What to Look for When Touring a Childcare Centre in Forrestdale, Piara Waters, Harrisdale & Surrounds

Touring a childcare centre is one of the most important steps in choosing the right care for your child. It’s your chance to see beyond the website and get a real feel for the environment, the educators, and whether your child will thrive there. Whether you’re visiting centres in Forrestdale, Harrisdale, Piara Waters, or anywhere across the Armadale area, knowing what to look for can make all the difference.

As a qualified teacher, mum of two, and owner of Everwood Early Education, I’ve welcomed hundreds of families through our doors. Here’s what I’d tell any parent to pay attention to during a childcare tour — and the questions you should be asking.

First Impressions Matter

The moment you walk through the door, trust your instincts. A quality childcare centre should feel warm, welcoming, and alive with purposeful activity. Pay attention to whether someone greets you promptly and whether children look happy, engaged, and comfortable with their educators.

Look around the entrance area. Is it clean and well-maintained? Are there displays of children’s artwork, learning stories, or photos of daily activities? These are signs that the centre values both the children’s experiences and communication with families. A centre that takes pride in its physical environment usually takes pride in its care.

Notice the noise level too. A good centre isn’t silent — children should be chatting, laughing, and exploring. But it shouldn’t feel chaotic either. You want to see a calm, purposeful buzz where children are genuinely engaged in what they’re doing.

Watch How Educators Interact with Children

This is arguably the most important thing to observe during your tour. The quality of interactions between educators and children tells you everything about the standard of care your child will receive.

Watch for educators who get down to the children’s level — physically crouching or sitting on the floor with them. Are they making eye contact? Are they listening and responding to what children say, rather than just directing them? Quality educators engage in genuine back-and-forth conversation, ask open-ended questions, and follow the child’s lead.

Pay attention to how educators handle transitions and challenging moments. When a child is upset, do they respond with warmth and patience? When it’s time to move from one activity to the next, is there a gentle, predictable routine? These moments reveal the true culture of the centre.

Also notice the educator-to-child ratios. In Western Australia, the National Quality Framework sets minimum ratios: 1:4 for children under two, 1:5 for two to three-year-olds, and 1:11 for children over three. Quality centres often exceed these minimums, providing more individual attention for every child.

Inspect the Learning Environment

A great early learning environment is intentional — every space, material, and setup should have purpose. Here’s what to look for in each area:

Indoor spaces: Are rooms bright, clean, and well-organised? Are materials accessible to children at their height, encouraging independence? Look for a variety of learning zones — quiet reading corners, creative art spaces, construction areas, and sensory play stations. The best centres rotate materials regularly to keep children curious and challenged.

Outdoor spaces: Outdoor play is critical for children’s physical development, risk-taking skills, and connection to nature. Check whether the centre has dedicated outdoor areas with a mix of natural elements (gardens, sand, water, logs) and built structures (climbing frames, bike paths). Ideally, children should have access to outdoor play throughout the day, not just at scheduled times.

Sleeping and rest areas: For younger children, ask where babies and toddlers sleep. The area should be calm, well-ventilated, and supervised. Check that safe sleeping practices are followed and that each child has their own designated cot or bed.

Ask About the Educational Philosophy

Understanding a centre’s educational philosophy helps you decide whether their approach aligns with your values and what you want for your child. Some centres follow structured, academic programs, while others use play-based, child-led approaches like Reggio Emilia, Montessori, or Steiner.

There’s no single “right” philosophy — what matters is that the centre has a clear approach and that educators can explain how it shapes daily practice. Ask them: “What does a typical day look like for my child’s age group?” and “How do you extend children’s learning based on their interests?”

A centre that struggles to articulate its philosophy, or whose answer doesn’t match what you’re seeing in the rooms, is a red flag worth noting.

Questions Every Parent Should Ask on a Tour

Beyond observing, you should come prepared with questions. Here are the ones I’d prioritise:

About care and safety:

• What are your educator-to-child ratios, and do you go above the minimum requirements?

• How do you handle allergies and dietary needs?

• What is your illness and exclusion policy?

• How do you manage accidents and emergencies?

About learning and development:

• What curriculum or educational framework do you follow?

• How do you track and communicate my child’s progress?

• How do you support children’s transition to school?

About daily life:

• What meals and snacks are provided, and are they prepared on-site?

• What does a typical daily routine look like?

• How much outdoor play time do children get each day?

About communication:

• How will I receive updates about my child’s day?

• Can I visit or drop in during the day to see my child?

• What apps or platforms do you use for parent communication?

About the team:

• What qualifications do your educators hold?

• How long have your current educators been at the centre?

• What is your staff retention like?

That last question is a particularly telling one. High staff turnover can mean children are constantly adjusting to new faces, which disrupts their sense of security. A stable, long-term team suggests a centre that values and supports its educators — and that translates directly into better care for your child.

Check Quality Ratings and Accreditation

Before or after your tour, check the centre’s National Quality Standard (NQS) rating on the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) website at startingblocks.gov.au. The NQS assesses centres across seven quality areas, including educational programs, children’s health and safety, staffing arrangements, and relationships with children.

Ratings range from Significant Improvement Required up to Excellent. A rating of Meeting or Exceeding the National Quality Standard indicates a centre that is delivering quality care. While a rating alone doesn’t tell the full story, it provides an independent, government-assessed benchmark to compare centres in the Armadale area.

Trust Your Gut — and Your Child’s Reaction

After all the checklists and questions, don’t underestimate the power of your instincts. Did you feel welcomed? Could you picture your child being happy there? Did the educators seem passionate about what they do?

If your child came along for the tour, their reaction matters too. Watch how they respond to the space, the other children, and the educators. While some shyness is normal, you generally want to see your child showing curiosity and a willingness to explore.

Choosing childcare is a deeply personal decision, and the right centre is one where both you and your child feel at home.

How Everwood Approaches Tours

At Everwood Early Education in Forrestdale, we encourage every family to book a personalised tour so you can see our centre in action. Our owner, Issy, personally greets families at the gate and walks you through each of our four rooms — Seedlings (0–2), Saplings (2–3), Tall Trees (3–4), and Gumnuts (4–5) — so you can see our Reggio Emilia-inspired, child-led approach firsthand.

We believe a tour should feel like a conversation, not a sales pitch. We want you to ask the hard questions, spend time in the rooms, and get a genuine sense of whether Everwood is the right fit for your family. We’re proud of our 5-star Google rating from 48 families, and we’d love to show you why.

Ready to see Everwood for yourself? Book a tour at everwoodedu.com.au or call us on 08 6150 4922. We’re located at 30 Anstey Road, Forrestdale — just 5–10 minutes from Armadale, Harrisdale, Piara Waters, and Hilbert.

About Everwood Early Education

Everwood Early Education is a purpose-built childcare and early learning centre in Forrestdale, Western Australia (postcode 6112), providing quality care and education for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. Owner-operated by a qualified teacher and mother of two, Everwood delivers Reggio Emilia-inspired, child-led learning in a warm, family-oriented environment. Conveniently located just 5–10 minutes from Armadale, Harrisdale, Piara Waters, and Hilbert. Book a tour today to see the Everwood difference.