HOW TO SELECT A CHILDCARE FACILITY

List of childcare facilities in the Auburn area

Every family has different priorities about what sort of childcare they require, depending on their child's needs.  

Good quality care provides a caring pleasant environment and will include the following:

• Care by an adequate number of well trained care givers
• A program that responds to each child as an individual
• Experiences that facilitate exploring, skill development and learning
• Opportunities for learning through play
• Support for communication with and involvement of families

• Is the centre licensed?
• What hours is it open?
• What age children does it take?
• What are the fees?
• Is childcare benefit or other economic subsidies available?
• Is the centre accredited? If you are happy with the answers, you should then arrange a time to visit the centre.

When you visit the centre, these are some of the things to look out for and questions you could ask:

Things to look out for

• Are children engaged in stimulating activities?
• Are they getting individual attention from the staff when they need it?
• Are staff welcoming?
• Do staff interact and encourage communication with parents?
• Is it a pleasant place to come into?
• Is the outside space well supervised?
• What is the hygiene like? How clean is the centre?
• Are the centre’s policies readily available?

Questions you may like to ask

• What is the centre’s philosophy?
• Are records kept on children and their development?
• Are parents free to visit or drop into the centre at any time?
• Can you participate in activities with the children if you wish?
• What is the attitude towards guiding children’s behaviour?
• What provision is made for children and parents whose first language is not English?
• Does the centre cater for children with special needs?

For more information please contact Auburn City Council’s Children’s Services Coordinator on (02) 9735 1270.