WELCOME STARTING OUT WITH US WHAKATU MAI KI A MÄ€TOU
Tel 0800 4 KINDY Email info@aka.org.nz aka.org.nz facebook.com/mykindy PO Box 6933 Wellesley Street Auckland 1141
THANK YOU FOR ENROLLING YOUR CHILD AT KINDERGARTEN. WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU WITH US! In this booklet you’ll find all sorts of essential information. If you have any questions, or if there is anything that we can help with, please talk to one of the staff at your kindergarten.
WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN Auckland Kindergartens is a part of the Auckland Kindergarten Association (AKA) – a charitable trust established in 1908 with the purpose of improving educational outcomes for children. Through our kindergartens all around Auckland, we are proud to provide high quality early childhood education to over 10,000 children each year. At Auckland Kindergartens we employ qualified teachers to work alongside you and your child to develop skills and dispositions for ongoing learning.
Introducing our teaching team Head Teacher Teacher Teacher Teacher Our part-time support staff are also important members of the team.
That which is nurtured, grows and blossoms. Whāngaia ka tupu, ka puāwai.
Introducing our support team Administrator Teaching Assistant Teacher Aide Other 01
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY Auckland Kindergartens value the importance of child initiated, play based experiences. Children are encouraged to make their own learning choices and to problem solve, observe and explore at their own pace with support from teachers, parents, wider whānau and their peers. Play is children’s work! The word ‘kindergarten’ translates to ‘children’s garden’. Children educated in our children’s garden grow into confident and competent learners. Everything in the kindergarten environment is designed specifically for young children with indoor and outdoor environments that intrigue, challenge and inspire.
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WHAT YOUR CHILD WILL LEARN AT KINDERGARTEN Our teachers aim to enhance teachable moments by working alongside children and using an extensive range of high quality resources. They introduce children to new ideas by modelling language, introducing mathematical concepts and by offering science, literacy and sustainability practices. Children are prepared for a journey of lifelong learning. As your child approaches five years of age they will be assisted with their transition to school and the new challenges this brings. The aim is to make this process simple and seamless.
The aim for children attending Auckland Kindergartens is to develop strong foundations for ongoing learning. This includes: • Developing perseverance and persistence • Developing independence • Working with and alongside others • Developing understanding of aspects of Māori culture and language • Developing early literacy skills • Developing sound mathematics and logical problem skills • Developing perceptual motor skills Our kindergarten curriculum is based on the NZ Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whāriki, which is designed to support children “to grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body, and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society.” Te Whāriki (1996).
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LEARNING PORTFOLIOS At kindergarten our dedicated staff regularly document a sample of children’s learning in individual portfolios. These learnings are recorded in both paper and electronic portfolios, and help highlight your child’s strengths, interests, and learning dispositions. Portfolio book The portfolio book belongs to your child and is stored in the centre where children can access them whenever they wish. You are welcome to take your child’s book home to share with the family. We also encourage you to add to the portfolio so the book becomes a reflection of the learning at home and kindergarten. This helps build a rich story about your child. Portfolio books are given to your child when they leave kindergarten.
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Electronic portfolio We use Storypark for our electronic portfolio. Storypark allows teachers to privately share updates, photos and videos with families to communicate what is happening during your child’s day at kindergarten. You will get a unique login to access Storypark through any internet connected smartphone, tablet or computer. Parents are the administrators of their child’s account and own all photos, videos and content. Important friends and family anywhere in the world can be invited to see, comment and engage in your child’s learning.
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PRACTICAL DAY-TO-DAY INFORMATION Opening hours Each kindergarten typically offers school hours. You can choose the days that your child will attend. Availability will vary between kindergartens. Kindergartens operate all year, with a close down period over December and January. What to bring to kindergarten each day Kindergarten is a place of fun and children’s learning can be messy! So we ask that your child wears suitable clothing to play, explore and experiment.
Each day your child will need to bring: • A (pre-school) bag with your child’s name clearly printed on it • A change of clothes (with their name on each item) • A small lunch box with healthy food / kai and a drink bottle • A sun hat in the summer months • A warm hat and jacket in winter • Any other items that are part of your kindergarten’s daily routine.
Healthy food / kai Our teaching teams promote healthy eating both at kindergarten and at home. Meal times are valuable for social interaction and creating a healthy, positive attitude towards food.
Toilet training If your child is still toilet training just let a teacher know. We find that coming to kindergarten helps children to learn this skill quickly.
You may wish to limit waste with ‘litterless lunchboxes’ that have enough compartments to keep various snacks separate and clean. Fresh water is available at all times for children to drink.
