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)
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Avonside Early Childhood centre in Christchurch is a publicly funded and government regulated early childhood education service.
It can use this space to tell parents more about what it offers.
If you are interested in learning about your childcare choices, see “The Kiwi Parent Guide to Quality ECE” on our site.
Add your review and rating of Avonside Early Childhood Centre by going to the REVIEWS and RATINGS tab (see above)
7 Reviews on “Avonside Early Childhood Centre”
Avonside early childhood centre is such a special place, filled with beautiful teachers. Our two children have thrived during their time here, and I have always felt I was sending somewhere they were safe and cared for. It has a calm, relaxed atmosphere and the teachers are all responsive to the children’s needs. We have loved the relatively open environment between the under and over twos and the opportunities it has given our kids to interact with children older and younger them. It has a large, open outdoor space and the children are given lots of room to explore independently and enjoy with other children and the teachers. We feel so lucky to send our kids there.
Great Centre & highly recommended. Our children love going there. Great staff and facilities.
Great environment for children pre-school age. My daughter has been attending since she was 1 and is now 4, she loves the place and her teachers so much!
Excellent center.The teachers are amazing with all the children and helping them learn and grow.My daughter has been going for 3 years now and they have really helped with her confidence in climbing,painting and dancing.
We love Avonside ECC. Our two daughters started in February and April and have an absolutely amazing time. The kaiako have such lovely relationships with the tamariki and foster the little friendships that develop between the children. Our older daughter loves riding the bikes and building things so they brought in a hammer and nails for her to practice with. Our younger daughter loves music and climbing and her kaiako always make sure to have the climbing equipment and the musical instruments out on the days that she attends.
Excellent preschool
Both my young one attend there together.
Both from a young age and they love it
This is the best preschool ever my daughter Zoey has been going for just under 3 years now and teachers amazing with children love seeing there little mind grow and develop so caring to
My daughter loves going every day
The teachers are really fabulous
We r so happy 😊
My daughter is very happy there