"Deciding on a child care service? Here's exactly how to know if it's the right fit."

I could write a long and exhaustive list of all the ways in which I was ill-prepared when I became a parent.        

The early indications were there: packing a hair straightener into my hospital bag when I went to have my baby and then six weeks later on our first outing, actually forgetting to pack nappies in the aptly named nappy bag just a few examples of my misguided ways.   

Working in recruitment I spend a lot of my time talking to women who are preparing to return to work after parental leave and we all agree that it elicits all kinds of anxiety, fears and tricky emotions. 

But feelings aside, it is the coordination and planning, particularly around childcare that prompt the most discussions and the most confusion and angst.

The decision surrounding what type of childcare is important, there’s plenty to consider, and it can feel overwhelming. And it is just another thing to add to the mental load that new parents are managing in those hazy first few years. 

Thankfully, StartingBlocks.gov.au is the one stop, go-to Government resource, designed to unravel the confusion. Created by the Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), it helps make the childcare decision far easier than it is to decipher a baby’s nap schedule.

When I returned to work and was tossing up the childcare options, I didn’t realise it at the time just how significant quality early learning would be to my child’s development and wellbeing. 

The professionals working in these services are delivering quality education and care, and they really don't get enough respect and credit.

Here I was thinking that it would be finger painting, glitter, glue and songs about fruit salad.

What children experience in those early years is significant and early learning plays a huge role in a child’s development. 

Behind those colourful yet indistinguishable finger paintings that you collect at the end of each day are programs that are planned to encourage your child’s physical, cognitive, emotional and language skills.

Image: Supplied.

StartingBlocks.gov.au has loads of information to help families find the right early childhood education and care, as well as having lots of tips on helping children settle into a new learning environment. 

After I returned to work from my own parental leave, I wasn’t prepared for the tears in those early few weeks, and those tears weren’t just those of my child.

Image: Supplied.

In hindsight I should have spent more time preparing for ‘drop off’ than what I was going to wear on my first day back at work. Fortunately StartingBlocks.gov.au has the practical information you need, as well as the guidance you don’t realise you need when taking your first steps into the world of early childhood education and care.

What is helpful when choosing an education and care service is knowing that the National Quality Framework (NQF) exists. This provides a national approach to regulation, assessment and quality improvement for not only early childhood education but also for outside school hours care services. 

Under the NQF, there are seven quality areas, and each service is given an overall quality rating (there are five quality ratings, from Significant Improvement Required right through to Excellent).

The seven quality areas are education program and practice, children’s health and safety, physical environment, staffing arrangements, relationships with children, collaborative partnerships and communities, and governance and leadership.

You can search for early learning services on StartingBlocks.gov.au, look at their quality ratings and compare services using the Find Child Care tool.

It’s hard to know where to start when finding the right education and service for your child and family, but the NQF and NQS make it so much easier to navigate the decision. 

Knowing that the access to quality early learning is so important for your child helps you understand why you need to ask the right questions. 

StartingBlocks.gov.au also offers information about children’s development in the early years. There are some helpful tips on activities that can be done at home as well as some useful information around screen time and online safety. 

For parents of school-aged children you can also check out before and after-school care programs and vacation care programs. These can be immensely helpful during school holidays.

Enrolling your child in an education and care service is a personal choice and one that has to work in with your lifestyle, which is why working out what is essential to you (and having a checklist you can refer to) helps when you are researching the different options and talking to these services. Incredibly helpful in giving peace of mind, too.

From one parent to another, here are a few of my tips for choosing the right education and care service for your child and family.

Research, research, research.

This is what is so great about StartingBlocks.gov.au too, because all of the information is in this one spot. It is such a simple yet comprehensive resource.

You can search for services in your area and compare them to create your own shortlist before starting to contact them directly.

I thought the Tip For Parents page was really handy to use too, with great downloadables and suggested resources for parents.

Visit the services in person, and ask loads of questions.

As the parent of a fussy eater, I had lots of questions when choosing a service for him around food and nutrition, which was important to me. But other questions you might consider include: 

• What is the ratio of staff to children?
• What is the process for drop off and pick up? 
• Will I be charged fees for public holidays or when my child is not there?
• What curriculum is followed, and what kind of learning opportunities will my child have?
• Has the service been quality rated, and if so, what is the service’s rating?

(Here's StartingBlocks.gov.au's list of questions to ask if that also helps prompt!)

I also wanted to know how I would be kept up to date with my child’s progress, and what the communication process would be like. As the parent to an ‘only’ child, I was really interested to find out how my child’s social skills will be developed. 

Talk to friends, and ask for all the recommendations.

Recommendations can be really helpful. Talk to family and friends and find out about their experiences. They know you and your child, and they may have some helpful insights.

Get involved locally where you can.

It’s a juggle but so worth it. 

Where you are able to, get involved in the community, attend any social and fund-raising events, pitch in at the working bees. 

I will always remember my son’s first Kindergarten Concert and we still stay connected with families we met during our early childcare days.

Image: Supplied.

Every child is different, and every family will have diverse needs, but one thing remains and that is the importance of access to quality early education for children.

The search for an education and care service can feel challenging, but knowing where to get the right information can take away so much of the confusion and make the decision process effortless. It gives you assurance that you have made the right choice for your family. 

StartingBlocks.gov.au can help your first step into early childhood education and care. Whether your child is already in a service or you’re still deciding whether to enrol, the Find Child Care tool can help you get started.

Find StartingBlocks.gov.au's checklist on how to spot quality on your first visit to a children’s education and care service.

Feature Image: Supplied.