What a childcare centre website should include

A useful childcare website helps families understand the service, assess practical fit and take an honest next step. It should also make important quality and governance information easy to find.

Essential service information

• service name, address, phone and email;
• approved provider and service details where appropriate;
• opening hours, closure periods and age groups;
• rooms, session options and attendance patterns;
• daily fees, inclusions and unavoidable extra charges;
• current or indicative availability with an update date;
• clear enquiry, waitlist and tour processes.

Quality and family confidence

• current National Quality Standard rating with a link to Starting Blocks;
• educational program and philosophy explained through real practice;
• leadership and educator information that can be kept current;
• child-safety approach, supervision and complaints contacts;
• health, nutrition, rest and communication information;
• inclusion approach and how families can discuss support needs;
• orientation and settling-in process.

The NQS covers educational program and practice, children’s health and safety, physical environment, staffing, relationships, partnerships and governance. ^R5 Starting Blocks lets families compare ratings, fees, vacancies and inclusions. ^R4

Website standards

• mobile-first navigation;
• readable language and logical headings;
• accessible forms, images and controls using WCAG 2.2 as a reference; ^R12
• fast, stable pages; ^R13
• privacy notice and clear collection statements; ^R11
• current photos used with appropriate permissions;
• analytics that avoid unnecessary personal data.

Useful optional content

• fee estimator with dated assumptions;
• virtual tour;
• events and transition information;
• downloadable family handbook;
• local pages for multi-centre providers;
• articles that answer genuine family questions.

Practical next step: check whether a family can understand fit, cost, quality, safety and the next step without calling the service for basic facts.

Related guides

• Five questions a childcare website should answer before a family enquires
• Does my childcare centre need a new website?
• How to keep childcare fees, rooms and availability current online