List of advantages and disadvantages.. How to choose a new children’s room for your son?
Finding a good kindergarten for children can be a difficult task for parents. There are a lot of things to pay attention to and don’t forget to ask them when you go to the nursery. How do you know your child will be happy? Will it meet your child’s needs? Do they provide feedback on his performance?
According to the familyandchildcaretrust website, this video is a good starting point to help you understand what a good environment can be and what you need to look for to find it. Although the video shows a nursery setting, the information presented will be about childcare. Below, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide to the types of things you should do before choosing a childcare provider and the questions you might want to ask.
Make a list
Shortlisted childcare providers use information from your local Family Information Service.
Don’t forget to check:
Hours that childcare providers can offer childcare
Hourly, daily and/or weekly costs
If they have room for your child
Our babysitting search tool can help you easily review information about babysitting providers in your area. For more information on additional resources for finding daycare in your area, visit our Where to Find Local Childcare Information guide.
Visit your shortcut settings
It would be a good idea to visit a few places and personally ask questions about the childcare provided. It can be helpful to take a friend or your child with you to visits to help you make a decision.
What are you looking for:
Trained and experienced staff ready to learn and respond to your child’s individual needs
Busy children, but they are relaxed and seem happy and purposeful
Safe and clean premises – welcoming and friendly with an outdoor play area
Cultural sensitivity and response to children’s life in the home
Work team and group of children reflecting local ethnic and cultural groups
Fun activities planned every day – Babysitters, nurseries and after-school clubs should plan their days with children’s interests and enthusiasm in mind
It is important to plan exercises and quiet times to relax
A big welcome to you and your child
What you ask:
What is the ratio of employees to children? How many children do you care for?
What qualifications or experience do you have?
What is a daily routine and how can you coordinate the routine of my child and other children?
Do you run a master staff plan (where one member of staff has primary responsibility for your child)?
What are your discipline policies and how do you manage children’s behavior?
Do you provide meals, snacks, diapers, etc. or will I have to provide them?
What will your child enjoy?
Here is a list of the things children said were most important when Coram Family and Childcare visited the nursery and asked the children what they thought:
Friends – check to see a stable group of kids so your kids can have fun with friends
Food – make sure meal times are relaxed and enjoyable and ask if the children can help themselves to drinks and snacks
Outdoor fun – Make sure the outdoor area is well-maintained, spacious and safe – Children love to play outside
Exploration – Make sure there are plenty of opportunities for children to learn new things with varied and carefully planned activities
Feeling safe and loved – Ensure staff are able to respond to children’s individual needs to comfort, encourage and protect them
These are just some of the things you can consider; Also, don’t forget to think about things that are important to you and your child and be sure to ask about them.
Quality control
Most childcare providers (including nurseries, childminders, children’s centers and extended school services) who look after children under the age of eight must be registered with Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills).
– Get references
Other parents’ experiences with providers can be very helpful, it is advisable to have at least two referrals. Childcare providers should be happy to give you the names of other parents you can talk to about their service, remember that what works for one family may not always suit your needs.
seat reservation
Book your child’s place and agree details such as times, start date and who is allowed with your child. You may have to pay a fee to keep the place open until your child leaves.
Your child may need some time to adjust to any new childcare environment you start in, so give them time to adjust to the new environment, especially if this is their first daycare. Most childcare providers, such as babysitters, will offer a ‘set-in period’ where you have an agreed period of time to assess whether the environment is the right place for your child and whether they are happy there.
Don’t forget that some two-year-olds and all three- and four-year-olds in England can get 570 hours of free childcare, which equates to 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. There are a number of additional support options that may be available to you.
