Interviewing child care providers

We’re in the process of interviewing private child care providers, and have come up with the following list of questions that we plan to ask of each.

Business

• How long have you been operating a child care business?
• Is your business licensed? Insured?
• Do you have a Federal Tax ID number?

Staffing

• Are you and all of your assistants trained in first aid and CPR? How recent are your certifications?
• Are you and all of your assistants licensed to drive?
• How long have each of your assistants been with you?
• How did you meet your assistants (I.e., are they family, close friends, strictly employees)?
• Do you have knowledge of your assistants’ personal and professional backgrounds? Is this information available for review?
• Have you or any of your assistants ever undergone a background investigation? If not, are you or any of your assistants opposed to undergoing a background investigation?

Payment & Scheduling

• What are your rates? Can we pay for a partial week (four days) or make other such arrangements?
• Do we pay for your vacation time? Sick time?
• Do we pay for our own vacation time?
• What are your hours of operation?
• What are your late fees and related policies?
• When do you expect payment?
• What forms of payment do you accept?

Capacity

• How many children do you accept (by age)?
• Do you plan to increase these numbers? If so, will you be adding additional staff?
• Do you notify parents when taking on additional children and/or assistants?

Health, Safety & Emergencies

• How do you handle prescription medication?
• What is your policy regarding non-prescription medication (I.e., cold medicine, Tylenol, etc.)? Is it ever provided? With or without parental consent?
• What happens if you become sick or otherwise unavailable on short notice?
• What happens if a child becomes ill or injured?
• At what point do you consider an illness or injury serious enough that parents need to be notified immediately?
• How do you handle situations in which someone other than a parent must pick up a child? How do you verify that it is indeed a parent calling to make alternative pick-up arrangements?

Environment

• Do you have pets? If so, how many and what kind?
• Do you allow adult visitors other than parents during operating hours?
• Are any other business run out of the same facility/home?
• Do you allow parents to drop in during operating hours?
• Are monitors used in napping areas, or are these areas monitored in person?
• Do you use television or videos to entertain? If so, what type and how often?

Supplies

• What infant gear do you provide (I.e., swings, crib, walker) and what are we expected to supply?
• Does each child have his own bedding?
• Are we expected to provide diapers, wipes, and other such supplies?
• How often do you change diapers? Are they changed on a schedule, or as-needed?
• What are parents expected to provide as far as food and drink are concerned? For infants? For toddlers?

Other

• Do you take the children outdoors? If so, where? And how are the children transported?
• What is your philosophy regarding discipline?

Contracts & Forms

• Do you have a written contract available for review?
• Do you provide enrollment forms?
• Do you have copies of all licenses, certifications, and other applicable background information available for review?
• Do you provide a handbook or any written guidelines for parents?
• Can you provide a list of references?