Questions to Ask on a Childcare Tour
A centre visit is your best opportunity to assess whether a service is right for your child. Use these questions to make the most of your time.
Touring a childcare centre can feel overwhelming. Focus your questions on what matters most for your family's situation. This list is ordered from most commonly important to more specific concerns.
Fees and enrolment
- What is the full daily fee for my child's age group?
- Are there any additional fees — enrolment, incursions, nappies, meals?
- Do you charge on public holidays?
- What is the late pickup policy and fee?
- Is there currently a vacancy for my child's age and required days?
- What does the enrolment process look like, and how long does it take?
- How long is the waitlist? Can we go on it today?
Educators and staffing
- What are the educator-to-child ratios for my child's age group?
- What qualifications do educators in this room hold?
- How long have the current educators been here?
- What happens when an educator is sick — do you bring in casual staff?
- Who would be my child's primary educator day-to-day?
Daily routine and program
- Can you walk me through a typical day for this age group?
- How do you balance structured learning with free play?
- How much time do children spend outdoors each day?
- Do you provide a preschool or pre-kindy program for older children?
Sleep and settling
- How do you settle children who are new or anxious?
- What is your sleep policy? Do you follow the Safe Sleep guidelines?
- Does each child have their own cot or sleep space?
- Can I call to check on my child during the settling period?
Food and allergies
- What meals and snacks are provided, and when?
- Can I see a sample menu?
- How do you manage food allergies and anaphylaxis plans?
- Are there restrictions I should know about — e.g., no nut policies?
Safety and incidents
- What is your procedure when a child has an accident or incident?
- Who is authorised to collect my child? How do you verify identity?
- What is your sick-child policy?
- How is the building secured during operating hours?
Communication with parents
- How do you communicate daily updates — app, diary or verbal handover?
- What is the best way to raise a concern or complaint?
- How are parents involved in the program?
NQS rating and compliance
- What is your current NQS quality rating?
- When was your last assessment and were there any areas for improvement?
- Are you currently operating under any improvement notices?