Tips when you are planning your Childcare Centre Tour

Choosing a childcare centre is a big decision. Fortunately, the KindiCare App and Childcare Comparison Website are here to help. KindiCare is a parent-designed platform that makes it super easy to search for childcare services in your area of choice. Then shortlist your faves according to key factors, like cost, quality, availability, reviews, ratings and value-for-money.

The platform is totally free for parents to use, and when you’re ready to explore your favourite centres in person. KindiCare will also help you book a centre tour (or three).  The tour is actually a very important part of your childcare search process, because it enables you to step inside a centre and get a real sense of what’s on offer. To book a tour, simply click the ‘Make Enquiry’ button in a centre’s KindiCare listing, then choose the ‘Book a Tour or Visit’ tab.

And to get the most out of every tour you go on, here are five things KindiCare recommends you do:

1. Take your child with you to the childcare centre

This might sound obvious, but it is really important for your child to experience the environment and childcare community they could be spending a lot of time in.

While you’re moving through the centre, consider how your child is responding to everything, and how the people and place are making your family feel.

At a great centre, there will be a welcoming, positive vibe, with team members making an effort to connect with your child and yourself, and it’s definitely a good sign if you see lots of interested, smiley children being supported by caring and upbeat educators.

2. Look for signs of quality

Education and care services are rated and assessed against the National Quality Standard, and they’re obliged to display their quality rating for you – and everyone – to see.

You can read about the different quality ratings here, which go from ‘Significant Improvement Required’ all the way up to ‘Excellent.' If you see a ‘Provisional – Not Yet Assessed under the National Quality Framework’ sign, this is ok. It just means the service hasn’t been assessed yet by its state/territory regulatory authority.

Also, keep an eye out for the service’s KindiCare Excellence Awards 2023 decal or trophy!

This isn’t something every service has, or must display, but if you see that the service has an Excellent or Outstanding KindiCare Rating sticker on their window, or a glistening KindiCare trophy in their foyer, this says a lot about the quality of the place!

3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Some parents are confident and some are shy. But regardless of your personality, the centre tour is a great chance to get information, and clarification, on lots of different matters.

For example, you might be curious about the kinds of incursions on offer. How the Child Care Subsidy actually works? How you’d be supported to continue breastfeeding? What’s included in the daily fee?

You can always come up with questions on the spot, as you think of things, but planning a few questions ahead of time is definitely worthwhile.

4. Keep an open mind, but trust your instincts

Every childcare centre is different, and although there are lots of incredible (and very sparkly) new builds. There are also lots of long-established services offering a beautiful childcare experience.  By walking through the centre, and exploring its program, practices and values, you’ll get a feel for the environment. The ethos on offer, and can decide if the place is a great fit for your family.

You might find that the older centre with the big heart actually feels better than the one you’ve been drooling over online (or vice versa), and in any event, presentation does matter.

The centre should appear clean, well-organised and well-run when you tour it (rather than grimy, chaotic and stressful!).

You’re also looking for a great selection of age-appropriate resources. A mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, and those personal touches that show each and every child is valued. Like art on the walls and name tags where the bags are stowed.

5. Book more than one childcare centre tour

If you’re lucky, the first centre you tour will be ‘The One’. However, it’s usually a good idea to book a few tours at different shortlisted centres.

‘Feel’ is something you need to experience in person, and although you might think you’ve found a great place. An even greater one may be just around the corner!  Of course, vacancies can be limited at high-quality childcare centres. So if you come away from a tour feeling positive, it’s recommended that you get that application in quickly.

Head to the App Store or Google Play to install the KindiCare App today. We hope your centre tours yield an amazing result!

Looking for more tips and tricks from the Kiddo team, here's some more information that might be useful:

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