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30 Questions to Ask When Visiting a Childcare Centre

Published 16 February 2026 · Last updated 16 February 2026 · 9 min read

Why the right questions matter

Before the visit: 5 questions to ask over the phone

1. "Do you have spaces available for my child's age group, and what's the current waitlist?" Some centres have 12-month waitlists for under-2 places. Get the real number.
2. "What are your fees, and how do 20 Hours ECE and optional charges work?" If your child is 3-5, the government subsidises 20 hours per week. Centres cannot force you to pay top-ups for those hours, but they can charge for extras like food or sunscreen. Ask what those extras actually cost.
3. "What are your opening hours and session options?" Some centres require minimum days. Check this matches your work schedule before falling in love with the place.
4. "Are you licensed and what was your most recent ERO rating?" You want to hear "Well Placed" or "Very Well Placed." Anything else deserves a closer look at the ERO report before you visit.
5. "Can I book a visit during a normal session, not a scheduled open day?" Open days are the centre's best performance. You want to see a regular Tuesday morning.

About the staff

1. "What is your actual adult-to-child ratio, and does it exceed the Ministry minimums?" The legal minimums are 1:5 for under-2s and 1:10 for over-2s. Good centres aim for better — 1:3 or 1:4 for babies, 1:8 for toddlers.
2. "Have you opted into Full Pay Parity for your teachers?" This is a big one for 2025-2026. Centres had to make a binding decision by June 9, 2025. If they opted in, their teachers earn kindergarten and primary school rates. That means less turnover, more experienced staff, and better continuity for your child. If they didn't opt in, ask why.
3. "What percentage of your staff are fully qualified and registered teachers?" Regulations require 50%, but the best centres run at 80-100%. Higher qualified staff means better teaching, not just supervision.
4. "What's your staff turnover been like in the past year?" High turnover is hard on small children who form attachments to their teachers. If three teachers left last term, that tells you something.
5. "Do all your teachers hold current First Aid certificates?" The legal minimum (HS25) is just one trained person per 25 children. If a toddler is choking, you want the nearest adult to know what to do — not have to run and find the one qualified person.

About the programme

1. "Which curriculum pathway do you follow — Te Ara Whānui or Te Ara Māori?" Recent changes require centres to choose a specific interpretation of Te Whāriki. Asking this shows you've done your homework and tells you about the centre's philosophical direction.
2. "How do you make children's learning visible to parents?" Look for more than art on the wall. Good centres write "learning stories" that describe the skills and dispositions your child is developing, not just what activity they did.
3. "What does a typical day look like?" Ask for the actual routine. How much time is structured versus free play? When do children eat, sleep, and go outside? A rigid schedule with kids marching between activities is a red flag.
4. "How is te reo Māori integrated beyond mat time?" You're looking for authentic use throughout the day — teachers using te reo for greetings, praise, comfort, and instructions, not just singing a waiata at 10am.
5. "How much time do children spend outdoors, and what does outdoor play look like?" NZ kids need space to take risks — climbing, jumping, getting muddy. A playground that feels "too safe" (flat, rubberised, nothing to climb) can actually limit development.

About health and safety

1. "What is your exclusion period for vomiting and diarrhoea?" The right answer is 48 hours after the last symptom. If they say 24 hours, expect your household to catch every bug going around.
2. "How do you handle medication — what's your process for Category 1 and Category 2 medicines?" Non-prescription items (like teething gel) need a general authority form. Prescription medicines need a daily parent signature. Best practice is two staff members checking the dosage together.
3. "What is your sleep monitoring process for under-2s?" Regulation HS9 requires checks every 5-10 minutes for warmth, breathing, and well-being. Ask whether staff physically enter the sleep room or just look through a window. The best centres keep a staff member in the room whenever babies are sleeping.
4. "How do you prepare high-risk choking foods like grapes, sausages, and apple?" Under HS22, grapes and cherry tomatoes must be quartered, sausages skinned and sliced lengthwise, and raw apple grated or cooked for under-3s. If you see whole grapes on the lunch table, walk away.
5. "How often do you practise fire and earthquake drills?" The requirement is at least every three months. Ask about their lockdown protocol too — what happens if there's a police operation nearby?

About communication

1. "Which app do you use for parent updates?" Most NZ centres use Storypark or Educa. These let you see photos, videos, and learning stories during the day. If a centre has no digital communication system, ask how they keep you informed.
2. "How often will I get updates about my child's learning and development?" Daily photos are nice, but you also want regular learning stories and at least two formal parent-teacher conversations per year.
3. "How do you handle concerns or complaints from parents?" A good centre has a clear process and doesn't get defensive. Ask for an example of how they've responded to parent feedback.

About settling in

1. "What does your settling-in process look like?" Good centres offer several visits where you stay with your child, then gradual time apart. Be cautious of any centre that suggests dropping your child off on day one and "they'll be fine."
2. "How do you support children who are upset at drop-off?" Ask about their attachment approach. You want to hear about a primary caregiver system, comfort routines, and honest communication — not "we just distract them."
3. "Can I call or check in during the day?" The answer should be yes, always.

About fees and subsidies

1. "Can you give me a full fee breakdown, including all optional charges?" Get the actual weekly cost in writing. Ask what happens if you don't pay the optional charges — your child should still receive the same care during their 20 Hours ECE.
2. "Are you registered for the FamilyBoost tax credit?" FamilyBoost lets families claim up to 40% of childcare fees back, capped at $1,560 per quarter. Your household income needs to be under approximately $140,000 for the full amount, with reduced rates above that. The centre needs to provide proper invoices for you to claim.
3. "Do you accept WINZ childcare subsidies?" If your family qualifies, this can make a real difference. Not all centres process WINZ payments smoothly, so ask about their experience with it.

What to observe during your visit

The ERO report check

Your printable checklist

Frequently asked questions