Touring a Childcare Centre? Here Are 10 Questions to Ask First

Choosing a childcare centre is a significant decision. Beyond finding a convenient location or a centre with beautiful facilities, you want to understand who will be caring for your child, how they will be supported to learn and develop, how their safety is managed and what their everyday experience will actually look like. A childcare tour is your opportunity to look beyond the website and ask those questions in person. Whether you think of them as childcare tour questions or daycare questions, the goal is  gather enough information to confidently decide whether a centre is the right fit for your child and family. The best questions to ask childcare providers explore more than fees and opening hours. They should help you understand the centre's values, educators, learning approach, safety practices, communication, daily routine and how children are supported as individuals. Here are 10 important questions to ask when choosing a childcare centre.

1. What Are Your Core Values?

Your child may spend a significant part of their week at their early learning centre, so it is worth understanding the values that guide the service. Rather than simply asking what the centre's values are, ask how they show up in everyday practice. For example:

• How are children encouraged to express their ideas and opinions?
• How does the centre promote inclusion and respect?
• How are families involved in the centre community?

Values should be visible in the way educators interact with children and families, not simply written on a wall. At Young Academics, family is one of our core values and underpins our approach to creating nurturing, supportive early learning environments where children can feel a strong sense of belonging.

2. What Is Your Approach to Learning?

Understanding how a centre approaches learning is one of the most important parts of choosing childcare. Quality early childhood education should recognise that young children learn through active participation, relationships, exploration and play. Ask how educators plan learning experiences and how children's interests influence the program. Useful questions include:

• Is learning play-based?
• How do educators extend children's interests?
• How are literacy and numeracy introduced?
• How much time do children spend indoors and outdoors?

A quality learning environment should be engaging without looking like a miniature primary school classroom. Young children need opportunities to learn concepts in meaningful, developmentally appropriate ways.

3. How Do You Communicate With Parents?

Good communication between families and educators is an important part of quality early childhood education. Ask how the centre communicates both everyday information and more significant updates. For example:

• Is there an app for daily updates?
• Will I receive information about meals, sleep and routines?
• How is my child's learning documented?
• How do educators share developmental progress?
• Who should I speak to if I have a question or concern?
• How are incidents or injuries communicated?
• How can families contribute information about their child's interests or development?

Communication should also work both ways. Educators benefit from understanding what is happening in a child's life outside the centre, while families should feel comfortable asking questions and contributing to decisions about their child's learning and wellbeing.

4. How Do You Encourage Individual Growth?

All children are different, even children of the same age can have completely different interests, strengths, personalities and developmental goals. Ask how educators get to know your child as an individual. You might ask:

• How are individual learning goals created?
• Are families involved in goal planning?
• How is progress documented?
• What happens if an educator identifies an area where a child may benefit from additional support?

Look for an approach that balances planned educational experiences with opportunities for children to follow their own curiosity. At Young Academics, educators regularly observe and document children's learning, interests and development. These observations help inform individual goals and meaningful next steps, while families are invited to contribute to the goal-setting process.

5. What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

This is one of the simplest questions to ask childcare, but it can tell you a great deal about what your child's experience will actually be like. Ask the centre to walk you through a typical day. Find out about:

• arrival and morning routines
• indoor and outdoor play
• planned learning experiences
• meals and snacks
• group experiences
• sleep and rest
• nappy changes or toileting
• transitions between activities
• quiet periods
• departure routines.

Young children benefit from predictable routines because they help create familiarity and security. However, a quality early learning program should also have flexibility. If children become deeply engaged in building a construction, investigating something outdoors or discussing a new idea, there should be opportunities for educators to follow that learning rather than stopping simply because the clock says it is time for something else. You can also ask how the daily routine changes for different age groups. The day of a six-month-old should naturally look very different from the day of a four-year-old preparing for school.

6. What Do I Need to Pack for My Child?

This is one of the more practical questions to ask at a daycare or childcare centre, particularly if this will be your family's first experience with early learning. Ask exactly what is provided and what your family will need to bring. Depending on the service, this may include:

• spare clothing
• a sun-safe hat
• drink bottle
• comfort item
• bedding
• nappies
• bottles or formula
• meals or snacks.

It is also worth asking whether meals, nappies, sunscreen and educational experiences are included costs. At Young Academics, all meals, snacks, nappies and wipes are included in the daily fees. Knowing this before enrolment helps you compare centres more accurately and makes preparing for your child's first day significantly easier.

