10 Questions to Ask on a Childcare Centre Tour

Bright ELC childcare learning environment in Riverwood Sydney

Choosing a childcare centre is a big decision.

You are not simply choosing a building where your child will spend a few hours each day. You are choosing the people who will care for them, the environment where they will learn and play, and a routine that will become part of your family’s everyday life.

That is why a childcare centre tour is so important.

Photos and websites can tell you what a centre offers, but a tour gives you the opportunity to see how educators interact with children, how the environment feels and whether the centre’s approach matches what you want for your child.

If you’re comparing childcare centres in Riverwood, Sydney’s South or surrounding suburbs, take these 10 questions with you.

1. What are your educator-to-child ratios?

Start with staffing.

Ask how many educators are responsible for your child’s group and how the centre manages staffing throughout the day.

In Australia, educator-to-child ratios are regulated under the National Quality Framework. Importantly, ACECQA explains that ratios are minimum requirements and do not, by themselves, guarantee adequate supervision. Educators must be directly involved with children to be counted in the ratio.

So don’t stop at asking, “Do you meet the required ratio?”

Also ask:

Who will normally be in my child’s room?
What happens when an educator is away?
Are educators consistently assigned to the same groups?
How is supervision managed during meals, outdoor play and transitions?

These questions tell you much more about your child’s everyday experience.

2. How experienced and stable is your educator team?

Qualifications are important, but relationships matter too.

Your child may spend many hours each week with their educators, particularly if they attend several days.

Ask how long educators have worked in early childhood, how long the current team has been together and how the centre supports ongoing professional development.

ACECQA identifies qualified and experienced educators, together with warm and respectful relationships, as important aspects of staffing arrangements under the National Quality Standard.

During your tour, watch the educators as well as listening to their answers.

Do they know the children’s names? Do children appear comfortable approaching them? Are educators talking with children rather than simply supervising them?

Those small observations can tell you a lot.

3. What does a normal day actually look like?

Ask someone to walk you through a typical day from arrival to pickup.

You might ask:

“If my child attends tomorrow, what will their day look like?”

Find out when children normally:

Arrive and settle
Eat meals and snacks
Play indoors
Play outdoors
Participate in planned learning experiences
Rest or sleep
Transition between activities

You are looking for a healthy balance rather than a rigid timetable.

Young children benefit from predictable routines, but they also need opportunities to follow their interests, explore and engage in meaningful play.

4. How do you handle sleep and rest?

Sleep can be one of the biggest adjustments when a child starts childcare.

Ask how the centre handles different sleep needs.

For example:

Can individual sleep routines be accommodated?
How are tired children supported?
What happens if a child doesn’t sleep?
How is sleep communicated to parents?
How does the routine change as children get older?

If your toddler still has a particular nap routine at home, tell the educators.

The more information they have about your child’s normal routine, the easier it is to create continuity between home and childcare.

5. What happens if my child cries when I leave?

This is one of the most important questions for parents of babies and toddlers.

Separation can be difficult, particularly during the first days or weeks.

Ask what happens after you leave.

Who will comfort your child? How will an educator build a relationship with them? How will you know how they settled?

At Bright ELC, we believe communication between families and educators is an important part of helping children feel secure as they become familiar with their new environment.

A good childcare centre should understand that settling isn’t identical for every child.

Some children walk in happily on day one.

Others need more time.

6. Are meals provided, and how are dietary requirements handled?

Food is easy to overlook when comparing centres, but it can make a significant difference to your daily routine.

Ask:

Are meals included?
Who prepares the food?
What does a typical menu look like?
Are snacks included?
How are allergies managed?
Can dietary or cultural requirements be accommodated?
Can parents see the current menu?

At Bright ELC, meals are included and prepared fresh in-house. The centre describes its food program as a seasonal four-week menu designed around nutrition, different flavours and textures, while considering family and cultural needs.

That means parents have one less part of the morning routine to organise.

7. How much outdoor play do children get?

Don’t just ask whether outdoor play is offered.

Ask to see the outdoor environment.

Look at the space while you’re there.

Is there room for children to move, explore and play? Are there different types of experiences available? Does the outdoor area appear to be a genuine part of the learning program?

Outdoor experiences can support physical development, confidence, social interaction and exploration.

Bright ELC provides age-specific indoor and outdoor learning spaces, designed around children’s different stages of development.

8. How does your learning program work?

This is where you can move beyond the question of whether a centre has a “curriculum.”

Ask:

“What will my child actually learn through the day?”

Then ask for examples.

How do educators follow children’s interests?

How are activities planned?

How do educators support different developmental stages?

How do they encourage curiosity and problem-solving?

Bright ELC describes its approach as child-centred learning and offers STEM activities and sensory play across age groups. It also provides a school-readiness program to help children prepare for Kindergarten.

The important thing is not how many impressive program names a centre can list. It is whether you can see meaningful learning happening through everyday experiences.

9. What do we need to bring on the first day?

This is a simple question, but it can save you a lot of morning stress.

Ask for a complete first-day checklist.

Depending on the centre, families may need to provide:

Spare clothes
A sun hat
Drink bottle
Comfort item
Bottles or other baby supplies
Nappies and wipes

At Bright ELC, nappies and wipes are provided, which removes two everyday items from the childcare bag for families with younger children.

Always confirm the current requirements directly with your chosen centre.

10. How will you communicate with us?

Finally, ask how communication works between the centre and parents.

You might ask:

How will I receive updates during the day?
How will you tell me about sleep and meals?
How are developmental observations shared?
Who should I speak with if I have a concern?
How do educators receive information from parents?

Communication should work both ways.

Educators need to know about changes at home, sleep difficulties, new routines or anything else that might affect your child’s day.

Parents, meanwhile, need confidence that they can ask questions and understand how their child is progressing.

ACECQA’s National Quality Standard specifically recognises collaborative partnerships with families as an important part of quality early childhood education and care.

What should you look for during the tour?

Once you’ve asked your questions, stop and observe.

Watch the children.

Watch the educators.

Look at how people interact.

Ask yourself:

Do the children seem comfortable?

Are educators engaged with them?

Does the environment feel calm, welcoming and purposeful?

Can I imagine my child being happy here?

There may not be one childcare centre that is perfect in every category. The goal is to find a centre that fits your family’s practical needs while providing an environment where your child can feel safe, supported and encouraged to learn.

Ready to visit Bright ELC?

If you’re looking for childcare in Riverwood, a tour is the best way to experience Bright ELC for yourself.

Rather than simply telling you what we offer, we’d love to show you our learning spaces, introduce you to our approach and answer your questions about your child’s day.

Book a visit to Bright ELC and see whether we’re the right fit for your family.