What To Look For When Choosing An ECE Centre For Your Child
Choosing the ideal early childhood education (ECE) centre for your child can be challenging. There are many things to consider, but some are more important than others.
Here are some top tips to help you find an ECE centre that suits your child and your family values.
Start With The Fundamentals
When selecting an ECE centre, your starting point can be to get some answers to the following questions:
Where are they located? Ideally, you want to select an early childhood centre that is conveniently located near your home or workplace.
What hours do they operate? The hours must tie in with your working hours, and also ask about school holidays and public holidays.
Do they have space available for your child? Popular ECE centres may have a waiting list for applicants.
How many children can they accommodate? Decide if you prefer an ECE centre that is small and intimate or if your child would be happier in a larger group.
What are the fees over the 20 hours of ECE subsidised by the government? Find out if there are fees to pay over and above the subsidised portion.
What services do they offer? Pick-up and drop-off transport services, meals and extramural activities are just some of the services provided by ECE centres.
Are there opportunities for parental involvement? Does the centre actively seek to engage parents in their child’s education, or do they prefer a more hands-off approach?
What is their fundamental form of care? Look for a centre that is inclusive of language and culture and embraces diversity.
What values do they espouse? Your learning centre of choice should uphold various values, including family, love, communication, respect, support, teamwork, understanding and growth.
2. Narrow Down Your Choices
Now that you have gathered the essential data on the childcare centres in your area, you are ready to start narrowing down the options. Here are some ideas to help you create your shortlist:
Visit the early learning centre - a personal visit is one of the best assessments. Arrange to meet with the managers and teachers of the centre to get a good “feel” for the place, and at the same time, you can view their facilities and equipment. You can ask any further questions that you may have.
Ask for recommendations - talk to family, friends and colleagues about their choice of ECE centre and what they and their children loved the most about it.
Contact Community KIDS today to find out what our ECE centres can offer to your child. Our vision is that kids from all communities benefit from early childhood education as it sets them up for a successful life-long learning journey. Ask about our 20 ECE hours, WINZ subsidies, free transport, and Whānau First fees policy.