Checklist for early education and childcare
You will probably have a good idea of what best suits you and your child's needs. However, the following checklists might also provide some general things to look for when choosing preschool education such as a nursery, playgroup or even a childminder.
What to look for in a provider
The following checklist may come in handy when choosing a childcare provider:
- does the childcare setting have a friendly feel?
- is it clean, light, well ventilated and big enough for children to be active indoors and outdoors?
- are there places where the children can rest?
- is the equipment like the toys and furniture safe and of a sufficiently high standard?
- do the children look happy?
- are there plenty of children of your child's age?
- are the provider and carers Ofsted registered?
- are there enough staff to keep an eye on all children?
- do the staff manage behaviour appropriately?
Children
You may wish to find out:
- whether children are calm, safe, happy and playing together
- whether your child will meet the same children and adults every time they attend
- what happens when your child is sick
Staff
You may want to find out if the staff are:
- friendly and welcoming
- listening, talking and interacting appropriately with children
- qualified and experienced
- aware of confidentiality and privacy
- managing behaviour appropriately
- working in partnership with parents and willing to discuss their concerns and listen to what they know about their child
Looking at learning
You may wish to find out:
- how activities are planned to meet the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- about the range of resources and equipment available to support learning
- how any additional and special educational needs will be met
- how you get to know about and involved in your child's learning and progress
- how children are involved in the planning of activities
- whether there is provision for staff to continue to learn about children and their needs
Environment
Take a look at the indoor and outdoor environment to see whether:
- it is safe, clean and secure
- it is welcoming and stimulating
- there is enough space for children to be active indoors and outdoors
- there are places where children can rest
Questions to ask childcare providers
You may want to ask about the following:
- safety - what happens in an emergency?
- are the premises secure (can strangers get in)?
- what training and experience do the carers have?
- do the carers know first aid?
- what is the staff's view on discipline?
- what activities are on offer?
- what food is provided (is it healthy)?
- who can you talk to about your child's progress?
- what happens if your child becomes ill?
General information
You may want to find out about:
- opening times and holiday dates
- charges and holiday charges
- healthy meals and special diets
- emergency procedures
- the equal opportunities policy
- policies on child protection
- the ratio of children to staff