5 things to consider and ask when choosing child care

I remember when I was returning to work after my daughter was born and the emotional roller coaster I went through in finding an early childhood centre. I had so much mum-guilt in needing to put her into childcare that I cried for days.

At that stage, I was not even a police officer, I was just needing to return to work because we couldn’t afford to live on one income. Thus began the search for a safe and well managed centre.

For most parents today, it is nearly impossible to survive financially without the assistance of some form of paid childcare, to allow parents to return to work in some capacity. Early Childhood Education, Child Care, Day Care or whatever they are called in your area, is essential to a lot of families and for some children, it is the best places for them to be.

However, our early childhood sector is struggling with various challenges from staffing shortages, lack of experienced staff and training, low wages, increases in reported abuse cases by workers and a lot of fear from parents around child safety not being a priority and that centre management are prioritising profit over care for children.

Right now, at the time of writing this blog, child safety in the early childhood sector is a controversial topic. The need for families to rely on childcare is in high demand, but finding the right centre is becoming a real stressor for many parents.

I would like to remain optimistic and positive that for the most part, most early childhood management and teams are doing their absolute best to ensure they provide the greatest care to the children in their centres, however we can certainly ask questions of these centres to ensure that they are also being held accountable for the services they provide.

Here are some questions to ask any centre you are considering for your child:

1. Child Protection and Abuse Prevention Policies and Strategies

• What policies are in place to prevent and identify child abuse or neglect?
  This might include screening for signs of abuse and training for staff to respond appropriately if they suspect abuse.
• How are children safeguarded from inappropriate behaviour or physical punishment?
  This question allows you to understand their discipline policy and how they handle any inappropriate staff conduct or report of child abuse by staff.
• What is the policy on physical contact between staff and children?
  Do they have clear guidelines on appropriate contact to help ensure a safe environment and professional boundaries are always maintained.
• Does the centre have a Body Safety Education curriculum?
  Do they include Body Safety lessons and curriculum, to educate children on body safety rules and practices within the centre. Body Safety is an essential skill to empower children which will assist educators and parents, and I would personally choose a centre that does include body safety in their curriculum over one that doesn’t.

2. Monitoring and Accountability

• Are there policies for monitoring classrooms, such as cameras or regular supervisory visits?
  Cameras would be my recommendation if choosing between a centre with or without. There should be transparency and consistency in the types of monitoring systems or visits from supervisors used, as this can help deter inappropriate behaviour.
• What measures are in place to ensure staff accountability and behaviour?
  This might include frequent evaluations, anonymous reporting for staff and parents about identified staff behaviours, and a culture of open communication within the centre.

3. Protocols for Limiting One-on-One Situations

• What protocols exist to limit one-on-one situations between a staff member and a child?
  Daycares should have policies that reduce unsupervised, one-on-one interactions, especially in secluded areas, for everyone’s safety.
• If one-on-one time is necessary, how is it monitored?
  This can include having other staff nearby, clear sightlines, or open-door policies to ensure accountability.

4. Policies on Social Media and Technology Use by Staff

• What are the rules around staff using personal devices or social media in the classroom?
  This protects children’s privacy and minimises the risk of inappropriate sharing of photos or information. As we have seen in recent years, access to a personal device has increased the risks to children being abused and therefore I would choose a centre with a strong policy around personal devices.
• Are there rules about taking and sharing photos of children?
  Ensure there is a strict photo policy so that photos are only used with parental consent and never shared outside authorised purposes.

5. Incident Reporting for Staff Conduct

• How are reports of inappropriate staff behaviour investigated and handled?
  Ask if there is a clear protocol for investigating concerns raised by parents, staff, or children.
• What is the protocol for notifying parents if there is an incident involving staff misconduct?
  Transparency is key, it is important for parents to know how they will be informed and involved if any incident arises.

As mentioned, MANY centres are doing everything they possibly can to keep our kids safe whilst in their care, however, there are a few key differences in the ones who do it well, versus the ones who do it to the bare minimum standards.

In choosing a centre, be confident that if they have the correct policies, procedures and standards in place, they show a willingness to discuss the things they are lacking and working on and overall reviews of the centre are positive, you are well on your way to finding a centre that is trying its hardest to keep your kids safe.

Don’t be afraid to question those policies and how they have been used and tested by management to keep them on their toes, ask to see copies of them if to ensure you understand them and it’s never a bad idea to ask for updates on their ongoing staff education, training and screening processes as well.

I mean we are talking about little, vulnerable children being in their care for long periods of time, therefore the standard provided by a childcare centre needs to be of highest calibre. And you the paying parent, have a right to know all of what they are doing to keep your kids safe!

Don’t settle for second rate care of your children. They deserve the best.

If you want to know more about Body Safety education, check out my Conversations with Kids TM, ‘Body Safety’ series for age-appropriate conversation starters and lessons for your children to keep them safe and empowered. https://www.cape-au.com/conversations-with-kids-body-safety

Kristi x