independent VS ABC Centres

[maggie]

Hi, DS is 12mnths, he is in an independent centre at the moment 2days a week, its not a bad one, but its quite old, needs some updating,, anyhow, there is another one close by, which is soooo nice, but its an ABC centre. i just love all the fake grass, the padding etc, it looks more safer then the independent one which he is in..

There have been so many bad reports re ABC centres, so i am just worried about them

Does anyone send their kids to an ABC Centre? and what do you think.. I dont mind if you PM me if you dont want to say it on this post. thanks

[*becstar*]

I have worked at both! Although I have to admit my experience with ABC is limited to an After School Care situation.

My kids currently attend an independant dayare, which is the same as yours, very old and badly needs updating. I have worked there too. To be totally honest, if I had an ABC close by I would be checking it out at least. Yes they have beautiful new centres that look great but for me the selling point is that they have the $$$ behind them to keep the centre safe and updated and the $$$ to get up to date resources. I know this is bad for the independant centres and normally I am all for supporting the locals but for my kids sake I am totally selfish and will put them where I think is best. That said I honestly don't know too much more about how the long daycare centres work with ABC, as I said I've only worked in ASC. Maybe the routines they have in place wont suit your DS? Maybe they will? I dont know. I'd check it out though if you are thinking about it, it can't hurt and then you'll have more info to go on. HTH.

[MantaRay]

Hi Maggie. My DS was at a fantastic independent centre in the CBD near work. When I fell pg again, I put Jack's name (and the baby's) down at a local independent centre as it made more sense for Jack to be near home when I wasn't working - I wanted him to keep going one day a week as he loves day care and I think the social interaction is good for him. Not long before the baby was due, ABC bought the CBD centre Jack was attending. I was quite upset by this because the centre was great and I didn't anything to change. At that stage I was leaning towards not moving Jack. Then the director left, and a few of the staff indicated that they would be moving on in a few months. That made my decision for me. A centre is as good as it's staff. If the great staff were leaving, I felt that moving Jack to the local centre was the right thing. It took a little while for him to settle in at a new place but he loves it there now and I'm glad we made the move.

I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with ABC in general. I think it depends on the individual centre -some will be good, others not so good. It really comes down to the director and staff at the time. I didn't like the way the ABC centres did some things, like re-paint the rooms during weekdays so the kids had less area to play in. Also, the seemed to have less floating staff on so there was more pressure on the staff. And they only pay award wages, often the best centres pay above award to attract the best staff. But as I say, there could still be good ABC centres.

I would go and look at the ABC centre near you and talk to the staff. If you are comfortable with the staff and the programming etc, then go for it. I wouldn't make a decision solely based on the branding. In my experience we have been lucky to find two excellent independent centres, but if you were happy with yours you wouldn't be considering moving, so what have you got to lose?

Good luck with it, it is a very hard decision, but I'm sure you'll make the right one. PM me if you want more info.

[*becstar*]

Reading your post Melanie, I totally agree. A centre is only as good as it's director and staff. Money does come into play but you can have the best looking centre and have really bad staff and programming. Don't go by the branding but absolutely check in out for yourself.

[AmandaJ]

My 4 yr old DS goes to a ABC and it is great and I plan on sending my 3yr old DS there next year, I agree with Melanie, it's the staff that make the centre what it is.

I'm friends with my DS group leader and she was telling me that her buget for the prep room was only $10 a month and she buys alot of stuff from her own pocket for the kids, like reading books and handwriting material.

I'd go with your gut, even just have a look at the ABC centre and watch how the carers are with the kids and then make your decision.

hugs xoxo

[Mother Goose]

I agree that a centre is only as good as the staff...

