It is always a good idea to think about and compile a list of questions for a childminder before you visit them. The sorts of things you want to find out from a childminder, about the care that they will provide for your child, will depend very much on your child’s and your own needs, so they could be different for each parent. However, here are some of the types of things you might want to think about when drawing up a list of questions.
- Are you registered and can I see your registration certificate?
- How many children do you look after, what ages are they and from what backgrounds? (This may be important to you if, for example, you want your child to mix with children from the same cultural or ethnic background.)
- Who else would be present in the house while you were looking after my child?
- How much do you charge?
- How regularly do you ask for payment, monthly or weekly, for example?
- Do you accept childcare vouchers, or direct payments from my employer?
- Do you provide care outside the normal working hours, in the evenings or at weekends, for example?
- Do you offer a ‘settling in’ period, whereby we agree a set length of time, during which we can assess whether the childcare arrangements are working for my child/me/you, and if appropriate, end them without the normal notice period?
- Do you charge the full fee if my child does not attend because they are sick or on holiday?
- Do you charge a reduced fee if you are sick or on holiday?
- Do you charge a retainer fee or a deposit?
- Do you provide any activities for the children?
- Where can my child sleep or rest?
- Do you have any pets?
- Do you have a garden or access to a open space nearby?
- How will you keep me informed of my child's progress?
- What are your policies on discipline and how do you manage children's behaviour?
- Do you provide meals, snacks, nappies etc or will I need to provide them?
- Do you pick children up from school?
- How will you contact me in an emergency?
- Can I have contact details for parents whose children you look after, so that I can obtain references?
There are lots of other questions you may think of once you have read through these ones. Remember, don’t be afraid to ask! A good childminder should be happy to answer any relevant questions you have about the care of your child.
For more information, go to www.daycaretrust.org.uk
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