CC - what questions should I be asking the centre?
I dropped into the local CC this afternoon and had a really good experience, this is what I found out and I was wondering if i have missed anything, what are your thoughts on the fees etc... Thankyou soo much for any advice (we are trying tog et into FDC, but having trouble finding an opening atm)
Fees: $59.50 per day
Hours: 6:30am-6:30pm we would prob use 7:30-3 or 5 depending on my day.
Ratio: 1:5, but today there were only 10 bubs, they have a maximum of 25 bubs
Nappies: happy to use my cloth or dippies, supply, they will rinse the cloth and bag them up for me. Used to do a full clother service but people weren't using it - it was included !
Food: all cooked onsite, will only give what we have already given bubs, you select what they have (type), when the bubs are eating more "older foods" they will mush it up for them if they can't eat the pasta etc.
Finger food is ok as well
Bath: they will bath bubs if you need or want to (included) may also be required if they do a bad poo!!
Baby Section: two parts, one for crawling/moving bubs the other for non moving
Sleeping: you take in a set of sheets for bubs (labelled) and their bed is made up the night before and they will always have the same cot
Outside Play: The littlies only go under the verandah in the shade, they have lots of little things for them to play in, so plenty of variety
Reading and Music: Lots of stories, music and fun times
Routine: up until 14 months they do your routine for bubs, when they go up a room, the shift them into the middle of the day sleep routine. Which is good for us, we have aroutine and when we use it it works really really well!!
EBM: Happy to and encouraged me to keep up with the BF'ing, so will be giving her EBM to take for the feed or two she needs.
Extras: Dental Visits every 6 months (no teeth atm LOL), Thetrical performances, thetre companies go to the centre, Animal visits, Musical visits (police band), community visitors, police, fire department etc.
What questions do you think I might be missing, we spent 1/2 an hour there and I felt comfortable straight away, the staff were really lovely and I was surprised that it felt so comfortable. Nakita was holding on ithgt but kept craning her head to look at things so was very interested!
I think that the feel of the place is really important! you can only ask so many questions, but actually seeing it and liking how it feels is the best test ever! and by the sounds of it, you feel really comfortable with it!
it's always good to visit more than once (this is JMO, that way, you can see it with a bit more perspective IYKWIM. the first time can be a bit of info overload, so the second can be better for just checking the place out and checking if the other babies look content and comfy and that the carers are being attentive etc.
good luck with it all! It is worth the time and effort to find the right place trust me! LOL!
it sounds like a pretty fabulous centre - i never found one like that! i agree with cassius, go and see them again and maybe also check out another one to compare... also spend some more time there and watch how the kids are, what the carers do and how N is in that environment (keeping in mind she will of course need time to settle in). Also good to see how the carers relate to pareents at pick up/drop off time (ie do all these things def happen? do they pass on relevant info? do they have a relationship with the parents also?). i was also asking abuot staff turnover as DS went in young and i liked the idea he would have a bond with a carer (harder if they allmove on all the time)
It has been such a weird day, I was always going for FDC, but I hadn't had any luck, so today I went to the CC and had a really positive experience, but now I have had another contact for FDC and have 6 people to call. But the CC made a big impression on me, so I will be making some calls tonight and checking out some homes and doing a comparrison!! If I do go with the CCC I will definitely be spending a bit more time, and drop in at different times.
CC - what questions should I be asking the centre?
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