A 10-minute Earlyvillage leadership review

Childcare Centre Monthly Health Check

Once a month, step back from the day-to-day pace of the centre and look across the program as a whole.

This is not a scorecard or audit.

See what is changing. Notice what matters. Decide what to do next.

Takes about 10 minutes

1What changes in enrollment, attendance, transitions, or children's needs should we be planning for?

Look ahead for changes in enrollment, available spaces, upcoming starts or departures, attendance patterns, and children's needs that could affect care, staffing, or program planning.

2Where is the team feeling steady, and where is staffing pressure beginning to show?

Consider coverage, workload, absences, retention, onboarding, professional growth, and whether educators have the support they need to do their work well.

3What are families telling us about their experience with the centre?

Consider recurring questions, concerns, positive feedback, communication gaps, follow-through, and anything that may strengthen or weaken trust with families.

4What does this month's financial picture tell us about the health of the program?

Consider revenue and tuition collection, outstanding balances, enrollment, staffing costs, significant expenses, and any financial pressure beginning to emerge.

5Where are our systems working well, and where are they creating unnecessary friction?

Consider scheduling, attendance administration, records, recurring administrative work, supplies, facility needs, and anything that requires too much chasing, correcting, remembering, or last-minute coordination.

6What safety, licensing, or compliance matters require follow-through before next month?

Consider required records, staff qualifications and training, incidents, upcoming expiries or requirements, corrective actions, and any gaps between written procedures and everyday practice.

7What should we preserve or improve about children's experiences and educator practice?

Consider what educators are noticing about children, how routines and environments are working, whether reflection is informing practice, and where the program could become more intentional.

Step back

Now look across what you captured.

The goal is not to create a long list of work. The goal is to decide what deserves action.

If you could strengthen one part of the program this month, where would focused attention make the greatest difference?

What is the smallest practical action that would begin moving this forward?

Add another priority only if it genuinely deserves attention alongside your primary focus.