Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have Health & Safety policies & procedures?
We have robust Health & Safety policies and procedures in place at our centre and our policies are reinforced by our staff. These include (but are not limited to) regular safety checks of all equipment, identification of and mitigation of any hazards, the storage of chemicals and hazardous items in locked cupboards, and educating children on personal safety matters such as walking inside, staying seated while eating, not throwing equipment and encouraging respectful caring behaviour at all times. All our team are police vetted and first aid trained.
How will you help my child settle in?
To make the transition as stress-free as possible, we recommend 4 one-hour visits prior to the start date. Transition visits are at least 45 minutes to an hour for each visit. First transition you can stay with your child, so the teachers can get to know them better through you and vice versa, then 2nd, 3rd and 4th you can just drop them off to us, then when you return the teachers can let you know how they went.
Once your child starts with us, feel free to phone the centre at any time to find out how they are getting on – you might find this unnecessary once you see how much they love our centre!
Do you participate in the 20 hours ECE scheme?
Yes, we do! Under this scheme if your child is aged 3, 4 or 5 they can receive fully subsidised care, for a total of 20 hours per week (either allocated morning / afternoon sessions or as part of a full enrolment). For more information, please get in touch.
What sort of food will my child be eating?
Our children love meal times thanks to our awesome in-house cook who creates healthy, delicious home-cooked meals on a daily basis. We like to eat ‘family style’ so that the children learn to eat at a table and can perfect their table manners. Our menu runs on a monthly cycle and provides a varied selection of morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea. We cater for allergies & special dietary requirements such as halal & vegetarian food.
What happens if my child falls ill or has an accident at the centre?
We will attend to your child and offer first aid and lots of cuddles. If it is more than a minor accident, we will ring you immediately to inform you of what happened. We will send home a copy of an accident report for your information. If a child becomes unwell, we will give you a text or phone call to keep in touch with you and let you know should the child need to be picked up to be cared for at home or visit a Doctor. In the event of an emergency we will follow emergency protocols and be in touch as soon as we are able.
How can I make the goodbyes easier?
We have learnt from experience that it is best to devise a regular routine for saying goodbye and discuss it with your child before arriving at the centre. Some tips to make it a bit easier include:
Talk to your child about what activity you are going to do with them before saying goodbye (such as staying to complete a puzzle or reading a story)
- Keep the goodbye process short to minimise stress
- Always let your child know you are going to leave but will be back later to pick them up. If your child gets upset at this point, we recommend sticking to your routine
- Leave them with one of the teachers or some other children rather than just on their own
- Always leave as soon as you have said your goodbyes
- Crying is normal when you leave, however rest assured this usually stops soon afterwards as they get on with their day!
- Children will pick up on your emotions about coming to the centre. Make sure you have positive conversations about the centre and always ask them how their day was when you pick them up.
How do you communicate with parents?
We love to build close relationships with all our families and use an online tool called Story park to share your child’s learning with you. Nursery journals are used for babies under one year of age. It is a valuable communication tool between home and centre with information on your child's sleeping, feeding and toileting. The Nursery team posts a Daily Diary for a quick snapshot into your babies’ day. For our older children we post a weekly blog for general updates along with a monthly newsletter, emails and of course, regular conversations at drop off & pick up. Staff and management are always available to discuss any matter regarding your child. We recommend that you make an appointment so that teachers can be available without interruption.
What does my child need to bring with them each day?
The children at our centre are very busy which means there is often a need for parents to pack a few extra things. We recommend packing the following named items:
- Two or three complete changes of clothes, including underwear and socks
- Sunhat in summer
- Warm hat, jacket and gumboots in winter
What are your policies around immunisation?
We respect parent/caregiver choice around immunisation. If your child is immunised, please provide their Plunket book on enrolment so that we can photocopy their immunisation chart. If you have chosen not to immunise your child, please let us know on enrolment, so that you can be notified if there is ever an infectious disease/illness in the centre.
Our Local Curriculum
At Child’s Time Penrose we are focused on providing an inclusive environment where children can grow and flourish through a holistic approach to learning. We follow the NZ Curriculum Te Whariki and have developed our own Local Curriculum which reflects our philosophy and our community’s aspirations.
We look forward to sharing more information about our curriculum with you when you visit the centre.
155 Penrose Road, Mount Wellington, Auckland 1060. Phone 09 580 0043. penrose@childstime.co.nz