EssentialIndicatorsofQualityChildcare.pdfVIP

Family Enrichment Network, Inc. Child Care Resource and Referral 24 Cherry Street * Johnson City, NY 13790* 607-723-8313 1277 Taylor Road * Owego, NY 13827 * 607-687-6721 21 South Broad Street * Norwich, NY 13815 * 607-373-3555 Essential Indicators of Quality Childcare Updated 5/2016 Child care has become an essential component of life in our society. Quality child care can make a big difference in a child’s development. There are six main quality indicators that should be considered when looking for child care. Keeping these in mind during your search will help determine if a setting is in the best interest of your child. ? Ratio: The number of staff required in a family child care home or child care center depends not only on the number of children in the setting but also on the ages of the children. A small number of children per adult is most important during a childs early years. Infants need an adult-to-child ratio of no more than 1:4 (one adult for four infants) in a child care center and 1:2 (one adult for two infants) in a family child care home. Four-year-olds do well with a ratio of 1:8 (one adult for eight children) in a center while the ratio is 1:4 (one adult to 4 preschoolers) in a family child care home. ? Group Size: Count the number of children in each age group. Research shows the quality of care is better when the group size is small, meaning the children receive more attention. The group size in a center, for infants should not be more than 8 in one room (with 2 adults). The maximum group sizes are determined by the ratio of staff to children, the larger the group, the more staff should be present. ? Learning Environment: The space where ch