Guide to selecting the right child care launched

14/7/00

A free guide full of hints on how to find the right child care for your children has been launched by the State Government today.
In launching the guide, Choosing quality care for your children, Family and Children's Services Minister June van de Klashorst said more than 143,000 Western Australian children up to the age of 12 attend some form of child care.
"The guide contains information on how to select family care, nanny care and creche care as well as pointers on occasional care centres, outside school hours and school holiday care," Mrs van de Klashorst said.
"The right sort of child care is very important as children learn so many critical skills from the experience and research shows that high quality, stable child care can benefit children's social and cognitive development.
"The guide, which has a tick list of more than 120 points on how to assess a child minding centre, will also help parents monitor the quality of the child care centre their children are using."

The Minister said as an example, points to check under centre-based care include:

• atmosphere - are the children happy and occupied, are different cultural practices and religious beliefs respected?
• information sharing - are the rules of the service clearly explained, how will I receive feedback about my child each day?
• nutrition - what will my child eat and drink each day, can individual dietary requirements be catered for?
• building/physical area - is the area restrictive or confined, is there suitable shade?
• health and safety - what happens if my child is sick, what is the procedure for giving medication?
• supervision - how many adults are with the children, is there a ruling on how much television the children watch?
• transport - is there transport from school to the service?
• equipment - are there enough suitable toys, material and equipment?
• programs and activities - are there opportunities for creative play activities?
• routines - is a timetable available?
• qualifications/experience - will there always be someone with a first aid certificate present, are criminal record checks done on staff?
• management - what insurance coverage does the centre have, can I have input into centre policies?
• costs - are lunches or nappies extra?
• quality control - is the service licensed and accredited?

"These are just a few of the 121 points on the guide's check list in this area," Mrs van de Klashorst said.
"The publication is one of the most comprehensive ever put together on child care and will give parents the assurance they are putting their children into the right centre.
"There is also a 62-point check list for employing a nanny and a 43-point check list for using creche care.
"General tips include how to settle your child into care, what to do in the first days, what you need to tell the carer about your child and how to say goodbye when you drop your child off."
Choosing quality child care for you children is available free from all Family and Children's Services offices and Parenting Information Centres throughout the State.
The guide will eventually be translated into a number of other languages.
The Minister also launched a guide, Setting up a creche, which has been developed to assist businesses, recreation and learning centres and other community groups.
Media contact: Owen Cole 9481 7810
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143,000 children attend childcare in Western Australia and parents want to know the best child care centre that suits the needs of their children. This is a comprehensive guide that will help them choose.