Family daycare provider recommendation? Any users of Uni Adelaide childcare?

[SarahWoods]

Dear all,

I have been offered tentatively a position in September at the University of Adelaide. I am looking into childcare as I don't want to leave my little girl with just anyone. She will be 2 by this time. I went to see a carer yesterday and to say I was HORRIFIED is an understatement. I could not believe this carer was accredited - the house was dirty, too small for her numbers, and T.V.s were in every room, cats milling about. Horrid.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations? We will likely be living in Broadview, so ideally somewhere near there. We have an amazing carer in the UK that basically treats my little girl as part of her family and that is what I am keen for. An alternative is we use the University of Adelaide childcare centre, but first impressions (by email) are not great.

Any help appreciated. I am really anxious about this.

Thank you,

Sarah

[Rachiegarlo]

I used McKinnon Pde childcare centre in North Adelaide . It is in a lovely old house and it has the best garden to one side of it. The people were really caring and we had a good experience there. Your daughter would go into the Toddler room. Annesley Junior School on Greenhill Rd in Wayville may have some spaces in their ELC as from this year they are accepting 2 year olds www.annesley.sa.edu.au . The school has a nice family orientated community and they wouldn't hassle you to send your daughter on into the school. I never used family daycare preferring that childcare centres have the ability to regulate who comes into the centre and usually have a planned day rather than the TV. Of course there will be excellent carers out there but sometimes they have a waiting list or you don't have a lot of time to look. I looked at many centres and picked the ones that I connected with the people rather than the ones with flashier premises.

[SarahWoods]

Thank you for getting back to me. The only problem I have with a childcare centre is that the other half is a teacher. This means that with family daycare we have the potential felxibility that during vacation periods he could look after her; childcare centres only ever give 4 weeks holiday period (and at 50%).

I shall contact the centres all the same and have a look.

Thank you!
Sarah

[Allybinoz42]

The Waite Campus childcare has a good reputation and I know one friend who is very happy with the care given there.

I have also seen them give presentations on their curriculum planning and have been impressed. However you don't always get the days you want etc but if you are an employee I would think you would get preference.

Other ones near the city try St Peter's Childcare another one a friend uses which is well regarded.