Five questions a childcare website should answer before a family enquires

Families compare services in different ways, but a useful website should make five areas easy to understand.

1. Could this service suit my child and family?

Explain the age groups, rooms, opening hours, location, educational approach, inclusion approach and what a typical day looks like.

2. Is the attendance pattern realistic?

Show current or indicative availability by age group and day, with a last-updated date and a clear statement that availability is subject to confirmation.

3. What is the likely cost?

Publish the daily fee, session length, inclusions and unavoidable extra charges. Explain the CCS hourly cap and that the family’s actual subsidy depends on its circumstances. Price representations must be clear and not misleading. ^R9R10

4. How does the service approach quality and safety?

Link to the service’s current National Quality Standard rating and explain relevant practices in plain language: supervision, child-safe culture, educator relationships, learning program, health, communication and complaints. The NQS covers seven quality areas and gives families a recognised basis for assessing services. ^R5

5. What happens next?

State whether the family can book instantly, request a tour, join a waitlist or ask for a call. Explain when the service normally responds and what information will be needed.

StartingBlocks.gov.au allows families to compare services by quality ratings, fees, vacancies and inclusions. ^R4 A centre website should add the local detail and human context that a directory cannot provide.

Practical next step: ask someone unfamiliar with the service to find the answer to all five questions on a phone. Note where they hesitate, have to guess or leave the site.

Related guides

• What makes a childcare enquiry useful to a centre?
• Common reasons a childcare website may lose families
• What a childcare centre website should include