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Kazzle 
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Porirua
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 Topic: recommendations of daycare centres
Posted: 27 April 2008 at 6:16pm |
can anyone give me any recommendations for day care centres...doesnt matter if your not in wellington...and can you also tell me what sort of questions you asked and how many times you went back before enrolling your child
TIA 
Oh and does anyone use ABC
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ShellandBella
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Location: Christchurch
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Posted: 27 April 2008 at 7:09pm |
Kazzle, our first daycare was ABC and they were fantastic (albeit busy) but I felt Bella's teachers were really caring and kept up a lovely progress book on her time there. And we changed because a daycare opened up down the road from us, so thought it would be easier (so nothing to do with the daycare itself)
Hmmm questions...qualifications of staff, routines (i.e. do they follow YOUR routine), ratios of staff to children, policies and procedures, do they note feed times, naps, what they ate, how much etc., what sort of activities/educations they follow, what they provide e.g. breakfast if need be, smocks, bibs, etc.)
My brain's a bit dead, but I'm sure other people will offer some more advice. Good luck 
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lizzle
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Posted: 27 April 2008 at 7:24pm |
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I;m with AbC, but not because I was necessarily that keen on it. My orginal daycare was bought out. they seem okay but DON"T do the 20 hours free thing. our staff are wonderful, but the compan do weirs stuff, like rip up all the grass and put down astroturff. aparently grass can be dangerous.
Edited by lizzle
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mummy_becks
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Posted: 27 April 2008 at 7:30pm |
Check out the ERO report as they can tell alot about how they are doing according to the MOE.
The daycare we put Andrew into was our first choice one (not now thou), we went at about 3pm and most children were awake (good time to go so you can see them in action), we looked for the children looking happy (as at one of the other centres we went to, there weren't too many happy faces), good quality resources, the info about the teaching staff, and the general happiness of the place.
We only went to the centres once and we were happy. I don't believe that checking to see if the children's noses are wiped - no candle sticks - (I have seen this written in a mag) as at Andrew's DC one of his best friends always had a runny nose and it didn't matter how many times it was wiped it was forever running.
You are out in the Hutt aren't you?? I can ask my sister if she knows of any good DC's out that way for you.
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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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Kazzle
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Posted: 27 April 2008 at 8:01pm |
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yeah i am in the hutt, but we are moving out to porirua soon, and once we move i need to put Rhi into something a couple of mornings or afternoons a week...she is now needing that interaction with other kids, and im needing the break...im thinking of going back to work while she is in daycare...not sure yet though
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Bombshell
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Posted: 27 April 2008 at 8:11pm |
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SIL worked for Kindercare etc and ABC and hated them. She is now in private one and loving it.
We are at a lollipops and 95% of the time it is fantastic. Only other one around I would consider is penguins - not sure if you have them down there but they seem pretty good.
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mummy_becks
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Posted: 27 April 2008 at 8:13pm |
I'll ask her if she knows of any and get back to you.
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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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fairsk8
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Posted: 27 April 2008 at 9:27pm |
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Lizzle, we are in the same boat here, we had a privately owned one, the only one in our little town and ABC bought them out, I am not completely happy with them. As they came across as very business orientated where as when it was privately owned it was community centred.
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Kazzle
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Posted: 27 April 2008 at 11:06pm |
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what about barnados daycare side of things?
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CuriousG
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Posted: 28 April 2008 at 7:22am |
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We are long time ABC'ers, Charotte has been going for the past year. We LOVE it! She has a fantastic time, the staff are so loving and caring (some even came to her birthday party last weekend) and she has made some amazing little friends too. They are very professional, record everything that happens and have strict guidelines to adhere to with regards to the kids safety.
With regards to routines tho, don't expect them to stick to yours. I only say this because Rhiannon will start to get a new routine by going there - which kid would want to have a nap if all the other kids are playing and they aren't that tired? Things change, just be aware of that.
She will go from strength to strength with the interaction with other children, I really recommend ABC as a great place.
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fattartsrock
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Posted: 28 April 2008 at 9:27am |
 Kazzle wrote:
what about barnados daycare side of things? |
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Barnardos. We have used them since I returned to work when Jake was 6 months old. We do use an in home carer, she has 3 other weenies, and lucky fo rus, they are pretty much the same kids that have been there since for as lng as Jake, so its great. They take them to a Barnardos playgroup once a week, My carer takes Jake to a kindy gym and a music group if I want to, and she is really part of our family now.
They have a curriculum to stick to, and a visiting teacher, and Jakes profile book si amazing. Anyone who thinks in hoime care is just babysitting is sadly deluded!
However, I am sure you are thinking about there centres, which I have heard great things about.
They also do the 20 hours free, which while that isn't an option for you yet, it will come around fast, believe me!
I believe that which ever centre you choose for your princess will end up being a gut thing. Some centres work for some and not for others, if you get my drift, as all parents want different things. The most important thing for me was lots of one on one, Routine (Jake is a REAL sticker for routine, almost OCD about it) and adhering to how we do things at home, as well as lots of interaction with other kids.
Good luck, and you will really appreciate the time out!
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The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P
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Kazzle
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Posted: 28 April 2008 at 12:27pm |
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man i only want 2 mornins or afternoons a week...and no one will do less than 2 full days...and there is no point in that...as that any work i do will be to only pay for that...oh well will just wait for kindy
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baalamb
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Posted: 28 April 2008 at 12:36pm |
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I had exactly the same problem, Kaz. I have enrolled Ashlee in a Barnardos daycare as they do half days (Ashlee can go into an afternoon session from 12.45-4.45 from age 2). She's currently with a Porse educator in her home setting and absolutely loves it. It's quite expensive though, in comparison to some daycare centres around here. It's really good for her though because her educator has other kids at various times each day for Ashlee to interact with.
My cousin is an early childhood teacher at a centre in Petone and often gives me opinions on different centres in the Hutt region.
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recommendations of daycare centres
