Contact Info
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.
2 Reviews on “Busy Bees Terrace End”
We found this centre to be full of upset, unsettled children. A lot of aggression and very little to keep the children engaged. Big open room with no space for children to unwind – over stimulated children everywhere upset by the noise and too much craziness. We didn’t like this centre and wasn’t suitable for our son and have since found one that is so so much more beneficial for his wellbeing, learning and development.
Staff retention is not good, children have no consistency of care teachers and I pulled my child out due to the staffing changes, she was unable to have a chance to form bond and felt the level of care had gone downhill. A lot of favouritism and exclusion if you weren’t a favourite, my child went from happy drop offs to tantrums every drop off. De escalation techniques and positive behaviour management skills were under developed. Communication skills were also lacking and dismissive. Activities and teaching skills were a positive factor, education came before empathy however. Very unfortunate as the first couple of years at daycare were a safe trusted experience.