Our centre is always buzzing with activity, and we love getting the children outside to play as much as possible! We also enjoy messy and wet activities, so to ensure your child is comfortable and well-prepared, we recommend packing the following:
Lastly, please remember to label all clothing! we recommend using Precious Labels
Along with fostering healthy eating and drinking habits, we are a rubbish-free centre, so any packaging from snacks will be sent home.
At Children First Preschool, we value clear and consistent communication with families. To keep you connected, we use an online learning story program called Educa. Through Educa, your child’s key kaiako will share stories about your child’s learning experiences, provide important updates, and outline the weekly program planning. This helps you stay informed and involved in your child’s preschool journey.
Each Kaiako also has a personal email address, which they will share with you. Feel free to reach out with any questions or updates about your child. Additionally, we use social media, mainly Facebook, to share important announcements and updates with our preschool community.
Open communication is key to our approach. Our Kaiakos are always available for a chat during drop-off or pick-up times. They love hearing about what’s happening at home and sharing the highlights of your child’s day at preschool. This two-way communication helps build a strong partnership between families and educators.
IRD also have available Family Boost: The program is available to households earning up to $180,000 per year and you make a new claim for each 3 months.
Key features of Family Boost:
For more information: visit www.ird.govt.nz or call IRD on 0800 227 773 for more information about Family Boost.
At Children First, we take the time to get to know your child and understand their behaviour. If there’s a change in their behaviour, it may be a sign that they’re not feeling well. If your child becomes unwell at preschool, we will contact you, the parents/caregivers. If we’re unable to reach you, we will then contact the emergency contact listed on the enrollment form. In the meantime, we will make sure your child is comfortable while waiting to be picked up.
If your child has an accident at preschool, we will ensure they are comfortable and let you know when you pick them up. For more serious accidents, we will immediately contact you, and if we’re unable to reach you, we will contact the emergency contact listed on the enrollment form and, if necessary, call an ambulance.
If your child is sick at home, please let us know by phone or text, especially if it’s COVID-related, so we can keep track of and support their return to preschool.
We highly recommend at least three settling sessions before your child’s start date. These visits are an important opportunity for both you and your child to become familiar with the preschool environment, the teachers, and the daily routine. During these sessions, you can join in on our activities, helping your child feel more comfortable and confident in their new setting.
It’s important to allow the teachers to interact with your child and take care of some of their needs during these visits. This helps build trust, fosters a sense of belonging, and supports a smooth transition for your child into preschool life.
We want to ensure that you feel confident and your child feels supported, so please know that there is no charge for the time you spend with your child during these settling sessions. We are excited to be a part of your child’s learning journey!
At Children First, we have two vibrant classrooms designed for different age groups: Rainbows for 2 to 3-year-olds and Butterflies for 4 to 5-year-olds.
Here’s a glimpse into our exciting daily schedule:
We look forward to seeing the joy and curiosity your child will bring to their day at Children First!