A childcare tour is your chance to see beyond the website. You are not only looking at rooms and equipment — you are trying to understand what an ordinary Tuesday will feel like for your child.
Use these questions as a guide. You do not need to ask them like an interview; a good tour should naturally cover most of them.
Questions about educators and relationships
- Who will be the main educators caring for my child?
- How long have the educators been with the service?
- How do you help a child who is upset at drop-off?
- How do educators communicate with families during the day?
Questions about the room and group
- How many children are usually in this room?
- How is the group organised during meals, rest and learning experiences?
- How do you support individual routines for younger children?
- How do children transition into the next room?
Questions about learning
- How do you plan from children’s interests?
- What does the kindergarten or school-readiness program include?
- Are specialist experiences, incursions or excursions included?
- How do you share children’s learning and progress with families?
Questions about practical care
- What meals and snacks are provided?
- How are allergies, cultural diets and food intolerances managed?
- What do families need to bring each day?
- What is the orientation and settling process before the first full day?
What to notice without asking
Notice the tone of educator-child interactions, how children move through the environment, whether staff seem rushed, and whether the service feels calm and organised. Look at how educators respond when a child needs help rather than only at the prepared tour areas.
Also notice whether the person showing you around is comfortable answering detailed questions. Transparency is a valuable sign.
After the tour
Write down your impressions while they are fresh. The best service is not necessarily the newest or largest. It is the one that meets your family’s practical needs and gives you confidence that your child will be safe, known, supported and engaged.
This article provides general information for families. Government funding and eligibility settings can change; check current official guidance and your chosen service’s current arrangements.