How to compare daycares side by side: a simple scorecard
Compare daycares fairly with a simple scorecard you can copy: what to score, how to weight what matters to your family, and how to break a tie.
The easiest way to compare daycares is to score every centre on the same short list, straight after each visit. Give each item a score from 1 to 5, multiply by how much it matters to your family, and add it up. The total won't decide for you, but it shows you clearly where each centre is strong and weak.
Why a scorecard helps
After three or four visits, centres start to blur. Memory tends to favour whichever you saw last.
A scorecard fixes that. You judge every centre on the same things, in the same way. It also gives two parents shared words to talk it through.
If you haven't visited yet, start with our complete checklist for choosing a daycare. It explains what to look for under each heading below.
The scorecard you can copy
Copy this table into a notes app or spreadsheet. Fill one column per centre.
| What you're scoring | Weight (1 to 3) | Centre A (1 to 5) | Centre B (1 to 5) | Centre C (1 to 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety: gates, pickup rules, first aid, clean floors | 3 | |||
| Staff: warmth, how they talk to children, turnover | 3 | |||
| Ratio: adults per child in your child's room | 3 | |||
| Hygiene: toilets, nappy area, kitchen, handwashing | 2 | |||
| Daily routine: play, rest, outdoor time | 2 | |||
| Food: menu, who cooks, allergies handled | 2 | |||
| Communication: updates, how they share incidents | 2 | |||
| Location and timings: commute, hours, late pickup | 2 | |||
| Fees: total yearly cost, refund terms | 2 | |||
| Gut feel: would your child be happy here? | 3 |
To get a total, multiply each score by its weight, then add the column. With these weights the maximum is 120.
How to score each item
Use the same scale every time:
- 5: clearly good, with something you saw for yourself
- 4: good, but you only heard it, didn't see it
- 3: fine, nothing stood out
- 2: a concern you'd need fixed before enrolling
- 1: a dealbreaker
The gap between 5 and 4 matters. A centre that says it has a pickup authorisation form is not the same as one that showed you. Score what you saw.
For ratio, count the adults and children in the room yourself. Our guide to teacher-to-child ratios explains what to look for at each age.
For fees, work out the full first-year cost, not just the monthly figure. Admission, deposits, meals and transport add up. Our daycare fees explainer lists every component to ask about.
Setting your own weights
The weights in the table are a starting point. Change them to suit your family. A few examples:
- If your child has a food allergy, raise food to 3.
- If you both work long hours, raise location and timings to 3.
- If budget is tight, raise fees to 3. Be honest about it.
Keep safety, staff and ratio at 3. They shape your child's day most and are hardest to fix later.
Agree on weights before you visit, so you can't tilt them towards a favourite.
Dealbreakers come first
Some things should rule a centre out, whatever its total. Decide these in advance. Common ones:
- Staff couldn't tell you who is allowed to collect your child
- You weren't allowed to see the rooms your child would use
- Toilets or the nappy area were dirty during the day
- Fees or refund terms were vague and wouldn't be put in writing
Any score of 1 on a weight-3 item usually means no. Our list of daycare red flags covers more warning signs.
How to break a tie
Two centres often end up within a few points of each other. That's normal. Here's how to decide.
- Compare the weight-3 rows only. If one centre wins on safety, staff and ratio, choose it, even if the other has better facilities.
- Look at the gaps. A centre with all 4s is often a safer bet than one with some 5s and a 2.
- Go back at a different time. Visit at pickup time or late morning. A busy hour shows you more than a calm tour.
- Try a day. Nothing beats seeing your child there. Read why a trial day before you enrol is worth it.
- Ask your child. Even toddlers show you something. Do they want to go back to the toy shelf, or cling to you?
Still tied? Pick the one closer to home.
Making it work in practice
- Fill in the scorecard straight after each visit, while it's fresh.
- Add one line of notes per row. "Teacher knelt to talk to a crying child" is more useful later than a number.
- Ask the same questions on every visit, so your answers line up.
When Kribble launches, you'll be able to see centres' facilities, timings and fee plans side by side. That makes the first shortlist quicker. The scorecard is still worth filling in yourself after each visit.
Frequently asked questions
How many daycares should I compare?
Three is a good number. It gives you a sense of what's normal without becoming overwhelming. If none of the three feels right, visit two more rather than settling.
Should both parents score separately?
Yes, if you can. Score on your own, then compare. Where your scores differ, talk about what each of you saw. Those conversations are often where the real decision gets made.
What if the cheapest centre scores highest?
Then it may simply be the right one. Price and quality don't always move together. Check that the low fee isn't hiding extra charges, and confirm the ratio and staffing on a second visit.