It’s an episode of Four Corners every single mother with a child in childcare is unlikely to forget in a hurry. Last week, the ABC current affairs program revealed its investigation had exposed that some centres are cutting corners, hiring unqualified staff and delivering sub-standard quality of care.
The program listed lack of regulation, a focus on profits, and staff shortages as some of the reasons for the decline in care, and while there’s not a lot we can do about regulation and staffing, if you’re worried or anxious about your childcare facility, here’s some questions to ask which might put your mind at ease and help you make informed decisions.
1. What type of childcare are you using?
Is it for-profit or not-for-profit? Not-for-profit centres and owner-operated centres can to be lower risk for the simple reason that they don’t focus on generating profits for investors and can be less likely to cut corners.
2. What are the staff-to-child ratios?
What Four Corners reporting showed was that the more educators per child, the safer the environment. More staff can mean better supervision and care, as well as more attention paid to your child.
3. Are the staff qualified?
Higher qualifications are generally an indicator of higher-quality care, with university-educated or diploma-qualified educators thought to provide better early education.
4. What’s your gut telling you?
Mother’s intuition isn’t make believe. Often when we feel like something is a little off, it’s because we’ve noticed little signals. Trust your instincts.
5. It looks fancy, so it must be good, right?
Nope. Companies spend a lot of cash on branding, but it’s no guarantee of quality of care. Pay more attention to the vibe, and connections between staff and kids.
6. What is your child telling you?
Listen to your child as they recount their experiences and feelings. Kids, like adults, sometimes have bad days, but if they are unhappy, fearful or anxious, find out why.
It’s important to remember that while Four Corners revealed some deeply disturbing instances of abuse and negligence, the vast majority of childcare centres in Australia are safe and fun places for kids to learn and grow. Knowledge is the key to finding the best childcare centre for your child, so always ask questions and always raise concerns when you have them.
