What should I ask when I
first phone?
You may have just one person to phone or a very long list of them.
Your aim will be the same: to find if they can provide the sort of
care that your child deserves and that meets your needs. The key
points are:
- Tell them that Suffolk Families Information Service has
given you their number
- Explain what childcare you are looking for. Include any
information that is relevant, such as your need for evening
childcare or that you finish work at unpredictable hours or that
you are looking for long-term childcare
- If you want
early education for your child ask if they provide this
- Ask them if they have a vacancy to meet your need.
If they have a suitable vacancy you need to check out the
quality and the cost of their service. Explain that you want ask a
few questions. Ask:
- If they are registered and inspected by Ofsted
- What they charge per week to meet your needs. They might charge
per hour, per half-day, per day, per week, per month or even per
term. You will need to convert this to a weekly charge to compare
it with others
- About their experience and qualifications and those of the rest
of the staff if it's a group setting
- If they can provide free educational sessions if your child is
four years old.
- What sort of things your child will do while in their care
- If they can provide references
- If they can send you a prospectus (though childminders and
nannies will rarely have one)
Do first impressions count?
Don't expect to get a lot of really useful information at this
stage, though. After checking that they can meet your needs, the
most useful thing that you are doing is sounding them out. Good
quality childcare providers will be happy to have you ask these
questions. They will appear knowledgeable, confident and -above all
- welcoming. After speaking to them considering the following:
- Are they enthusiastic and will they offer a broad range of play
and learning experiences?
- Do you have confidence in their ability to care for and relate
to your child?
- Do you think that you and your child will get on well with
them?
It helps to talk through your first impressions with someone
else.