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Tip Sheet 7: Early childhood services: Child Care

Key Message

  • Children benefit from playing and learning with other children 
  • Choose an Education and Care Service that is right for you
  • Ask the service about how they will support your child
  • Talk to the service about your child’s additional needs

How do children benefit from going to Child Care?

Going to a Child Care service can help your child with::

childcare
  • Making friends
  • Learning to negotiate with others and make choices and decisions
  • Developing self-confidence
  • Having opportunities to learn 
  • Encouraging physical development
  • Learning to manage emotions and encouraging positive behaviours

Every child and every family is different. Your feelings as you take the journey from noticing your child may have a delay, to diagnosis, and beyond may also be different from that of other parents. There is no right or wrong way to feel.

What are the types of education and care services available?

There are different types of Child Care services. These services operate for different hours and support different aged children and include:

  • Family day care
  • Kindergarten or preschool
  • Long day care
  • Outside school hours care

How do I know if a service is good?

Early Childhood Education and Care services across Australia are required to meet national standards to make sure your child is safe and has opportunities for learning and development.  Services are given a National Quality Standard rating (NQS) to help families choose the best service for their child and family.

More information about the ratings can be found here: https://www.startingblocks.gov.au/at-a-service/service-quality-ratings. When you have decided what your needs are you can search for services near you using this website: https://www.startingblocks.gov.au/find-child-care

There are other types of early childhood services like occasional care, In-Home Care, crèches, mobile services and some school holiday care programs are not regulated by national standards. They may be regulated under state or territory legislation. 

How do I find a service that meets my needs?

Once you have decided what your family needs, you can start to contact services. You should be ready to ask questions such as:

  • What hours are you open?
  • What times can I drop off and pick up my child?
  • Do you close for any time during the year and for how long?
  • Will I be able to visit my child or call the service at any time?
  • Will I be charged fees for public holidays or when my child is not there?
  • Do you provide things like nappies and meals, or do I need to bring them from home?
  • Will I be eligible for any subsidies or other financial assistance? 

Remember: Many services have waiting lists so you may have to enrol in a more than one.

If you feel distressed thinking and reading about this topic,
talk to your GP or health professional. You can also call Lifeline on 131 114.

What else should I ask If my child has developmental or global developmental delay?

If your child has developmental or global developmental delay, then you need to specifically ask the service how they will support your child. For example, ask how the service will:

  • Help your child settle into the service
  • Get to know your child’s strengths and interests
  • Learn about your child’s needs and how these can be supported
  • Plan activities your child will enjoy
  • Adapt activities and daily routines to support your child to participate
  • Help the children and other adults understand your child 
  • Respect your family’s and children’s rights to confidentiality
  • Communicate with you about your child’s progress and experiences
  • Let you know if they have any concerns about your child 
  • Record daily information about your child such as details relating to toileting, eating habits, and their behaviour with other children. 

What should I tell the service about my child?

There are many things you can share with the educators at your service to help your child settle in and be supported. You can help the staff at the service by telling them:

  • What your child’s main needs are 
  • What their interests are
  • What they do well
  • What you do to support your child, for example, if they are upset
  • Situations or activities that can be challenging for your child
  • How your child communicates they are distressed or not coping
  • The other support your child gets, including through hospitals, the NDIS or other therapists

It is helpful if you give permission to the Child Care service to contact your child’s other supports. The more information that you provide about your child’s needs and supports the better the Child Care service can prepare and help.

Are there additional supports for children with developmental or global developmental delay?

All children have the right to use Child Care in Australia regardless of disability or developmental delay. This right is protected under the Australian Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Your Child Care service may talk to you about support for children with additional needs. The Australian government funds resources to support children with additional needs through the Inclusion Support Program. The Inclusion Support Program (ISP) assists education and care services to provide inclusive practices in early learning programs for all children. This is to help children with additional needs to access service and participate alongside their peers.

How do I start?

  • Talk to friends and family about services that they know about.
  • Talk to the other people who support your child about what would help your child.
  • Make a list of Child Care services that suit your needs. 
  • Call and make appointments to visit.
Download Page Information

Resources

The Australian Government website StartingBlocks.gov.au has lots of useful information. It can be found at: https://www.startingblocks.gov.au/