Choosing a child care provider is a big decision. The following checklist is designed to assist you in evaluating the quality, care and educational programs offered by different providers. This checklist outlines valuable criteria which you can use to assess child care providers when you drop in at a centre to visit.
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| ENVIRONMENT |
YES |
NO |
| Pleasant, warm & inviting atmosphere |
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| Person conducting tour is knowledgeable of age-appropriate learning practices |
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| Person conducting tour acknowledges child if present |
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| Importance of communication is clear by presence of various communication tools to track children’s progress, educate parents on new procedures or announce upcoming events |
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| EDUCATIONAL SERVICES |
YES |
NO |
| Provides fun environment for learning |
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| Prepares children to meet or exceed kindergarten/school readiness standards |
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| Range of small/large/individual/group activities exist |
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| Children treated as individuals |
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| Children encouraged to explore and discover through their own ways |
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| Age-appropriate practices have been followed |
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| Daily outdoor play (weather permitting) |
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| Advanced curriculum planning and child assessment protocols |
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| Centre has areas for quiet play, dramatic play, problem solving, arts, music and reading |
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| Staff receive professional development and ongoing training |
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| Staff use educational resources (eg. curriculum guides, lesson-planning tools, child development resources |
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| Strong presence of age-appropriate children literature |
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| STAFF |
YES |
NO |
| Staff appear patient, loving, approachable and knowledgeable |
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| Staff to child ratios met |
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| Staff trained at required levels |
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| NUTRITION |
YES |
NO |
| Weekly menu posted and followed, with any changes noted |
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| Food for all children meets Canada’s Food Guide |
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| Staff sit with children during meals |
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| HEALTH & SAFETY |
YES |
NO |
| When you entered the building, were you greeted by staff |
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| Adult supervision at all times |
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| Hand-washing techniques followed by staff |
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| Medications, chemicals, etc are kept out of reach of children |
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| Separate diaper changing areas |
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| Current licenses and permits posted |
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| Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers |
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| Staff have First Aid qualifications |
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| Instant access to medical information and arrival/departure items |
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| Immunizations required |
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| No signs of needed repair or maintenance |
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