Building a new Child Care Centre can be an overwhelming
task to undertake and then you still need to equip your
Centre with Educational toys and furniture!! Being aware
of a few things before you take this next step will help
to minimise what can sometimes be yet another daunting
step in establishing your centre.
How will I know what equipment to choose so I get the
best value for my money?
Having worked in the Early Childhood field for many
years I am very aware of budgets and stretching the
dollar so that you have the greatest range of equipment
that will excite the children, staff and families you
will be catering to. It isn’t easy, especially when
you’re starting from scratch; however there are a few
things that will help.
1.
Age Suitability of equipment is paramount. For
example the purchasing of puzzles made from
cardboard to be used in any under 3 year old room
when they are still in the oral exploratory stage
isn’t prudent buying. It won’t matter how cheap it
may appear to begin with if those puzzles have to be
replaced straight away.
Age
Versatility of product is another area to think
about. A construction set that has pieces large
enough for 2 year olds to safely play with and still
be stimulating for 5 year olds is clever buying.
Choosing equipment that is this flexible isn’t easy
because of children’s developmental differences
however; construction and games are definitely two
areas where this is possible.
The
Quality and Safety of your equipment choice is
another important issue. Educational supplies can
seem costly and this is due to the fact that they
need to withstand the constant use of the many
children in your care. What you would buy for your
own child to use at home wouldn’t stand up to the
demands in your Child Care Centre. Therefore, you
need to make sure that the equipment you’re
purchasing is subjected to a testing regime that
ensures the safety as well as the longevity of the
product.
Variety of Equipment. This will guarantee that the
children in your Centre will enjoy the opportunity
to learn through a variety of mediums. It will also
mean that your staff will be providing a high
quality program that engages children in focused
play through a variety of meaningful experiences.
The next step is choosing your supplier!
Finding a Supplier that will help you with your
selection of equipment is easy. Finding a Supplier that
will take the time to understand and meet your needs is
so much harder!
You need to look for a Supplier / Consultant that will:-
Tailor a quote to your individual needs and help you
to meet the vision that you have for your Centre.
Choose a consultant that you feel you can easily
talk to, one who can listen to your needs as well as
offer the best suggestion for the type of equipment
you’re looking for. You want a Consultant who will
take the time to make sure your centre stands out
from the competition.
Your Consultant needs to understand the licensing
requirements of your centre and help you with
managing this process. They need to be engaged with
the industry, aware of changes that are taking place
so they can offer you the best advice.
Look for a Consultant that considers Customer
Service is an essential part of their business. You
don’t just want a supplier that takes your order and
then stops taking your phone calls.
Choose a supplier that does it all for you on the
delivery day – checks all equipment delivered,
assembles that equipment and removes the rubbish.
The lead up to the opening of your centre is a
juggling act with staff starting and the building
and yard being completed. Don’t add to this stress
by choosing a supplier that doesn’t take the time to
make this easier for you.
Ask
for references from your supplier so you can talk to
other owners about their experiences and whether
they were happy with the service provided to them.
By
combining all these factors the fitting out of you
centre should be a fun and relaxed process.
Judius is a Leading supplier of Educational Supply
Equipment in Australia with its main focus being the
Early Childhood Years. Their aim is to inspire the
developing child to discover and learn by supplying
superior Educational toys and resources that are safe,
creative and fun.
