BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

OCTOBER 15, 2025

You can tell a lot about a centre by looking at its KindiCare listing, but it’s absolutely essential that you step inside your shortlisted centres and experience them in person.  

This gives you a chance to explore the environments, connect with key people, and a get a real feel for the education and care on offer. 

And we’re not just talking about one visit!  

Two, three or many centre tours will help you choose the perfect early learning service, while orientation sessions and stay and plays are all about childcare preparation. 

At every stage, it’s important to go in with your eyes open, so here’s a quick explanation of what each visit involves, with inside info from Kelly Scott, the incredible Centre Director at Goodstart Early Learning Murarrie in Queensland. 

What is a centre tour? 

A centre tour is a personalised visit that involves you and your child being shown around a prospective service by the Centre Director, Centre Manager or Nominated Supervisor. 

You’ll get to see the different centre environments and resources, all of which should be engaging, clean and safe-looking; and there’s plenty of room for enquiry. 

Kelly explains that, “The centre tour provides an opportunity for you to see whether the centre aligns with your own personal philosophy and visions, and in these tours, we really encourage you to ask lots of questions to get an idea of what the centre can provide, and how that aligns with you.”  

This article contains seven questions which will help you spot a quality early learning program when you see one.  

And during the tour, it’s really, really important that the centre passes your ‘vibe test.’ 

This means you get a good feeling from the place; and Kelly says it’s a positive sign if, “You walk into an environment and the children seem happy, content and safe. The Centre Director is happy to see you. And the educators are passionate about their job, they want to be there, and they’re eager to learn and educate children.” 

Even if you fall in love with the first centre you see, it’s still a good idea to tour a couple of early learning services, so you can compare them. 

And although practical matters, like quality ratings, cost and convenience definitely matter, that gut feeling will tell you whether the centre is going to work for you and your family. 

What is an orientation?  

An orientation is the visit you book when you’ve finished your centre tours and have found an early learning service. 

Kelly explains that, “An orientation session at Goodstart is all about preparing your enrolled child, and your family, to start at the centre.”  

You’ll get to meet up with the Centre Director and your child’s future educators (which is great if they weren’t around when you did the tour); and the team will take you through the daily operations of the centre, including staff rosters. 

They’ll also explain centre policies, routines, programs and practices, and all this information sharing isn’t one-sided! 

During an orientation you’re encouraged to share your child’s interests, plus your family’s expectations and aspirations, so that everyone is on the same page. 

And Kelly says, “We also go through the paperwork to make sure everything is in order before your child’s start date.” 

What is a stay and play? 

Stay and plays are sometimes called ‘playdates,’ and they involve you spending time at the service with your child, to experience the people, place and program as a duo.  

Kelly explains that the stay and play is designed to transition children into the education and care environment, and “It is about coming in and hanging out in the room, and learning about who the educators are, and the learning routines.” 

She says, “It’s also about looking at what we can do to support your family and give your child the best opportunity to enjoy a stress-free childcare start.” 

So, for example, if you worry that your child will experience separation anxiety when they first go to daycare (which is very common), the team might recommend that you do several stay and plays to build familiarity with the childcare centre and community.  

As you navigate your early learning journey, all three types of childcare visits will smooth the path, and we’re pleased to report that it’s easy to arrange these meet-ups.  

Simply click the ‘Make Enquiry’ button in a centre’s KindiCare listing to book a centre tour or visit, or use the contact details provided, and here's to some really illuminating on-site experiences!