Child care in Greensborough area

[Cilli]

Hi
I'm a new mum of a 3 month old boy and have had to start thinking about childcare options for July when I go back to work 2 days a week.
Does anyone know any good childcare centres around the Greensborough or surrounding areas?
Also, can anyone give advice on what to look for when you visit a childcare centre? I have an appointment in a few days
Thanks!:)

[Chickadee]

Hi Cilli,

I've just started Chloe at [please pm me for name]. That might be a bit far for you. I had a bad experience at another in the area and wrote about it here in another thread (http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=8955). That might give you some ideas of what to look for when you're checking out daycares. What I would look for in a daycare would depend a bit on the child's age, babies need slightly different and more flexible care than kinder kids for example.

The National Childcare Accreditation Council gives some helpful tips on choosing a daycare: NCAC Choosing Quality Care (http://www.ncac.gov.au/help_for_families/choosing_quality_care.html)

This is not an exhaustive list, but what I now look for in daycare is:

- Licenced facility by the state and accredited by the NCAC. And check the licence for any exemptions.
- Clean facilities, clean toys, not broken
- Toys should be changed out regularly so kids don't get bored
- Individual development programs.
- Good communication with parents. At my daycare each child has a book in which staff write down daily what that child did and any problems. That book comes home in her bag for us to read, and we can also note down any concerns or problems at home that the staff should be aware of, such as that she didn't sleep well & may be tired. The early morning drop off time can be quite hectic so relying on verbal communication can be a bit iffy.
- Ask about what happens during holidays. I got caught on this and discovered that relatively untrained temp staff were used, there was poor supervision, staff ratios went to h*ll, and the menu was deficient. Every day that your child is there needs to be a quality day.

And most importantly sometimes: Happy (& trained) staff who actually interact with the children in a positive way.