Kindercare Learning Centre - New Zealand

Program Image

Program

  • Type of Program: Full day early childhood centre
  • Age Served: 0 to 5 years and 5 to 9 years
  • Funding Sources: Parent Fees, Shareholders Capital, Gov. Subsidy
  • Presenter: June Robins and Vicky Whittle (Area Manager and Centre Director)
  • Address: c/- 91 Shakespeare Rd
    Auckland, New Zealand
  • Telephone: 064 9-486-1185
  • Fax: 064-9-486-3997
  • Email: [email protected]

Program Purpose

Our purpose is expressed in our mission statement. We at Kindercare believe "Children are a gift from God entrusted to us by parents. In partnership with parents we are dedicated to developing each child's full potential by providing outstanding early childhood care and education."

Program Description

Kindercare Learning Centres operates early childhood centres in 14 locations across New Zealand's city of sails - Auckland. We serve approximately 1500 children and their families each week. This includes children who attend on a part-time basis. Our total licenced capacity across these 14 locations is 955 (full-time equivalents). We take an eclectic approach to early childhood education because children learn different things in different ways. We view the curriculum as everything that occurs throughout the child's day at Kindercare. The New Zealand Ministry of Education has developed the New Zealand Early Childhood curriculum - "Te Whaariki". This curriculum has an holistic approach and places value on the family. It is designed to develop confidence in children to use their abilities to create, discover, explore experiment and realise a love for learning. It is based on four principles ; empowerment, family and community, holistic development and relationships. Within these principles are five essential areas of learning and development. These are well-being, belonging, contribution communication and exploration. Each New Zealand centre is expected to "develop their own distinctive pattern for planning, assessment and development" (Te Whaariki:p.28) of this curriculum. Kindercare's "Excel: early education program" has been developed to ensure that children have frequent participation in the range of curriculum areas. Through this program we cultivate the child's thirst for knowledge and foster confidence in their ability to research and explore. We grow and develop and nurture their interests so that they will outshine their previous capabilities. This will significantly strengthen their later learning while making their early childhood experience enriching and fun.

Our mission statement is prefaced by the declaration "Children are a gift from God entrusted to us by parents…." Kindercare highly values children. This influences the way we think and act as an organisation. We have eight foundational values that provide direction, alignment and motivation for the service we provide our parents and their children. These same eight values influence our relationships with our staff. These values are:

  • Caring: to provide for; to lovingly watch over
  • Safety: to provide security; to protect
  • Learning: to gain knowledge of
  • Belonging: to be part of; to be connected to
  • Self Esteem: to feel valuable; to feel confident
  • Trust: to believe in; to place confidence in
  • Happiness: to feel contentment; to feel satisfied
  • Personal Development: to grow; to realise one's full potential

Most Unique Program Feature

In 1982 Kindercare established a staff training division which is now a stand-alone organisation known as New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC). Specialising in the training of early childhood teachers for centres throughout the country, NZTC provides college-based, field-based and distance learning courses. This enables students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to be effective in their work with young children.

Staff recruitment is a challenge to any growing early childhood organisation. Kindercare has a sponsorship scheme where interest free loans are made available to staff enrolling in two and three year training programs. The debt is forgiven proportionate to time spent in Kindercare's employ after graduation.

Edited by Michael Kalinowski