Questions for Daycare Tours

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General Information:

  • What are the center's hours of operation?
  • Do you offer part-time care options?
  • What’s the drop-off and pick-up window, and is there a formal late policy? Some daycares charge per minute late.
  • Is there a parent portal? If so, can I connect with teachers and other parents? If not, how do parents communicate with the center?
  • Do you have other parent participation events/practices for community building?
  • Are you accredited through NAEYC?

Tuition: 

  • What’s the cost of tuition? Is it paid weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly?
  • Do you offer a discount if paid in full (per semester/quarter)?
  • Are meals and snacks included in tuition? If so, how many meals and snacks does each child get?
  • Are diapers provided, or do we need to supply our own?
  • Are there any additional supplies we’ll need? (Examples: sunblock, bug spray, etc.)
  • Do you offer sibling discounts?
  • If we qualify for a government subsidy, can we use this towards tuition?
  • Is there financial aid available, if needed?

Philosophy and Policies:

  • What is the center’s care philosophy?
  • How is discipline handled?
  • What is the center’s sick policy? 
  • Can staff administer medications, if needed? 
  • Which vaccinations are required?
  • Do any families at the daycare opt out of vaccinating their children?
  • What are the center's policies for potty training?

Classroom Setting:

  • What is the child to teacher ratio in each classroom? Has this changed due to COVID-19? If so, will this likely change back post-COVID?
  • How many staff members does the daycare have?
  • What is the staff turnover rate? 
  • Are there daily schedules for each classroom?
  • What is the classroom curriculum?
  • Do the children take naps throughout the day?
  • Is there a nap room with cribs, or do they put out cots or mats?
  • When do most children move up classrooms?
  • Is there an outdoor space? How often do the children get outdoor play each day?
  • For infants, do parents receive a report on feeding/diaper schedules for each day?
  • Are wipes/diapers shared/divided or separated?
  • Should everything my child brings be labeled?
  • For infants, do parents get a daily report on their meals, diapering, and rest periods?

Preventative Safety:

  • How are food allergies handled?
  • Are all teachers and staff CPR/First Aid certified?

Safety + COVID-19:

  • How often is the classroom thoroughly cleaned?
  • How does each classroom sanitize?
  • What policies are in place for maintaining the health and safety of each child and family during COVID-19?

Calendar:

  • Are there frequent closures or non-traditional holiday closings? Can we get a copy of the annual calendar?