This New Zealand parent co-operative provides early childhood education for children from birth to school age. The sessions are two and a half hours long and are run by parents with a ratio of adults to children from 1:5 to 1:3. There are 14 playcentres throughout the Coromandel region so call them or check the website to find others in your area. Costs vary up to $50 for a ten week term but each playcentre has their own fees, so contact the individual playcentre for more information.
The growing town of Whitianga ensures that this centre has a lot of new families of different nationalities for your child to interact with. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8am – 12noon
Hamilton Childcare Services Trust aims to provide a choice of services to families. Operating three childcare and education services within Hamilton and Cambridge, they offer high calibre education and childcare for children from birth to five years old. Hamilton Childcare provides children with a friendly, warm environment with excellent teacher:child ratios.
B4 Childcare run a nursery and Over Two’s Centre, although both units interact. Their nursery has a 1:4 child/staff ratio and the Over Two’s Centre is split into three age groups and has a 1:7 child/staff ratio. Full and part time care is available (morning or afternoon sessions).
Bears is a privately run centre and is part of Kidicorp, the largest private provider of early childhood education in New Zealand. Each centre has its own unique identity. Bears is licensed for 35 children and takes children from birth to five years and a ratio of two staff to eight babies. They have an outdoor play area with shaded areas and offer your child the best quality care and education. 8am – 5 pm
Central Childcare offers quality education and care and a warm, safe and stimulating environment for your child. First Steps provides a safe and caring environment for babies and toddlers under two years old, while parents are in the 10:30am worship service. Children are provided with morning tea around 11:00am to see them through the morning. Children aged 2-4 are explorers, so they have a programme designed to meet their needs. Children are involved in a teaching time, including singing and prayer and complete an activity to reinforce the teaching. They are provided with morning tea, and are given a free choice of the various indoor and outdoor activities available to them within the Childcare Centre facilities that we use.
The Association runs 51 kindergartens in the central north island. Their mission is to provide the highest quality early childhood education for young children in settings that inspire active learning and support inclusion. Call them for locations of other kindergartens in your area or check their website. $2 per session up to 4 hours, $4 for sessions up to 6 hours
