Hi Tan
I am guessing you are asking about child care centres?
the types of questions i ask are:
Child/Staff ratios (these are legislated but some centres are better than the requirements)
Routines in the room my child wilbe in
Programming - what activities they do, how they plan them etc
Food policy - bring own or provided
Nappies - bring own or provided
Look at sleeping area
Look at toilet/changing area
What parental involvement there is
Staff turnover (can be high due to low wages etc)
Commujication with parents
At a centre all staff will have background checks etc, you can ask about this but if they are a registred centre this would be covered
At child care centres you will find they def playw ith the kids and do educational activities - it isnt 'babysitting'. the best way ti guage this is to spend some time there and watch how it is to make sure you are happy.
No centre I have ever gone to has guns etc - but worth asking/watching
in terms of 'gentle philospohies' this will depend on the cntre - depending in your childs age diff things may be available - community based centres, montessori etc
It is worth spending time at a centre to see hwo comfortable you would be with it - i think thisis better than having a checklist - your gut feeling and being around the staff and seeing how they interact with the kids
Also good to talk to some parents there - so go at drop off o pick up time

Fam Day Care - some similar things but also more detail when you meet with the carer as each carer will have their own methods.. the one we used for DS1 when he was younger was fine fpr example to rock him to sleep but others that i met would have left him in a cot til he 'self settled' - evenw hen i told him he didnt do this!

Most centres and FDC will have a waitlist