Questions you could ask
General
- Do you offer free childcare and early education places for two, three and four-year-olds, including 30 hours?
- What are your opening hours and holiday dates?
- What happens if my child arrives late?
- Do you accept same-day bookings? If so, is there a cut-off time and additional charges?
- How many children do you look after at any one time?
- Can children move freely around the setting?
- What is the adult-to-child ratio?
- Can children choose their own activities?
- How will you keep me informed about my child's progress?
- What qualifications and experience do your staff have?
- How will my child’s individual needs be met?
- How does the key person system work in this setting?
- What is your ethos and your aspiration for children that attend?
- What can I do to support my child's development and learning?
- How will you know about and respond to my child's interests?
Children with additional needs
- Who is the special education needs coordinator (SENCO)?
- Is it possible to meet the SENCO today?
- How will I be able to meet or talk to the SENCO?
- Could I have a copy of the special educational needs policy?
- Are there other children with similar needs at the setting?
- Is it possible to have extra staff to support my child?
- Will staff be trained to meet my child’s needs?
- Is the building accessible, with wheelchair access, wide doors, ramps and toilets?
- How will my child’s diet be catered for?
- How will my child be helped to settle in?
- Will you ensure that there is appropriate equipment to meet my child’s needs?
Costs
- Do you require a deposit?
- What are the hourly, sessional or daily rates?
- What are the costs if my child is taken out of provision for a holiday?
- How do I pay – cash, direct debit or cheque?
- Do you accept childcare vouchers?
- Do you take payment in advance and how often? Weekly, monthly, half-termly or termly?
Welfare
- What happens if my child is ill or can’t attend?
- What menus or meals are offered? Is there a choice?
- Is water readily available? What about snacks?
- What are the emergency procedures?
- Do you have a settling in process for new children?
- Is there a place for children to rest or be calm?
You can ask them what their policies are on:
- health and safety
- safeguarding, including child protection
- equalities, including special educational needs and disabilities
- complaints
- behaviour management
- administering medicines - are staff happy to be shown how to give my child their medicine? Do they have the relevant insurance?
- responding to specific health needs
- risk assessments.