preschools in chch

If you are in Chch please help me:

I wanted to put E into home care but a few things recently have changed my mind on this so I am going to be looking at a preschool to put him in a few afternoons a week...I have a few questions...firstly he cries when left with anyone except my parents...partly familiarity I guess but even for my aunty and I want to know when they generally get over this stage?

and as I am a preschool teacher I have an idea of what I am looking for in a centre....

th main things are *warm friendly environment...not one which forces (as in one preschool i was at) teachers to have no time with the children as they complete all the tasks!!
*Preferably under 8 or under 12 under 2's(but i know this is not very common)
Obviously i wan to go on how I feel when i visit as well..but

how did you choose your child's preschool?
how long did you have to go on the waiting list?
what about the centre do you specifically like?
anything else?
if you feel comfortable(you can pm me if you want to) you can tell me which one:)

I know most of the ones that aren't recommended.. lol..

The crying thing goes, Jack started at DC at 5 months and always cried, now he doesn't even know I left most of the time lol (even though we do the big goodbye thing). I guess the older they are the longer it may take, but also some kids adapt easily depending on the environment.

We wanted some sort of structure eg they would stick to routines as best as they could, there were specific opportunities for art, music, learning gentle touching with animals etc. I also liked the fact that they provide all the food and its relatively cheap.

We have 12 under 2's at our ABC (Aidanfield). Some love ABC's, some hate them, but I was recommended our one by 2 people (one who worked there, one who has 2 kids there). It's fantastic. They have also just had a male staff member join the nursery which Jack is stoked with.

Another thing I like is they have primary carers, so there's continuity and you get to know the carer really well. Reporting is also a big thing to me, we get a sheet everyday.

But most importantly was how Jack and I both felt when we first went in. Nothing was a problem, the kids were all happy and were allowed to do various different things but weren't walking around aimlessly or bored so that was great. They're friendly, loving and gentle. If you can find a place like that I recommend you book ASAP!

Um waiting lists... we got 1 spot and have had to wait 8 months for another 9-3 spot to come up. For full time, the waiting list is 18 months if not already enrolled part time. It's pretty ridiculous.

Hey Kerri Anne

Funnily enough out of all the places I looked at I liked Ottawa gardens the best but as a playcentre family thats the kind of thing I was looking for. My two aren't going there as they have no room but I'm keeping them on the waiting list in case we don't like where they end up.

We chose lindisfarne in Linwood as its nice and close to everyone who would be picking them up and I just liked it. I hate the area but it fitted best for us. Second chioce was kindercare but its just a bit too far away and they wouldn't say if there would definately be aplce available but their should be. They never return my calls and couldn't fit them in part time for a week or two before hand so they could get used to it before they had to go full time.

I don't think you will ever find a place that you love 100% because its not your home IYKWIM I've spent so many nights worrying about it and I think its hard to know how your child will actually do before you send them.

Good luck its such a hard choice.

I'm also having this problem. I really need to go back to work for a few months to get us out of the poo - but a) no-one will take us for shorter than a year and b) they're so bloody expensive that what i'd earn would cover the fee's.
I dont want to send Thomas anywhere out of Rangiora - i'd hate to have any problems and not be able to get there quickly etc, but it's looking more and more like we might have to send him over to Kaiapoi or up to Woodend or something like that.
Does anyone know of somewhere thats a pay per day thing or something that isnt expensive?! We dont want to do in home care at all.

thankyou for your input everyone:)

Done Vanessa :P
Kerri-anne - no we didnt book him in anywhere as I was too lazy to get off my arse and go somewhere. Yea it's like that in rangiora - its pretty sh*t actually. Gone are the days when there was plenty of room.

Hey MissAngel put his name down everywhere tomorrow even if you haven't checked it out yet. Then go check them out in your own time and take his name off if you don't like it. I put my two down for a few places 8 months in advance where they said they had places and now they don't Its such a horrible stressful thing finding a daycare.