Author Topic: How do you choose a daycare?  (Read 2050 times)

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Offline Yazzie

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How do you choose a daycare?
« on: October 23, 2010, 22:10:54 pm »
Not sure if these even is a smart question..!..we're considering started ds at daycare, on part time basis, around mid December. So, am starting to look @ day care centers.

I do have some criteria for my search, but taken that we don't have such high standards around where I live or regulations for that matter  ??? :-X :-\..could some of you mums in more civilized places tell me what you usually look for in a day care center, or make sure isn't there?!

Thanks :-*
Adam's Mum




Offline Shiv52

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Re: How do you choose a daycare?
« Reply #1 on: October 23, 2010, 22:18:44 pm »
Things that would be on my list are:

Staff-child ratio throughout the day (and how do they manage lunch breaks etc?)
Sickness policy for children who attend (ie. do they have to be 'symptom free' for a certain time before they can go back?)
Timetable for the week (to make sure there is a variety of activities)
Discipline procedures for LOs
How do they provide feedback to parents
Settling in period-how do they handle it
Are LOs given a key worker?


Can't think of anything else but that would be my starters!!!

How grown up is your DS now?  His pic is just gorgeous!!





Offline Love, laughter, & PJs

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Re: How do you choose a daycare?
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2010, 00:38:53 am »
I agree with Shiv.  Other things I noticed when I was looking:

How do they do naptime?  What's the procedure when a LO wakes and others are still sleeping?  (At some places they keep them all in the same room, regardless, and at other places they took the awake ones out of the room so the snoozers could keep sleeping - way better if you ask me!)

Where do they play when it's not nice out?  Some places have just one room that the LOs are in all day long, others have separate space like a small gym.

Do they have any special teachers that come in?  One daycare in our area has a music teacher, a puppet teacher, etc that come in once a week for the older kids. 

What are the security procedures?

How often do LOs change rooms?

Menu!  This was a big one for me since so often the food they served was just horrendous.  At the very least, I wanted to know if I could send Austin with his own lunch/snacks.

That's all I can think of at the moment, but I'll keep working on it. :D
*Kate*



Offline Yazzie

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Re: How do you choose a daycare?
« Reply #3 on: November 01, 2010, 13:26:21 pm »
Hey there girls, thanks a million for you replies :) Adam will be 1.5 years old, time does fly, too fast actually :(

Well, we're planning to start him off as part time at day care, as currently MIL is babysitting 3 days a week, and I work from home the other two, but I need to go back full time :(

So, rang up a few day care centers and am preparing a list to go visit, I already like one that's got a great reputation, but they only take children from 1.10 months, so am not sure if it would be a good idea to start him off somewhere else and then move him?

Anyhow, here's a list of things to note that I have reached, which includes the points that you stated above:

­Are parents allowed to pop in at any time?
­-What happens when a child brings in any snacks from home, e.g. Chips or chocolate?
­-Is a weekly meals menu provided?
­-What is the child/staff ratio?
­-What is your weekly/monthly routine?
­-What are the teaching methods followed (Montessori, Reggio Emilia, etc)?
­-What is the education curriculum?
­-How would I be able to measure my child’s academic progress?
­-Do you teach any Arabic?
­-How are activities planned?
­-What is the aim of field trips, if any?
­-How are nap sections/ times provided?
­-How do you handle children who don’t want to nap?
­-What qualifications for the staff have? Do they have any formal training?
­-Is anyone trained in toddler CPR?
­-Do you provide a daily report about how my child’s day was?
­-If my child comes on part time basis, would he be missing anything, how would he make up?
­-Who is the owner(s) and what’s their background?
­-What is your staff turnover?
­-Is watching TV programs scheduled as part of daily activities? What is the purpose? For How long?
­-How do you discipline children?
­-How do you handle hitting/biting?
­-How do you perform toilet training?
­-What is your sickness policy?
­-How do you handle injuries?
­-Do you have an HSE policy?
­-How do you handle emergencies?
­-How often are toys cleaned? How do you clean them?
­-How do you keep a register of children present on premises?
­-What vaccinations should have been administered?
­-How are meal times handled?    
­-How is the settling in period handled?
­-Are lo(s) given a key worker, what happens if that person is absent?
­-Where do children play, other than their room, when the weather isn’t nice outside?
­-How often do children change rooms?
Adam's Mum




Offline Love, laughter, & PJs

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Re: How do you choose a daycare?
« Reply #4 on: November 01, 2010, 16:57:19 pm »
Phew!!  Great list, Yazzie.  I think we should sticky it for future BWers to see! ;D  I found that most of these were answered without prompting by the person giving me the tour, but it's great to have them there so you can double check.

The only thing I would add is what's the procedure for adults coming and going?   Ie, do they have to sign in, have photo ID, etc.

I don't understand taking children from 1.10 mo?  So how long before he would have to move?

:-*
*Kate*



Offline Yazzie

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Re: How do you choose a daycare?
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2010, 20:52:19 pm »
I think we should sticky it for future BWers to see!
Thought I'd suggest it to admins as well, although it could be categorized to be more readable :)..great one abt the adults coming & going.

Well I want to start ds around next month or so, he'll be 18 months old and they take kids from 22 months, their claim being that kids before this age aren't ready enough, not convinced though!
Adam's Mum




Offline Love, laughter, & PJs

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Re: How do you choose a daycare?
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2010, 21:54:02 pm »
Oh, I see.  Well, that's interesting.  I haven't heard that one before.  They must have more of a preschool rather than a daycare mentality?
*Kate*



Offline Mollie1

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Re: How do you choose a daycare?
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2010, 22:03:41 pm »
Hi Yazzie,

I am a nursery (daycare) Manager and I think your list covers most things. The most important ones in my opinion are the staff turnover, ratios and qualifications and the activities on offer both indoors and outdoors. I would not like to see a nursery with staff changing alot or somewhere where there isnt a good outdoor space. Some of my staff have worked with us for 18 years + and many are mums themselves. In the UK, daycare settings are highly regulated and we have a curriculum to follow called the Early Years Foundation Stage. Do you have similar? If so, each setting should have an insepction report that you can read. Good luck with your search :)



Offline Yazzie

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Re: How do you choose a daycare?
« Reply #8 on: November 04, 2010, 02:28:34 am »
Thanks Mollie, we don't really have solid regulations around here, so all I can do is ensure that the place is reputable, staff qualified, that they follow renowned approached such as Montessori, Reggio Emilio, etc.

Kate, yeah I guess so :) Well, dh and I plan to start visiting some of the facilities this Monday, so will be back to let you ladies know how things went :)
Adam's Mum




Offline Love, laughter, & PJs

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Re: How do you choose a daycare?
« Reply #9 on: November 04, 2010, 17:18:37 pm »
Well, dh and I plan to start visiting some of the facilities this Monday, so will be back to let you ladies know how things went Smiley

Definitely keep us posted! :D
*Kate*