When you visit a Surrey BC licensed childcare centre on a tour, the physical space and marketing materials are the easiest things to see — but the most important quality information requires specific questions. This guide covers the 10 most revealing questions to ask on your Surrey BC licensed childcare centre tour, and how to interpret the answers.
10 Questions Every Surrey BC Licensed Childcare Tour Must Include
1. Tell me about a child in your care right now. This is the single most revealing question. A great educator lights up with specifics — “Oh, Amara is three, she’s obsessed with dinosaurs right now, she’s been building elaborate dinosaur habitats in the block corner all week.” A weak answer is generic: “The children are all doing well.” Specificity = genuine knowing of individual children.
2. What percentage of your educators hold full ECE certificates vs. ECE Assistant certificates? You want mostly full ECEs, especially in infant and toddler rooms. See our credentials guide.
3. How long have you been the director? How long have your educators been here? Look for 3+ years director tenure and 2+ years average educator tenure. See our director tenure guide.
4. Are you MCFD-licensed and what is the all-in daily fee? Any centre unwilling to answer this clearly is a red flag. See our licensed childcare guide.
5. What is your current MCFD inspection record? Request the licence number and check findchildcare.ca. Any correction orders? How recent was the last inspection?
6. What does your settling-in program look like for a 14-month-old? Look for gradual, child-led settling with parent involvement. See our settling-in guide.
7. How do you handle a child who is having a really difficult day? Look for: calm language, co-regulation, specific strategies, not punishment or exclusion.
8. Can I visit again unannounced during program hours? Quality centres say yes. Any hesitation is worth noting.
9. What languages do your educators speak? Particularly relevant for multilingual Surrey BC families. See our cultural fit guide.
10. What are your sick child exclusion criteria and how do you communicate closures? See our sick days guide.
Mini Minds Childcare: Welcome Your Questions at Any Tour
Mini Minds Childcare in Newton, Surrey BC welcomes all of these questions — and more. MCFD-licensed, MCFD-licensed. Book your tour today — bring your full list of questions.