Childcare Centre Checklist
Choosing the right childcare centre is a big decision and there are a number of individual factors to consider before you select the best centre for your child. Remember, most centres do have waiting lists so it pays to begin looking well in advance. The following checklist will help you in your selection process and can be printed to take with you as you enquire about centres that might be suitable.
Centre Name: _____________________________________________
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Hours and Location
Do the centre hours fit in with your schedule? What are the opening times over the Christmas holiday period? Consider whether you prefer the centre to be closer to your home or workplace.
Lollipops Educare have centres nation wide. operating hours based on the needs of the community. Our intention is to accommodate the needs of our families within the guidelines that have been set by the local council and Ministry of Education. |
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Meals
Do you need meals to be provided? Some centres have in-house cooks while others require parents to supply meals.
All Lollipops Educare centres have in house cooks who must hold a Health and Hygiene qualification. Most of our centres have worked with the Heart Foundation to produce nutritious menu’s
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Allergies and Special Requirements
Does your child have an allergy or require a special diet or medication? If so, does the centre cater for these?
When you enrol your child we ask for any special diets/allergies that need to be accommodated. Our cooks are made aware of these needs and in most cases we can work with you to ensure that special diets are catered for. Allergies are documented in an Individual Action Plan and if required mediation will be kept on site.
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Reputation
Referrals are a good way to gauge which centres are popular. Ask around friends with young children and put your feelers out for first-hand feedback on the centres that you are interested in.
A huge proportion of our growth is based upon referrals from very happy families.
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ERO Reports
Every childcare centre in the country is reviewed by the Education Review Office approximately every three years. Check past reviews online at www.ero.govt.nz. This will give you a good idea of a centre’s strengths and weaknesses.
The Education Review Office generally visit each childcare centre every 3 years. Our centres reports are available on line and directly linked to our website. If one of centres does not have a current report it may be because the centre is too new. Please ask the Centre Director and they will let you know approximately when their centre is scheduled for a visit
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Spend time in the centre
Once you have narrowed down your list according to hours, location and reputation, it is a good idea to spend some time at the centre with your child. This will give you a ‘feel’ for the centre’s atmosphere and answer some basic questions about how it is run:
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Do the children receive quality attention and care?
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Are the staff attentive?
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Do the staff appear happy in their roles as teachers?
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What is the staff turnover like?
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Does the centre have policies and philosophies that match your values?
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Is the environment exciting and well resourced?
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Are sleep areas safe and well supervised?
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Is the bathroom child-friendly and clean?
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Are meals nutritious and prepared hygienically?
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Does the centre provide nappies and is this an extra cost?
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How will the centre work around your own established routine?
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How will the centre report back to you at the end of each day about food and milk intake, sleep patterns etc?
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