Nga Taonga Aroha

We accept enrolments for children (preferably) between the ages of three months and five years.  You must complete an enrolment form to secure your child a place in our Centre.  You may be placed on a waiting list if there is no space available at the time of enrolment.  Fees are to be paid a week in advance before your enrolment is confirmed.  We welcome and encourage you to take the time to visit Nga Taonga Aroha Early Childcare Centre before making your final decision.

Children can often find it challenging to settle into new and unfamiliar environments; this can be distressing for both the parent and child involved, so we ask that you visit as often as possible before your child starts.  This reduces anxiety for your child and less disturbance for our other children. You are welcome to stay as long as you wish and discuss any enquiries with management, teaching staff and family members. These visits also allow for familiarity with the teachers, other children and room routines and activities; plus, a great opportunity for parents and whānau to observe a typical day at the Centre. If visits are not possible, please speak with the Head Teacher or to the Centre Supervisor.

Parents should feel free to phone the centre as many times as they wish to see how their child is settling in.  Parents should also be aware that it is very common for some children to settle quite easily for the first couple of attendance days and then regress a little, sometimes during the second or third week of attendance.  This is no reason for alarm, it is merely an indication that the novelty of the new experience has worn off.  This is the time when we encourage parents to stay positive about their child’s time at the Centre and we certainly encourage parents to say goodbye to their children before leaving with the promise that they will come back to pick them up.

Please walk your child into the Centre upon your arrival to ensure their safety.  Parents are required to complete the sign in/out sheet each day they attend.

If someone else will be collecting your child, please phone and let the centre know.  They must be 14 years of age or older.  For your child’s safety, they will not be released to anyone that is not on each child’s emergency contact list without prior permission given by the parent/caregiver.

We also encourage you, the parent or caregiver to make sure that your child attends their enrolled days.  Consistency of attendance is the key to children settling, engaging in the curriculum, having that all important sense of belonging and playing a part in the day-to-day running of the Centre.

The Centre must be notified immediately if there are any changes to your contact details or enrolment details.

Karakia starts each day at 9.00am followed by waiata and before all meals.  Children are encouraged to learn Māori waiata and basic Māori phrases.

It is essential that whanau notify the Centre whenever their child will be absent and if possible their expected time of return.  This allows the centre to keep accurate records as government funding is dependent upon your child attending regularly.  Upon the first week of absence if you fail to contact the centre, you may receive a courtesy phone call.  Second week of absence you will receive a Notification of Absence letter and after the third week your child’s enrolment is in jeopardy of being cancelled.

If a child sustains a minor accident while at the centre, the child will be attended to by a qualified first aid staff.  If, however the child requires medical attention, they will need to be taken as quickly as possible to the family doctor or the nearest medical centre by a staff member and the parents will be notified.  Contact will be maintained with the staff member and the child until the parent takes responsibility.  All accidents are recorded in the accident register book.

You will be asked to provide names and telephone numbers of relatives or friends who can be contacted in the event that you cannot be reached in an emergency.  You may also choose to nominate another person or persons to collect your child.

It is important that you advise the office or head teacher immediately if any of your emergency contact details change.

Children with illnesses, severe colds, severe coughs, rashes, high temperatures, diarrohea, vomiting or infectious diseases of any nature must be kept at home to avoid the spread of infection to other children and staff.  The Supervisor may refuse to allow your child to attend the Centre until they have fully recovered or have a medical clearance.  Children whom are sick are cared for until whanau arrive to collect them.  If the Head Teacher or Supervisor contacts you because your child is ill, please make arrangements and every effort to collect your child as quickly as possible.  Children will be kept in the isolation area until parents collect them.  All illnesses are recorded in the illness register.

Our Centre participates in a bi-annual tooth brushing and oral health education programme provided by Mighty Mouth/ARDS who are funded by CMDHB. Our teaching staff is trained by Mighty Mouth to implement a daily tooth brushing programme. Upon enrolment parents would have the option of authorising their child to participate in the programme or not.

When a child is on medication prescribed by a doctor it is essential that the medicine be handed to a member of staff and not left in the child’s bag.  You must complete and sign the medicine register authorizing staff to administer the medication specifying time and dosage amount.  If this is not completed fully, licencing criteria prevents staff from administering the medicine.  Medication is to be taken back home each day.

We have plenty of toys here for everyone to share. We strongly discourage children bringing toys from home unless prior approval has been given by staff or it is a one-time special occasion that calls for children to bring a favourite toy into the Centre.

Nga Taonga Aroha Early Childhood Centre believes children need to rest during the day and all children will be given that opportunity.  We provide separate sleeping areas for children under and over two years of age who are supervised and physically checked every 5-10 minutes by a staff member.  Children who do not require a rest are supervised in another area of the Centre.

Cots are provided by the Centre and all comply with the New Zealand Health and Safety standards.  They are easily accessible by staff and are a sufficient distance apart to avoid aerial cross infection.  Cots, linen and blankets are allocated to each child and mattresses have a surface that is smooth, easily cleaned and waterproof.

Individual bed linen and blankets will be allocated to each child (these are changed and laundered every week).  This rest time is to a Marae style situation.  Please let staff know if you wish for your child to rest/sleep (or not) during the day.

We highly recommend a labelled bag for your child and at least two clearly labelled change of clothes.

Spring/Summer (Sept – Apr) Please ensure your child has with them a clearly labelled sun hat and swim wear for water play. Towel (optional)

Autumn/Winter (May – Aug) Please ensure your child has a warm hat, jacket and covered shoes.