7. How Do You Help Children Settle In?

Starting childcare is a major transition. Some children begin exploring almost immediately. Others need more time to become familiar with new educators, routines and environments. Ask how the centre approaches settling into childcare and whether orientation sessions are offered before regular attendance begins. Useful questions include:

• Can we visit before my child's first day?
• How will educators learn about my child's routine?
• How will you communicate with me during the settling-in period?
• How do you approach separation anxiety?

Look for a centre that recognises settling in as a partnership between children, educators and families rather than expecting every child to adjust according to the same timeline. Secure relationships with familiar educators help children develop the confidence to explore, participate and gradually build a sense of belonging.

8. What Qualifications Should Educators Have?

Parents are entitled to ask about the qualifications and experience of the people caring for their child. In NSW centre-based early childhood services caring for children preschool age and under, minimum qualification requirements apply under the National Quality Framework. At least 50% of the educators required to meet educator-to-child ratios must hold, or be actively working towards, an approved diploma-level education and care qualification or higher. The remaining educators counted towards the required ratios must generally hold, or be actively working towards, at least an approved Certificate III-level education and care qualification. Centre-based services must also meet requirements relating to access to or attendance of an Early Childhood Teacher (ECT). In NSW, the requirements increase according to the number of preschool-age children being educated and cared for at the service. When touring, ask:

• What qualifications do the educators in my child's age group hold?
• Are there Early Childhood Teachers at the centre?
• What child protection and safety training is completed?

Qualifications are important, but so is the way educators use their knowledge. Take time to observe how educators communicate with children. Look for warm, responsive interactions and educators who appear genuinely engaged in children's play, learning and wellbeing.

9. What Are the Educator-to-Child Ratios and Safety Measures?

When it comes to your child’s safety, asking all the questions necessary to put your mind at ease is key. In NSW centre-based early childhood education and care, the current minimum ratios are:

Age of children	NSW minimum educator-to-child ratio
Birth to 24 months	1 educator : 4 children
Over 24 months and under 36 months	1 educator : 5 children
36 months to preschool age	1 educator : 10 children
Over preschool age	1 educator : 15 children

NSW legislation separately requires children to be adequately supervised at all times. Supervision should take into account factors including the children's ages and abilities, the activity taking place, the environment and where educators are positioned. During your childcare tour, ask:

• How do you actively supervise children indoors and outdoors?
• How are blind spots managed?
• How is access to the centre controlled?
• How do you manage authorised collection?

Safety should be evident in both the centre's systems and its everyday practice. What Ratios and Qualifications Am I Legally Entitled To Expect? For NSW families, it helps to understand the minimum requirements before walking into a childcare tour. NSW educator-to-child ratios For centre-based services, Regulation 123 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations, together with the NSW-specific Regulation 271, establishes the minimum ratios. For children under school age, this means:

• Birth to 24 months: 1 educator for every 4 children
• Over 24 months to under 36 months: 1 educator for every 5 children
• 36 months to preschool age: 1 educator for every 10 children in NSW.

These ratios must be maintained while the service is operating, and only educators working directly with children can generally be counted towards them. One point that can be confusing for parents is that ratios are generally calculated across the whole service, rather than being fixed separately to every individual room. Services still need to maintain the required numbers for the ages of children present and provide adequate supervision at all times. NSW educator qualification requirements For centre-based services caring for children preschool age and under:

• at least 50% of educators required for ratio purposes must hold or be actively working towards an approved Diploma-level qualification or higher
• the remaining educators counted towards ratios must generally hold or be actively working towards an approved Certificate III-level qualification
• services must also meet Early Childhood Teacher requirements according to the number of preschool-age children in attendance.

In NSW, Regulation 272 sets additional ECT attendance requirements for services with 25 or more children preschool age or under. For example, one ECT must be in attendance for specified periods where 25–29 preschool-age children are present, while the required number increases as the number of children increases. A centre should be comfortable explaining how its team meets these requirements.

10. How Do You Prepare My Child for School?

School may still feel a long way away, but the foundations for children's eventual transition begin throughout the early years. School readiness is not simply about whether a child can write their name, recognise letters or count. Ask how the centre supports children's:

• confidence
• independence
• communication
• social skills
• emotional regulation
• problem-solving
• resilience
• early literacy and numeracy
• ability to participate in routines and groups.

