Choosing the right long day care centre for your child can be a daunting task. Centres can differ from one to another, and they offer a variety of programmes for children of various ages.

In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide to help you choose the best centre that suits your family’s needs!

What Is Long Day Care

Technically speaking, a long day care centre is a childcare centre that provides services to children for more than four hours per day. They would be open from as early as 6:30 AM until as late as 7:00 PM, which gives you the flexibility to work and support your family without having to worry about who will be looking after your children while you’re at the office.

As for how they operate, it depends on the centre itself. Some may offer programmes, such as breakfast clubs before school starts, lunchtime clubs during breaks, or activities like sports after school ends. While others may not have these programmes, they would usually have a designated space where children can relax, play, and do homework during those long hours.

A Checklist to Choosing a Long Day Care Centre for Your Child

As a parent, you would want to find a daycare centre that is safe, nurturing, and educational! So, how do you choose? Here are ten steps that will guide you in making this important decision.

1) Start with an online search.

The best way to start your search is by doing an online search. This will give you a general idea of the centres that are available in your area. Use keywords, like “long day care near me” or “long daycare + your city” to get specific results.

Once you have a list of long daycare centres, it’s time to start narrowing it down.

2) Read reviews.

After you have done your “community day care near me” online search and created a list of potential long daycare centres, it’s time to start searching for reviews. Look at their websites and see what other parents are saying about them. This will give you an insight into the experience you can expect from them.

Another great place to look for reviews is their social media page. 

3) Visit potential centres personally.

The best way to know whether or not a centre is suited to your needs is by visiting it in person. This will give you the opportunity to see how the staff members interact with the children, as well as the facilities themselves.

When you’re visiting, ask lots of questions! The staff should be able to answer all of your queries about their programmes, the centre itself, and anything else you might be wondering about.

4)  Observe the students.

During your visit, take the time to observe the other students. Are they engaged in activities? Do they appear happy and safe? 

It’s important that you feel comfortable with the centre’s environment, as your child will be spending long hours each day there. 

5) Know the programmes they are using.

One of the most important things to look for when choosing a daycare centre is its programmes. So, when vetting a day care Brisbane has today, check whether they use a curriculum that you’re comfortable with?

It’s also important to make sure that the centre has enough staff members on hand to implement the programmes properly. You don’t want your child falling behind because the centre is short-staffed.

6) Know the teacher-to-children ratio.

Aside from the programmes, you should also look into the teacher-to-children ratio of the centre you are choosing. According to the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), the ideal teacher-to-children ratios are the following:

• 1:4 – for children 0 to 2 years old
• 1:5 – for children 2 to 3 years old
• 1:10 – for children 3 years old and above

7) Check if they have safety and security measures in place.

When it comes to daycare centres, safety and security measures should be taken seriously. You want to know that your child is safe at all times!

So, look into whether or not they have CCTV cameras installed on the premises or a policy for drop-offs and pick-ups. You can even ask if they use tracking devices for children who are old enough to walk home on their own.  

8) Ask yourself if the cost is reasonable.

Your chosen daycare’s fees should be in line with the services they are providing. If you’re planning to enrol your child there for a year or longer, then it might make sense to pay less per hour but more overall. If not, look into centres that have monthly plans instead of daily ones.

It’s important to remember that daycare is a long-term investment, so the cost should be one that suits your current financial capacity too.

9) Enrol your child!

Once you’ve found the centre that best suits your needs, it’s time to enrol your child. Fill out all of the necessary forms and make copies for yourself. Bring in their immunisation records as well as proof of address if necessary.

This way, once your child is enrolled, you’ll be ready to drop them off on the first day of school with peace of mind.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! Good luck with finding the best long day care centre for your child! They will undoubtedly have a great experience there, and you can relax knowing that they’re in good hands.

For more interesting pieces of information that helps make your life even better, feel free to browse our site!