Signs of a good childcare centre

What do I need to look for in a childcare centre? 

Choosing a childcare centre for your child involves researching your neighbourhood, asking plenty of questions and being observant. Start your search as soon as you can; many childcare centre places are booked up months in advance, especially for babies. Use the following factors as a guide, although you may want to add your own criteria about what is important for you and your child. 

When you start your search, you should look for a childcare centre with: 

• A good reputation (word-of-mouth, registered with Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports) 
• Established ground rules and policies 
• A stimulating and structured environment 
• Curriculum guidance being followed 
• Qualified, caring staff 
• Clean, safe facilities 
• Current registration certificate 
• Key worker system in place 

Check out Child Care Link for a list of registered childcare centres across Singapore. 

How do I find out if a childcare centre has a good reputation? 

A good childcare centre should have a welcoming, friendly atmosphere and be known locally for its caring environment. When you visit the childcare centre, see if you can chat to one or two of the parents who are there to get a feel of the place through them. Your own first impressions are important too. What do you see? Is it clean, calm and, most importantly, do the children look happy and occupied? Whatever the childcare centre tells you, it's important to listen to your instincts. 

Talk to other parents and see if they have heard anything, either positive or negative, about a childcare centre that you are interested in. 

What sort of policies should I look out for? 

It is important for a childcare centre to be flexible, letting you pick up and drop off your child at different times, for example, but it should also have clearly established policies for everything from opening and closing times to dealing with emergencies. By checking that these procedures are in place, you can see that the childcare centre takes the responsibility of caring for your child seriously. 

Along the same lines, look for a childcare centre with a strict illness policy. Find out which illnesses will keep your child at home, and for how long. Although this may inconvenience you if your child is ill, keeping sick children (and staff) away from the childcare centre makes sense. Working parents are eligible for six days of child care leave, so you can take time off work to care for your little one who has taken ill. 

Most childcare centres have an open door policy and will encourage parents to drop in unannounced. However, in the light of epidemic of H1N1 flu and hand, foot and mouth disease, many have taken the precautions by having parents wait to collect their child at the reception area to minimise the spread of diseases. Nevertheless, childcare centres generally place high emphasis on parental involvement by inviting parents to lend a hand during activities or outings. Working parents will find this difficult to fit in on a regular basis, so you may want to apply for childcare leave on some of these occasions. 

What activities should I expect to find in the childcare centre? 

The best childcare centres have a structured curriculum that includes plenty of time for physical activity, play, quiet time (including daily storybook sessions for groups and individuals), group activities, individual activities, meals, snacks and free time. Television and videos should play little or no part in what your child does at childcare centre. If videos are part of the curriculum, make sure that they are age-appropriate and educational. A well thought out curriculum stimulates your child's development and introduces variety and interest, although of course your child will see all of this as different ways of playing! 

Remember that children learn through play, so look for somewhere that places a high value on children simply doing activities that they enjoy and having fun. Many childcare centres will keep parents informed about forthcoming topics so you can talk about them with your child at home. 

Look for a childcare centre with a wide range of age-appropriate toys that will encourage your child's development and, as she gets older, stimulate creative, imaginative play. Look at what is on the walls, too. It is important that there are plenty of drawings and paintings that the children have done themselves, showing that their creativity is valued. 

Finally, find out what the childcare centre serves at meal times and check whether they serve nutritious options to vegetarian children and those with food allergies or intolerances, or you have to bring food from home. 

What qualities should I look for in the staff? 

Look for staff members who share your views on sleep, discipline, feeding and other care issues. Good caregivers will ask detailed questions about your child's health and care to help determine whether their childcare centre is right for you. 
They should also make time to get to know you and your child quickly, talking to you at the end of the day, especially during the settling-in period. Make sure the childcare centre has plenty of staff so your child gets the attention and care that she needs. All staff members need to have or are undergoing a diploma in preschool teaching. 

Research has shown that the smaller the group, the better the care. The child to staff ratio should be: 

• 5:1 for under 18 months 
• 8:1 for 18 to 30 months 
• 12:1 for threes 
• 15:1 for fours 
• 25:1 for five to sixes 

Staff function at their best when they are valued by their employer. Look for a childcare centre with good staff benefits. Those that pay well and offer a good employment package are more likely to keep their best staff. Low staff turnover is one key to ensuring consistent, stable care for your child. 

Many childcare centres close for one or two days in a year for staff support and training. Although inconvenient in the short term, this is time well spent - showing that the staff are valued and up-to-date in their skills. If staff training isn't up to scratch, and they seem overworked and stressed, then the childcare centre is not for you. 

Do childcare centres have to follow health and safety regulations? 

All childcare centres are required to provide a safe environment for staff, children and visiting parents. Make sure that this is in evidence, for example, that all play equipment is safe and that fire drills take place regularly. Security must be a high priority. Check that children cannot leave the building without being noticed, and unauthorised persons cannot enter without valid reason. 

Prevention of dangerous situations is a must in a childcare centre setting. You should satisfy yourself that steps have been taken to minimise every risk. 

A good childcare centre is clean and sanitary. Floors, corridors, walls and the kitchen area must be spotless; rubbish bins should not be left sitting unemptied, and the building should be lit and ventilated. Staff must be aware of the importance of personal hygiene, and follow appropriate procedures. 

Is there anything else I should look out for? 

Look for a childcare centre that has an outdoor play area. Children should have the chance to play outside every day - running, jumping and skipping are good for them physically, mentally and socially. If you live in a built-up area, where even the best childcare centres may not have enough space for an outdoor playground, make sure there is a spacious indoor area and that the children are taken out regularly for visits to the local shops, park or playground. 

Do childcare centres need to be registered and inspected? 

They do, and the registration certificate is usually displayed prominently. If it is not immediately apparent, ask the manager if you can see it. All registered childcare centres in Singapore are regularly checked by officers from Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. 

.