10 questions to ask before choosing a childcare/nursery

There's a moment on every nursery tour when the manager smiles and asks, "So, do you have any questions?" — and your mind goes completely blank. You've just seen the sleep room, the little chairs, the finger paintings on the wall. Everything looks lovely. What is there to ask?

Quite a lot, actually. The things that matter most about a nursery — who's looking after your child, how they handle a hard morning, what happens when something goes wrong — don't show up on a tour. You have to ask.

Here are ten questions worth bringing with you, along with what to listen for in the answers. Write them down, take the list with you, and don't feel awkward about working through it. Good nurseries expect these questions. The best ones enjoy answering them.

1. Are you licensed, and can I see your licence?

In Malta, every childcare centre must be licensed — the Education Act makes it unlawful to operate without one. Licensing is overseen by the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE), which also carries out external reviews against the National Standards for Early Childhood Education and Care Services (0–3 years).

A licensed centre will answer this without hesitation, and many display their licence near the entrance. If the answer is vague, that tells you everything you need to know.

2. What are your staff-to-child ratios?

Malta's national standards set clear minimums: one childcare educator for up to three babies under 12 months, one per five children aged 13 to 24 months, and one per six children aged 25 to 36 months (the numbers shift slightly where assistants support the educators).

Ask what the ratios look like in practice, in your child's age group, on a normal day. A confident answer with real numbers is a good sign. Ratios matter because they determine how much genuine attention your child receives — cuddles, conversation, a lap to sit on when the day gets wobbly.

3. Who will actually be looking after my child?

Ask to meet the educators in your child's room, not just the manager. What qualifications do they hold? How long have they been at the centre? High staff turnover is worth knowing about, because young children attach to people, not premises. A key-person or assigned-educator approach — where one educator takes primary responsibility for your child — is a lovely thing to hear about.

4. What does a typical day look like?

You're listening for a rhythm rather than a rigid timetable: free play, outdoor time, meals, naps, songs and stories, messy play. Ask how much time children spend outside and what happens on very hot days — a real consideration in a Maltese summer. Ask how naps work for babies who still sleep twice a day. A good centre adapts the day to the child, especially for the littlest ones.

5. How do you handle settling in?

Every child needs time to adjust, and every good nursery has a plan for it — usually short visits building up to full sessions over a week or two, often with a parent nearby at first. Ask how flexible that plan is if your child needs longer. Then ask the follow-up question: "What do you do when a child cries after drop-off?" The answer should involve comfort and patience, never "they just get used to it."

For a sense of what those early weeks feel like, see our guide to your child's first month at nursery, week by week.

6. How will you keep me updated during the day?

Some centres use an app with photos and notes; others give a verbal handover at pick-up or keep a daily diary. There's no single right answer — but there should be an answer, and you should feel comfortable with it. Ask, too, how they'd contact you if your child were unwell or upset, and how quickly.

7. What happens when a child is ill or has an accident?

Practical, unglamorous, essential. Ask about their sickness policy (when must a child stay home, and for how long), how they record and report accidents, whether staff hold paediatric first aid training, and how medicines are stored and given. Ask how they'd handle allergies or a medical condition if your child has one. You want to hear a clear, well-rehearsed process, not improvisation.

8. What exactly is included in the fees — and what isn't?

If you qualify for Malta's Free Childcare Scheme, ask whether the centre participates and how many of your hours it will cover — our guide to the Free Childcare Scheme explains how eligibility and hours work. Then ask about everything else: registration fees, deposits, lunches, nappies, extra hours beyond your allocation, and what happens to fees during holidays or absences. Ask for the fee schedule in writing. For the fuller picture, see what childcare really costs in Malta.

9. How do you manage food, meals and mealtimes?

Does the centre provide food, or do you send a packed lunch? If they cook, ask to see a sample menu. Ask how they handle weaning for babies, allergies and intolerances, and fussy phases (there will be fussy phases). Mealtimes are a big part of a small child's day — you want them to be calm, sociable and unpressured.

10. Can I drop in unannounced?

Perhaps the most revealing question of the lot. A centre with nothing to hide will welcome parents at reasonable times without an appointment — or at least explain a sensible policy around naps and routines. Extreme reluctance is worth noting. While you're at it, ask whether you can speak to a current parent or two; happy families are a nursery's best reference.

Trust the answers — and your gut

No nursery will be perfect on all ten questions, and that's fine. What you're really assessing is openness. Did they answer directly? Did the staff seem happy? Could you picture your child there on an ordinary Tuesday?

If something felt off and you can't quite name it, our guide to red flags to watch for when visiting a nursery may help you put your finger on it. And if you're still building your list of places to visit, start with how to shortlist nurseries in one evening.

Find your childcare with Niboo

When you're ready to start visiting, browse licensed nurseries, childminders and kindergartens across Malta and Gozo on Niboo — and take these ten questions with you.