when looking at/into daycare
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Topic: when looking at/into daycare
Posted By: kat_hutch
Subject: when looking at/into daycare
Date Posted: 19 April 2010 at 3:09pm
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do you have a checklist that you like the daycare to meet? e.g. whether they supply meals or not, minimum and maximum hours, or do you normally base the daycare on the price and if you've heard whether or not it has a good rep? ------------- 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 19 April 2010 at 3:12pm
I tend to go with reputation, although my husband works at the one our kids go to .. so thats an added bonus  ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: Jaxnz1
Date Posted: 19 April 2010 at 3:15pm
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When I was looking, I took into consideration location (the one I chose is close to work), price, but most importantly the ratio of carers to babies.
Also go around the ones your considering (don't let them know you're coming) and ask to look around. I think you just go with your gut feeling. One of the DC's for us was out as they had a minimum of two days and I only needed one day for DD. ------------- 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 19 April 2010 at 4:00pm
| The only thing that mattered to us was going there and seeing what they did with the kids, what the place was like (tidy vs messy/dirty) and how happy the kids were. Price didn't matter much, they were all much of a muchness. I went to one that wasn't just messy but it looked really dirty so didn't like that from the beginning. Also seeing what their philosophy is is good too. At daniels they encourage independant behaviour which is cool. |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 19 April 2010 at 7:12pm
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The number one consideration for us was that the food area be seperate from the play areas as DD was then allergic to dairy and keeping her safe in this respect was extremely important, and that the staff were going to take her allergy seriously. Helped that SIL worked there, but she no longer does and we still think its awesome.
Price wasnt a consideration as none are very expensive here. |
Posted By: TysMummy
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 9:30am
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nappies, price how many kids are in the class...and the education and how striked they are/or not...how they discpline....location.....food.......sleeping arrangments........i ask to look at someones portfolio.......and i go and visit for a hour or so and watch the kids...if the kids are smiling...and if the teachers actually talk to you....then they are aproachable.........i have already taken my son out of one he was in for a year.......he came home saying he was naughty and asked why he was wearing nappies and i got...i been naughy .......among other things...i have him in a new one now........his speech has improved and he is singing songs now which he never did.......and h wants to go back...... ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: E&L+1
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 9:49am
My DD started daycare today 
My main consideration was how the teachers and children interacted. If the kids seemed happy then that was the most important thing. Then I looked at cleanliness, toys/activities, food, nappies etc ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: TysMummy
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 10:04am
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5mtns i feel for you...ty was nearly 2 ....thinking about starting mia when she is 1 but even im nervious at that age ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: E&L+1
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 2:40pm
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It's hard, but it's a matter of have to rather than want to. At least it's only 2 days a week. Hardest thing is that as I am relief teaching she will be there some days when I'm not working as I want to keep her in the routine of going. She'll just do a shorter day on those ones. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: bun_in_the_oven
Date Posted: 20 April 2010 at 4:40pm
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check out the ERO (Education Review Office) report.. all available online.
This will give you a lot of info - strengths of the centre, areas of improvement. Ask what the programme is... behaviour management policy... group size.. staff ratios.. fees... days the centre closes through the year... sickness policy - especially important for working parents, overall cleanliness, meals nutritional - provided or take your own, parent feedback and communication - newsletters, profile books on each child etc hope this helps 
You will get a feel for the centre.. if something doesnt feel right, dicuss it with the head teacher as soon as possible. |