Settling in at kindergarten Many children love kindergarten from their first day, while others may need time to become comfortable with the new environment. The teaching team is committed to working with you to ensure this settling period is as enjoyable and easy as possible for you and your child. We encourage you to visit regularly before your child’s start day so they become familiar with staff, other children and routines.
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Attendance It is important that your child attends kindergarten regularly to receive the full benefit of their Early Childhood Education. Furthermore, kindergarten funding from the Ministry of Education is based on regular child attendance and we have rules in place relating to attendance and enrolment. Please speak with a teacher as soon as possible about any absences. Exceptions are provided for children with special needs. Please talk to the teaching team if your circumstances change from those agreed in the Enrolment Form.
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Signing in and out Our early childhood licensing and safety / security precautions require you to sign your child’s exact arrival and departure times each day on the form provided at kindergarten. Your child must be brought into the building and left safely with a teacher before you leave. Please alert the teachers if someone else will be collecting your child, and make sure they are listed on your child’s Enrolment Form. If they are not, you can notify the Head Teacher on the day but it needs to be in writing. In an absolute emergency please phone to advise if someone different will be collecting your child, and add this person to your child’s Enrolment Form the next day. Unless these procedures are followed, people other than the authorised people listed on the Enrolment Form will not be permitted to collect your child.
Fees Auckland Kindergartens is part of the government scheme, which allows all children over three years of age to receive 20 hours of free early childhood education (ECE) a week. We have extended this scheme and offer this subsidy to children from two years of age.
Because the Auckland Kindergarten Association is a charitable trust, all money received is directed back into children’s learning. Your local kindergarten will calculate and provide you with information about your fees based on the hours that your child attends kindergarten and your use of the 20 hours ECE subsidy.
An additional fee is charged for hours over the 20 hours ECE government subsidy. If your child attends another ECE service as well as kindergarten, you can split the hours between them so you are still eligible for the ECE government subsidy, so long as it’s not more than 6 hours a day and 20 hours a week in total.
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KEEPING HEALTHY AND SAFE
INTERNET SAFETY AND PRIVACY
Food allergies Occasionally, we have children with severe food allergies.
Cybersafety All parents and caregivers are required to sign the Cybersafety Use Agreement before your child uses the kindergarten’s computers and devices. The agreement is based on the AKA’s Cybersafety Policy, which is designed to help maintain a physically and emotionally safe learning environment for our children, parents and staff. Such agreements are standard in learning institutions.
Please avoid bringing peanuts or nuts to the kindergarten. This includes Nutella, peanut butter, peanut brownies, peanuts or nuts of any kind. If you have any queries, please talk to the teaching team at your kindergarten. Sickness If your child is feeling unwell or displaying any of the symptoms listed below we ask that they remain away from kindergarten and return 24 – 48 hours after the final symptom has cleared: • Vomiting and / or diarrhoea • Head lice (after treatment) • Contagious diseases. Head Teachers have a responsibility to keep every child safe and have discretion to ask you to take your child home if they believe it is not in your or other children’s interest for your child to stay.
Medication Teachers keep records of all medication given to children. All records of medication administered are recorded and countersigned. Please refer to the kindergarten medication procedures. Accidents Our kindergartens provide a safe, nurturing environment but despite this sometimes accidents happen. All our teachers have current first aid certificates and will administer basic first aid should the need arise. All accidents are recorded. Should a minor accident happen you will be told what happened and the treatment provided, before being asked to sign the accident register. If the accident is serious, parents will be contacted immediately. If this is not possible, we will seek appropriate and immediate medical advice or support.
Social media protocol We are respectful of the privacy of our families and we don’t publish images of children on websites or social media sites without parent’s consent. Please check with your Head Teacher before sharing photos of other children taken within our kindergartens.
Please feel free to discuss the Cybersafety Use Agreement with your Head Teacher before signing the acknowledgement on the Enrolment Form.
Please refer to the kindergarten procedures on sickness. 10
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YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME We greatly value the contribution that families, whānau and the community can make to children’s learning. Opportunities are provided for you to talk with teachers about your child, share information about their learning, and to be involved in decision making that affects their wellbeing. Our kindergartens hold regular parent evenings and family events and encourage you to get involved. We’d like you to feel that you are now a part of the kindergarten community of parents, caregivers, whānau, teachers and children, and that you are always welcome. If you have any unanswered questions or concerns, please get in touch with one of the teachers at your kindergarten. We wish you and your children every success at this important starting point in their life of learning.
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We greet and acknowledge our parents and whānau who are nurturing our leaders of tomorrow. E rere ana ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa, ngā mātua me ngā whānau e poipoi ana i ngā rangatira ō āpōpō.
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