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)
6 Reviews on “Herne Bay Playcentre”
Attended for two years and loved every minute. Highly recommend!
We spent 5 years at Herne Bay Playcentre and it’s full of special memories for our family.
I looked at three Playcentres before choosing HBPC. I thought I’d stay there til my oldest started kindy, I ended up staying for 8 years with three kids all going through.
Playcentres are perfect for people who are prepared to put effort into something that pays them in dividends in so many other ways.
I found my tribe at Playcentre. I love this place.
This was such a special place for my girls and I to grow together. I am so grateful for Playcentre’s understanding and approach to supporting our tamariki as they grow. I am also so grateful for the great playcentre adults that supported my girls and I, and became friends on this wild ride of parenting. It does take time and energy from the family but I would do it all again in a heart beat. And, the outdoor session on Tuesday used to be my fav part of my week.
We spent 8 years with our three children attending Herne Bay Playcentre. This community of families is unique and beautiful. My children cherish their centre memories and still consider themselves members, even though the oldest is now in high school. The free training I received as a Playcentre parent has greatly contributed to my parenting journey. I built lifelong friendships. Yes, Playcentre can be work, but working together with people in my community set me up for being a school and primary school mum too. The best decision we ever made.
Such a special place! I have attended Herne Bay Playcentre with my 3 kids for 5+ years now. My kids love it and I have made life-long friendships for sure. What a privilege to be part of this community of parents and kids learning and growing together.