I would look into Family Day Care... I use it for DS, and it is a home based carer, in her home, but overseen but a council run organisation. The carer and all adults in her home are background checked and monitored by the FDC organisation. My carer has been doing this for 20 years, and came highly recommended.

She can have a max of 5 children and they range from 6m to 5y. However, once they hit 3 it is suggested that they attend pre-school for a few days. I think her oldest on maybe 4 and he is only there one day a week.

The FDC organisaion has playgroups and come to her home with a bus with fully fitted child seats and take them out one a month for group play activity.

My carer has been receptive to my gentle parenting philosophies and I spent a half day there with her and the kids prior to enrolling DS. I like the fact that she has had repeat family business (cousins, siblings) and many friend referrals. The family home environment was something I felt more comfortable with, and the personal attention DS gets is great. He can even say her name, yet refuses to say mumma...

We provide all food / drinks, but again, our carer has food and snacks and is very flexible with eating and timing... i.e if I arrive in the morning and DS has not had breakfast she will feed him, or if he doenst feel like lunch at "lunchtime" she will offer again in an hour based on the demands of the children.

My carer is very interactive with the children and DS has learned a few words, but the main thing is the personal interaction he has with her and the other children. They are like siblings to DS and I see him hug and interact really positively with them. Sometimes I think my carer can be to soft on DS, but I am working with her to help him learn in a way that I find acceptable... (And that is not really a bad thing at all...)

I guess most importantly is to ask around if you can and see what experiences people have had in your area with day care, and them go into all the centers and observe how they work and then make a list of detailed questions, just like you have asked us, and see what responses you get. I bet you will have a gut reaction to the centers if you visit them... Good luck....