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 “Grow and Learn Early Learning Centre”
I went to a few daycares and I didn’t like them as I thought they were too mayhem and just could not see my girl getting the care that I would want for her. But as soon as i went to this one I instantly liked it and enrolled her straight away and never regretted it she has learnt to walk here; she has friends she also always talks about her teachers (like there her friends). I love how they send me photos of my girl makes my day can see what she is doing 🙂 awesome daycare all my future kids will go here.
Such a warm and welcoming atmosphere with all staff genuine in how much they care for the children and support their growth while there.
They are prompt with contacting if there are any issues or concerns that arise with my child while also communicating changes and need to know information for the centre.
It is a little pricey but worth it. It is honestly so inviting and such an amazing place to send my child. Not only do I get on with the teachers but so does my 3-year-old. It is only female teachers, but I wouldn’t mind a male teacher also. It is very small, and I love the ratio of kids to teachers. The kids are taught independence and I don’t get a messy child every day!! Honestly such a lifesaver to not have paint covered clothes every day.
Am so proud both my boys have been through this centre and the awesome teachers who have treated them like whanau!
I don’t know where our boy would be without this amazing team. The support and the understanding that comes from them is unexplainable. They’ve been on one of the hardest journeys with me and our little one and he has progressed leaps and bounds.
My twins started here at 5 months old. I visited to check the centre out and was instantly drawn to the teachers genuine interest in each child no matter their age or learning capabilities. My twins attended until the age of 5 with a short stint away. The teachers became family, the environment is open plan and suited to all ages. The learning curriculum is amazing, changing when required and even better, its locally owned and operated. Teachers support each other as well as their children and families in times of need and always there to chat to or lean on.