Whilst children are in the centre they are provided with cloth nappies as we do not use disposable nappies.  However, we ask for at least one disposable nappy for your child to go home in each day.

At Nga Taonga Aroha we want to ensure that children receive nutritional food at an appropriate time to meet their needs in a safe manner. We want to help our children to develop healthy eating habits and educate children and their whanau in nutritious food choices.

Parents are to provide all their children’s meals for the duration of the day at the centre.  Children will bring a piece of fruit to share, lunch and a snack in a named container.  If a child is without food for the day, the parents will be contacted and asked to bring in lunch and a snack for the child. All bottles of milk are to be made up for the day and named. Nga Taonga Aroha is working towards becoming a zero waste centre, therefore all wrapping/rubbish will be sent home in the children’s container at the end of the day.

No drinks are to be bought to the centre as children have access to water throughout the day.

We believe in role modelling better living habits for our children.  Our children’s health, wellbeing and longevity is paramount to us.  In partnership with the Heart Foundation we promote healthier eating habits; as part of our quest towards this, we ask that if parents wish to celebrate their child’s birthday, they are most welcome to come in and do so.  We provide a fresh fruit cake to celebrate each child’s birthday that lands during the week.

Celebrations at the Centre need to be of food options that are healthier e.g.  fruit, fruit kebabs, vegetables, whole foods with limited processed foods, yoghurt, cheese, rice crackers, sushi, salads and wraps.

Eating healthy food in early childhood has an effect on children’s growth, development and learning. Here at Nga Taonga Aroha Early Childhood Centre we do our best to promote healthier options for our children.

We recognize the importance of providing a variety of experiences such as excursions to stimulate an understanding and awareness of our community.  These may include trips to the park, beach, the zoo or the local swimming pool or even our own carpark.  A community notice, newsletter, poster or text will be distributed to families if the centre plans a trip.  A small fee may be requested to assist with the costs incurred at some venues.

All staff employed at the centre are passionate and committed to the wellbeing of every child and possess the knowledge and skills essential for children in their care.

Management encourages professional development and provides opportunities for staff to attend training workshops throughout the year; this enables their pedagogy to continually develop i.e. personal development as well as continual practice development for Nga Taonga Aroha. Photographs of all our staff are displayed on our notice board in the entrance way.

Information of what’s happening in the centre such as upcoming trips, new equipment, birthday celebrations, charity work and reminders will be provided by several means.  We have Storypark Community Notices (e-portfolio), text or posters around the Centre and direct communication with staff.

Check out our noticeboards for our programme planning and to see what the progression of children’s learning, their artwork, photographs, and activities. These are updated at least, every two weeks.

The centre policies, procedures are available upon request and we strongly recommend that you read these.  Our latest ERO report is in our entrance foyer, along with Licensing Criteria (Education Childhood and Care Services) 2008, Education (EC Services) Regulation and the Taonga Education Centre Charitable Trust’s (our parent company) profile for your perusal.

Nga Taonga Aroha staff make every effort to communicate with parents openly and as regularly as possible.  We have implemented a number of different communication methods to enable the exchange of ideas, interaction and consultation between staff and families.

As mentioned, our programme planning is displayed throughout the centre for parents to view.  As well as access to Storypark, an e-portfolio portal we utilize to update children’s interests, learning and emerging dispositions.

Posters, texts, community notices (through Storypark) as well as newsletters provide parents with information relating to special events, teacher professional development, reviews, new initiatives and feedback.

A day-to-day book for the under one-year-old children provide a two-way communication between teachers and parents relating to care, wellbeing and education of each child.

Parents are encouraged to communicate with teachers and management freely and we value these contributions for the betterment of our Centre.

Licensing Hours:    Monday to Friday 8.00am – 4.30pm

Please note hours of operation.  Our license is for these hours only; we cannot take responsibility for children outside of these hours. We are closed for Statutory Holidays and possibly for two to three weeks during the Christmas period.  Normal childcare fees apply to statutory holidays and absences.

• Fees are to be paid for the weeks that we are open each year regardless of statutory holidays, illness or family vacation times, or transfer between our Taonga Centres.
• Statement/Invoices will be either emailed or a hardcopy can be provided (please advise your preference at enrolment).
• All fees are GST inclusive and are to be paid by the Friday the week before attendance. Four-weekly or fortnightly payments are welcome but must be paid in advance.
• A late fee of $10 for every 10 minutes will be charged when parents are late to collect their child.
• Parents agree their child is not enrolled in any other early childhood service on the same day they attend our centre(s).
• Any fee changes will be entirely at the discretion of management. At least one month’s notice will be given when an increase is to occur.
• WINZ subsidies are available and forms can be sourced at time of enrolment if required.
• Two weeks’ notice must be given and will be charged for when you withdraw your child/children from the centre.

Full Week

1st child              $190.00

2^nd child               $175.00        (conditions apply)

3^rd child               $160.00        (conditions apply)

Full time Day Rate                    (minimum of 2 days)

2 days                              $100.00

3 days                              $150.00

AM session: 8.00am – 12.00pm

PM session: 12.30pm – 4.30pm

20 hours free

$ 50.00                      up to 30 hours

$ 80.00                      up to 40 hours

$100.00                    up to 50 hours

Parents must adhere to the enrolment times stipulated on the enrolment confirmation as teachers’ roster is based on children’s enrolment times.  Please arrange with the centre first if you are going to bring your child in early or pick them up late to avoid being charged a late fee.  Failure to notify the centre will result in a late fee of $10.