Community Ownership: Parents likely have a strong say in how the service operates and what happens to children, all money earnt stays within it, and teachers may be paid better and childcare charges may be lower compared to most (but not necessarily all) private and corporate owned services. (Ask: Is it an Incorporated Society? Does it also have charitable status?)
Small Boutique Centre: Centres with 50 or fewer children make it easier for staff to provide a warm and nurturing environment, for children to have their individual needs met and skills, knowledge, and competencies extended. (Ask: For continuity of care and relationships, do children stay with the same group of children and teachers throughout their time at the service?)
100% Qualified Teacher Funded: All staff counted toward meeting the minimum adult-child ratio requirement must hold a practising certificate as a teacher if the service receives this level of Ministry of Education funding. (Ask: Does the service count teachers trained in the ECE of children birth to 5 years and not primary or secondary school trained teachers?)
Men Included on Teaching Staff (as at last year): There are strong benefits of having both men and women on the teaching team for the quality of care and education a service provides to children. Additionally, gender bias in staff recruitment and employment is not generally acceptable in society today. (Ask: How many teaching staff are employed and what proportion are men?)
(as at last year):
Clean Licence Record (last year and the year before): To be licensed a service must comply with regulations that help ensure children’s safety, care, and a suitable standard of education. When requirements are breached the Ministry of Education may downgrade a service’s licence to provisional or issue a suspension. (Check the lists of services placed on a provisional or suspended licence https://oece.nz/public/information/standards/ published each year)
(last year and year before):
Recommended Highly by 80% or More Families: At least 80% of families recommend the service and rate it as being very good to excellent on a range of aspects of quality. (Note that a response rate of at least 51% families on the OECE parent survey https://oece.nz/public/information/resources/parent-survey/ research instrument within the last three years is necessary here)
4 Reviews on “Active Explorers Highbrook”
Our little boy started at Active Explorer since 7 months old and now he is almost 2 and half years old. The teachers and staffs in different classrooms were all very supportive and really do give lots of attention to all the children. The centre manager is very professional and responsive when we have any questions. We had lots of support from the centre during the COVID lockdown.
All teachers and manager of the centre are so caring and supportive towards my child and family. My child is learning new things every week which is good for her development. Always there when I have questions and really good with my child.
My daughter Leah is 3 years old and entered daycare when she was 2 and a half months old. I love this school, good conditions, nutritious food, excellent staff/teachers, excellent communication, excellent teaching method, we are all a big family here, 5 stars are not enough to describe my affection and gratitude for all of you, thank you, love you guys 💕
Both of my children go here and have for many years, ever since they started their daycare journey. The teachers always go above and beyond for the children. I feel completely confident leaving my kids here 5 days a week. Janine the centre manager is amazing, she is so accommodating, and I feel like she’s a second mum! All of the kids call her nanny and absolutely adore her. I couldn’t be happier with this centre even if I tried!