DCP interview questions

sapphire angel

She is a registered in-home daycare and can have up to 12 children (birth to pre-K) and is red cross first aid and cpr certified and has been in business since 1995. I meet the woman at an Expo this weekend and LO just adored her right on the spot so we are going to visit her this evening. LO usually does talk to strangers but she rarely waltzs up to them and asks to be picked up, which is what she did this weekend. LO just chattered away to the lady who seemed comfortable handling LO even though she was a completely unknown child.

I have only ever had LO enrolled in Licensed Day care centers but those are just not giving LO the quality of care I want so it's time for a change. So I am coming up with a list of questions. The licensed centers never really let me ask a whole lot of questions so I think that is part of the problem I have had with day cares. So I am going to this interview with a printed out list of questions so I don't forget anything.

1) Meals and snacks will be a very big question with lots of discussion because LO cannot have any dairy or soy.The provider mentioned this weekend that she has many meal options from the state food program so it would be no big deal to sit down with me, figure out what LO can/cannot have and alter the menu that everyone eats.

2) Potty Training policies

3) Visitors - Physical therapist(s) visits every two weeks, Parent visits also

4) Schedules - meal times, nap times, outdoor times

5) Meals - self fed only? table/chairs or high chairs?

6) Drinks - how often is a cup made available for LO? Juice or Water?

7) Outdoor Weather policy? Out door play area?

8) Curriculum? Toddler sign-language?

9) LO's personal cubby/storage place for diapers/wipes/formula/etc

10) Giving medication policy/records?

11) Last certification date for CPR/First aid

12) Sleeping areas?

13) Sick child policy

14) TV/movie times?

15) Communication with parent about days activities?

16) Discipline/Behavior issues/Biting/Temper tantrums

17) Hopefully time permitting we will discuss LO and the behavior issues we have had at home and that we believe the current DCP is the source of the problem. The ECI case worker and I believe that something is wrong at the current DCP and LO isn't able to act out against it but she is comfortable enough at home to act out (wildly out of control). We have started some things that have helped but would she be willing to help us problem solve this if it continues after switching to her daycare?

...I have more listed out at home but am drawing a blank at the moment....any others questions? Anything specifically for a registered in home daycare? Her last inspection was this past August and all that was found were a few administrative things (policies that weren't in writing) and they all have dates confirming that they were corrected. 

 

hersheykiss

I would also ask about her holiday schedule.

What is her policy on having sick kids?

Will she call you for a runny nose, what temp does she consider a fever?

Do you pay for sick days?

Does she have any assistants?

What does she do in case she is ever sick (aka her backup plan)?

Does she have any pets? Are they kept separate?

What is her daily schedule for activities?

What are her control & safety issues for keeping the home secure from intruders? (can you just walk in her home, or is there a code to get it?)

shoeboxx

Ask about her vacation time and holiday schedules.  Also vacation rates.  Our dcp charges $100 for her vacation week and $100 and our vacation week.  Her regular rate is $145.

Any formal early childhood education?  Any assistance?  Are they certifiied in cpr and first aid?

Ask if she has visitors during the day?  This seems strange, but some in-home allow any and everyone to come over during the day.

That's all I can think of right now.

 

MrandMrsAndrews

sapphire angel:

1) Meals and snacks will be a very big question with lots of discussion because LO cannot have any dairy or soy.The provider mentioned this weekend that she has many meal options from the state food program so it would be no big deal to sit down with me, figure out what LO can/cannot have and alter the menu that everyone eats.

DS can't have dairy either and it has been a non-issue with our DCP. 

2) Potty Training policies

You might also think about what you want from potty training as well - do they have a toddler seat on the toilet?  Or one of the little potties that you sit on the floor? 

3) Visitors - Physical therapist(s) visits every two weeks, Parent visits also

For our DCP - it is rare that random people visit - but I think it is awesome that parents can visit.  A great sign that they encourage drop in visits too. 

4) Schedules - meal times, nap times, outdoor times

5) Meals - self fed only? table/chairs or high chairs?

6) Drinks - how often is a cup made available for LO? Juice or Water?

7) Outdoor Weather policy? Out door play area?

8) Curriculum? Toddler sign-language?

9) LO's personal cubby/storage place for diapers/wipes/formula/etc

In my experience, we provide diapers but she provides the wipes.  

10) Giving medication policy/records?

11) Last certification date for CPR/First aid

I would also make sure that she is up to date on the most current policies with CPR as I know they recently changed (DH is an instructor).

12) Sleeping areas?

13) Sick child policy

14) TV/movie times?

15) Communication with parent about days activities?

16) Discipline/Behavior issues/Biting/Temper tantrums

17) Hopefully time permitting we will discuss LO and the behavior issues we have had at home and that we believe the current DCP is the source of the problem. The ECI case worker and I believe that something is wrong at the current DCP and LO isn't able to act out against it but she is comfortable enough at home to act out (wildly out of control). We have started some things that have helped but would she be willing to help us problem solve this if it continues after switching to her daycare?

...I have more listed out at home but am drawing a blank at the moment....any others questions? Anything specifically for a registered in home daycare? Her last inspection was this past August and all that was found were a few administrative things (policies that weren't in writing) and they all have dates confirming that they were corrected. 

 

 

Other possible questions:

Does anyone else live in the home? If so, do they have a livescan on file?

Does she have pets?  What are the policies for the pet/child interactions?

How does she segregate activities based on the different age groups?  Infants / Toddlers / Pre-school?

I hope that it goes well!  It is so hard finding someone that you trust to take care of the most precious person in your life!!

 

 

sapphire angel

Thanks ladies! You came up with some that I know I don't have written down at home yet.

Bianca42

Are there any firearms in the home and how are they secured?

Are there any pool/ponds/creeks close to the house and how does she keep the kids away from the water.

Does she follow the school's snow-days or is she still open in bad weather?  (I didn't notice where you are...ignore if you're somewhere warm.  LOL)