, emotional, and psychological. You’ll want to ensure learning is supported by the Early Years Learning Framework and see what pedagogy underpins that learning. For example, Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and so on. These methodologies influence the style of learning implemented at the centre. You’ll also want to ask about how different learning styles, challenges, delays, and interests are encouraged and/or supported. 

6. Ultimately, it’s “the vibe”. 

Despite everything we’ve covered, much of you choosing the “right centre” will come down to your first impression. The “vibe” of the centre and the gut feel you walk away with will play a huge role in your decision-making process. If you had to sum up the centre in a few sentences, what words would you use? You’ll probably want to strike a happy, busy-calm balance where you noticed children are engaged, stimulated, content, and supported in a dynamic environment. 

If your overall impression is positive — great! If you feel like something isn’t quite right, then it’s probably not the centre for you. It’s not that the centre is necessarily doing anything “wrong”, but it’s just not what you’re looking for. 

Speaking of tours… 

Start yours at Bedfordale Childcare Centre! We’d love to show you what a fun-filled, nature-based day looks like at BCCC. We can’t wait to meet you and your family, so contact us to arrange a tour, ask as many questions as you like, and learn more about enrolling.