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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.
(as at last year):
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?)
(last year and year before):
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/
Recommended Highly by 80% or More Families: The service is recommended by at least 80% of families, based on results from the independent OECE parent survey. To qualify, the survey must have a response rate of at least 51% of enrolled families and have been completed within the past three years.
1 Review on “Little Citizens Early Learning Centre”
Little citizens was the only child care provider that my now 18 year old would settle into (and we tried a few). Imagine my surprise when my youngest started 13 years later and there were still 2 teachers I recognized.
They are affordable yet that does not negate the care they provide. Throughout the rooms, the staff take the parents’ lead in everything. Napping happens the way you do nap time at home. First foods are lead by the parents. Toilet training is our next step but is also lead by parents.
The meals are varied and healthy, my toddler thinks yogurt is ice cream (not complaining). Impromptu excursions to the local community are very well staffed. The whole place feels like home