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 “Rutherford Preschool”
This pre-school has the greatest NATURAL outdoor space you could ask for, for your child to explore trees, nature, dirt and the environment. Our 3 children have loved spending time with these personable carers since they were babies, and we absolutely love the centre. You will often see the staff down on the ground or in the dirt with the kids not standing over them. You can tell they really embrace the ethos of family and care. The children are the priority and that’s what makes Rutherford Pre-school just the best. I also love how once you are 2 years old, you are welcomed into a wonderful community of children that learn how to care for one another. Not separated into age groups. It’s a perfect setting for nurturing a child’s development.
We LOVE Rutherford. Caring teachers, beautiful safe grounds with plenty of shade, and just such wonderful values. My eldest has been there 2 years and my younger will join him next year 🙂
This preschool goes under the radar a bit in Te Atatū but it is the loveliest place. It has quality kaiako who have all been there for ages and who always strive to adapt their teaching around your kids. I couldn’t recommend it enough.
Amazing preschool. The staff are lovely and great educators. The facility is amazing, and children love playing in the playground. Great outdoor space to nature curiosity. Cannot rate Rutherford Preschool high enough.