Daycare Center Daily Opening Inspection
This daycare opening checklist ensures your facility meets all safety and operational standards before children arrive. Complete this inspection daily to maintain compliance with state childcare licensing regulations, NAEYC accreditation standards, and CDC Caring for Our Children national health and safety standards.
- Industry: Childcare and Education
- Frequency: Daily
- Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes
- Role: Center Director / Lead Teacher
- Total Items: 32
Entrance and Security
Verify entrance security, access controls, and visitor management.
- Main entrance locked with functioning access control before children arrive?
- Visitor sign-in log and ID verification system ready?
- No unauthorized persons observed in facility?
- All windows secured with child-resistant hardware where applicable?
- Emergency contact list posted at front entrance and office?
Classroom Readiness and Materials
Inspect all classrooms and learning environments before children arrive.
- All classrooms clean and sanitized from previous day?
- All learning materials age-appropriate and free of choking hazards?
- Broken, damaged, or recalled toys removed from classrooms?
- All furniture stable with no sharp edges or pinch points?
- All electrical outlets covered with approved safety covers?
- All cleaning supplies and hazardous materials locked and inaccessible to children?
Health and Hygiene Facilities
Verify sanitation and hygiene facilities are ready.
- Handwashing stations stocked with soap, water, and paper towels?
- Bathrooms cleaned, disinfected, and stocked with supplies?
- Diaper changing stations sanitized and stocked with supplies?
- Tissues and trash receptacles accessible in all rooms?
- First aid kit stocked and accessible in each classroom area?
Fire Safety and Emergency Systems
Test fire safety and emergency systems before opening.
- All fire exits unobstructed and emergency exit signs illuminated?
- Smoke detectors present and green indicator light on?
- Fire extinguishers accessible with current inspection tags?
- Evacuation route maps posted in all rooms and hallways?
- Emergency evacuation kit stocked and accessible?
Staffing and Child-to-Staff Ratios
Verify adequate staffing before first child arrival.
- Current staff count meets required child-to-staff ratios for all age groups?
- All staff present have required qualifications and current certifications?
- At least one CPR/First Aid certified staff member on duty at all times?
- Child attendance and sign-in system ready for operation?
- Any absent staff replaced with qualified substitute to maintain ratios?
Outdoor Play Areas
Pre-opening inspection of outdoor spaces before children go outside.
- Playground equipment inspected for hazards before outdoor play?
- Play area free of rocks, glass, debris, or animal waste?
- Perimeter fencing intact with no gaps or openings children could exit through?
- All playground gate latches functioning and child-resistant?
- Adequate shade available for outdoor play areas?
- Any standing water or water play areas safe and appropriate?
Related Childcare Education Checklists
- Daycare Child Sign-In and Sign-Out Procedure Check
- Daycare Staff-to-Child Ratio and Supervision Check
- Daycare Health and Illness Exclusion Check
- Daycare Emergency Drill Documentation
- Daycare Center Annual Licensing Compliance Review
- Daycare Sanitation and Cleaning Log
- Daycare Parent Communication and Engagement Review
- Daycare Classroom Environment Setup Check
Related Daycare Centers Checklists
- Daycare Child Sign-In and Sign-Out Procedure Check - FREE Download
- Daycare Staff-to-Child Ratio and Supervision Check - FREE Download
- Daycare Health and Illness Exclusion Check - FREE Download
- Daycare Emergency Drill Documentation - FREE Download
- Daycare Center Annual Licensing Compliance Review - FREE Download
- Daycare Sanitation and Cleaning Log - FREE Download
- Daycare Parent Communication and Engagement Review - FREE Download
- Daycare Classroom Environment Setup Check - FREE Download
- Daycare Substitute Staff Orientation Checklist - FREE Download
- Daycare Incident and Injury Report Checklist - FREE Download
Why Use This Daycare Center Daily Opening Inspection?
This daycare center daily opening inspection helps childcare and education teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for center director / lead teacher professionals, this checklist covers 32 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Daycare Center Daily Opening Inspection cover?
This checklist covers 32 inspection items across 6 sections: Entrance and Security, Classroom Readiness and Materials, Health and Hygiene Facilities, Fire Safety and Emergency Systems, Staffing and Child-to-Staff Ratios, Outdoor Play Areas. It is designed for childcare and education operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed daily. Each completion takes approximately 20-30 minutes.
Who should use this Daycare Center Daily Opening Inspection?
This checklist is designed for Center Director / Lead Teacher professionals in the childcare and education industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.