My DD goes to an ABC Centre and I can not sing their praises loud enough. From the day I enrolled DD, they have been terriffic. They were fantastic with orientation and encouraged me to attend a couple of times so I could get to know them and so they could get to know DD. They have been terriffic with DD and her ongoing colds.
My DH goes away a several times a year with work. He has been away a couple of times since DD started Child Care in July and the girls always give her extra attention to compensate for Daddy being away (and don't mind that she gets a little upset becuse she misses Daddy). The centre was also fantastic when I was in hospital (I've been in a couple of times since she started child care - once was an emergency trip where I spent a length of time in and DD hardly got to see me). They girls gave her a lot of extra attention and care in my absence.
DH always complains because when I drop DD off or pick her up because the carers and I spend so much time chatting - they really care about DD and have bonded with her far more than I could have expected or imagined. And DD has bonded with them. She understands when I say "Today is an Oni and Meldy Day" and she smiles and laughs. She puts her arms out for the girls at the centre because she wants to go to them, she is so happy there. I feel and believe my daughter is safe in their care and is being looked after and her development (physically, emotionally, mentally) is being moulded just as it would be at home. And the girls are always looking out for her. I really can't sing their praises loud enough.

Incidently, the centre is also slightly cheaper than all the other centres in my area AND they provide more things than other centres (as in provide all nappies except the one I send her in and one to come home in, and all food with the exception of EBM or formula).


HTH

MG

[Lucy]

Olivia, Charlie and Lexie all go to our local ABC centre. When we first moved back to Adeliade I called round all the local centres (independant, community and branded). I vistited about 6 in total. The one I chose (it was an easy win hands down BTW) happened to be an ABC centre.

It is an old building, so not a flash glam new centre like some of them.

But from day dot the staff were WONDERFUL and in the 2.5 years that we have been using the centre, only one staff member has left......(to travel overseas.)

Very similar to MG, I spent a lot of time at drop off and pick up chatting with the staff and the other children. We all have a great relationship and I really really feel like they love my kids.

For me it is the staff that make a centre. The carers are like part of the family to be honest.....several of them have babysat for us at home too, and two of the girls in the nursery came to our wedding!

So my advice would be to go along to the centres that you are considering and hopefully you will get a gut feel vibe on which one suits you and your family best.

Good luck!

[Mother Goose]

For me it is the staff that make a centre. The carers are like part of the family to be honest.....several of them have babysat for us at home too, and two of the girls in the nursery came to our wedding!

Lucy - how did you go about asking the staff to babysit? I have been thinking lately about asking DD's fav worker to babysit but am worried it might be a "conflict of interest" or inappropriate - but it makes sense to me to ask them to baby sit because this particular carer is absolutely fantastic with DD and DD loves her so much. Any advice on how to go about it would be great!

MG

[Lucy]

MG, I was just like you in my reservations about asking initially. But eventually I thought "what have I got to lose" so I went to ask the director if it was "appropriate" and she was very supportive and said that it was perfectly OK as long as it was made clear that it was a totally private agreement.

So then I approached Olivia's favourite carer (this was back when Olivia was still in the baby room, but they had all also "got to know" Charlie as he always got passed round for a cuddle at drop off and pick up times as a newborn!). She jumped at the chance, so I wrote down the date and the rate of pay and all our contact details and told her to call me when she got the chance. (I did this to "leave the abll in her court" so that if she was not comfortable about it in any way she could just not ring me IYKWIM?)

Anyway, she rang me and then we took it from there. She then babysat a number of times, and then also babysat Olivia and Charlie on the evening of our wedding (bathed them, put them to bed etc etc and stayed over night in a separate cottage with the children and my matron of honour at the venue where we had our wedding (country house) so that me and DH could have a wedding night as a couple!

Since then she has babysat a lot for us: about once every couple of months at least: I trust her TOTALLY and she has become a really lovely friend to us and the children.

HTH?

My advice would be to check with the director first, just to be "upfront" about it, then take it from there.

[Mother Goose]

Thanks Heaps Lucy! Will give it a little more thought and talk to DH about it.

[Mum0809]

I have worked in child care centres and I totally agree, it depends on the individual centre, it really comes down to the director and staff at the time. The centre can have the best buildings but if the staff are no good the kids aren't going to be happy.