For preschool-aged children, ask whether there is a dedicated transition-to-school approach and how families are kept informed about children's progress. Finding a childcare centre that helps them with transition to school should be one of your top priorities. At Young Academics, our Transition to School Program for children aged 3–5 supports children's social, emotional, physical and cognitive development while building the confidence and independence they will need as they move towards Kindergarten. What to Do After the Tour: Comparing Your Notes Once you have toured several centres, it is surprisingly easy for them to begin blending together. Before visiting, create a simple notes page for each centre. Then spend five minutes completing it immediately after your tour while the experience is still fresh. Rather than judging a centre on one impressive feature, compare it across the areas that will affect your child's experience every day. Consider rating each centre on: Educator relationships: Did educators appear warm, attentive and engaged? Did children seem comfortable approaching them? Safety and supervision: Could the centre clearly explain its ratios, supervision practices, access security and child-safety procedures? Learning and development: Did you see meaningful opportunities for play, exploration, creativity, physical development, communication and problem-solving? Individualised care: Could the team clearly explain how your child's routines, interests and developmental goals would be understood and supported? Communication: Did you understand how you would receive everyday information and developmental updates? Practical fit: Do the location, operating hours, available days, fees and inclusions work for your family? Overall feeling: Could you genuinely imagine your child feeling safe, comfortable and included there? No centre needs to look identical to another, but you should feel confident about the fundamentals: relationships, safety, quality education, communication and whether the service understands your child as an individual.

Childcare FAQ: Common Questions About Choosing a Childcare Centre

What questions should I ask when touring a childcare centre? Important childcare tour questions include asking about educator qualifications, educator-to-child ratios, supervision, child safety, learning programs, daily routines, communication with families, meals, settling-in processes and how the service supports individual development. You should also ask about fees, inclusions, opening hours and availability before making your decision What should I look for when choosing a childcare centre? When choosing a childcare centre, look beyond the building and facilities. Observe how educators interact with children, whether children appear comfortable approaching them, how learning environments are used, how actively children are supervised and whether the centre communicates openly with families. What are the educator-to-child ratios in NSW childcare? For NSW centre-based childcare, the minimum ratios are 1 educator to 4 children from birth to 24 months, 1 educator to 5 children over 24 months and under 36 months, and 1 educator to 10 children from 36 months to preschool age. Ratios are minimum legal requirements and adequate supervision must also be maintained at all times. What qualifications should childcare educators have in NSW? For centre-based services caring for children preschool age and under, at least 50% of educators required to meet ratios must hold or be actively working towards an approved Diploma-level qualification or higher. Other educators counted in ratios must generally hold or be working towards at least an approved Certificate III qualification. Services must also meet Early Childhood Teacher requirements. How can I tell if a childcare centre is safe? Ask about active supervision, access security, authorised collection, Working With Children Checks, child protection training, recruitment, first aid, risk management and how concerns are reported. During your tour, also observe whether educators remain aware of children’s movements and whether the environment supports clear supervision. Meeting minimum ratios alone does not remove the requirement for adequate supervision. How many childcare centres should I tour? There is no set number. Some families feel confident after visiting one centre, while others prefer to compare several. Tour enough services to understand your options and feel confident that your preferred centre meets your priorities around safety, relationships, learning, location, communication and practical requirements. What should I do after a childcare tour? Write down your impressions as soon as possible and compare centres against the same criteria. Consider educator relationships, safety and supervision, educational programs, communication, individualised care and practical factors. If you have unanswered questions, contact the centre before making your final decision. How do I know if a childcare centre is right for my child? There is no single feature that determines the right childcare centre. Look for a service where your child can build secure relationships, be supported as an individual, participate in meaningful learning and feel safe and included. You should also feel comfortable communicating openly with the educators and leadership team.

Explore Young Academics Childcare Centres

At Young Academics, we believe choosing childcare should leave families feeling informed and confident about the decision they are making. Our early learning centres provide nurturing environments supported by qualified educators, purposeful educational programs and an organisation-wide commitment to child safety. If you are currently comparing childcare centres, book a tour at your nearest Young Academics centre. Bring your questions, explore the environments and speak directly with our team about your child's individual needs, routines and learning journey.