Childcare - what to ask during initial phone call?

xtencornfield

I apologize if this is asked frequently but I was hoping the working moms would have some insight:)

I want to start calling a few individuals who do family daycare (in their homes) that I received through recommendations.  I'm not sure what questions to ask during this initial phone call?  Are there questions I can ask that will throw up flags right away if answered unsatisfactorily?  Basically, I don't want to waste my time w/face-to-face interviews if I can exclude them during a phone call. The questions I have so far are:

Do they have openings for August 2010 (if they can speculate that far out)?
Do they accept infants of 4 months old?
What do they charge per day, per week, etc?
Do they offer part-time care?
How many children do they currently provide care to and do they anticipate this number changing in the near future?
Are they registered with the state etc? (not quite sure how to word this)

This is a sad list so far.  Help!!  TIA:)

dpdw

My approach was the same as you.  I first called the providers to narrow down the list, then I did face-to-face interviews.  My advice is to come up with your "deal breaker" questions.  That way you won't waste your time.  Here were the questions I asked on the phone:

 Telephone Interviewing
? Do you have an opening? _____________________________________________________________
? What are your hours?  _________________________________________________________________
? Are you licensed? Where?  How long?  _____________________________________________________
? How many children do you care for? What are their ages? ______________________________________
? What is your vacation and illness policy? ___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
? What are your fees? ___________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
? When are the fees due?  ________________________________________________________________
? What is the fee if you pick your child up late? ________________________________________________
? Do you provide receipts for income tax credits and flex spending accounts? ________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
? Are you a member of the food program (the federally funded Child Care Food Program-CCFP)? ________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
? Are meals included in the price? If so which ones (e.g. breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner)? How does this differ with an infant? _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
? What will I be expected to provide?  _______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
? What training or experience do you have? __________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
? Do you smoke? _______________________________________________________________________
? Do you have pets? _____________________________________________________________________
? Do you charge for sick days or when the child is on vacation? ___________________________________

? Do you close for holidays and if so which ones? What is your snow day policy?  _____________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
? What is the policy on sick children?  _______________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

xtencornfield

Ahh, thank you SO much!  This is perfect, exactly what I needed.

worthy-of-love

Please ask:

"After enrollment, can I pop in and visit my child any time I want?"

You want them to answer: "Absolutely!"

If they dont allow observation or visitation... that's a red flag.