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Navigating through the myriad of childcare options online can often be perplexing. As Bear Park prefers to identify ourselves as Early Childhood Learning Centres, we're pleased to clarify the differences among the various terminologies commonly used such as Early Childhood Education Centres ECE, Kindergarten, Daycare, Playcentre and Home-based care services.
What is Childcare?
Childcare encompasses supervised care for young children, typically ranging from newborns through to around five years of age. Its primary objective is to support working parents by ensuring the safety and development of their children while they are away. These centres are often staffed by qualified Early Childhood Education teachers providing a secure environment with educational programs.
Is this Different than Daycare?
Historically, daycare referred to informal care services beyond standard kindergarten settings. However, modern childcare centers have evolved significantly from just minding children into comprehensive structures that prepare kids for primary education.
Early Childhood Education ECE
Often interchangeably known as daycare, Early Childhood Learning Centres operate under various educational philosophies such as the Reggio Emilia Approach, Montessori or RIE. Unlike traditional daycares, these centers are often privately owned and offer flexibility in hours to accommodate working parents from early morning till late afternoon. They might provide half-day sessions, school hours or full days of care. ECE programs may employ different educational philosophies such as the Reggio Emilia Approach or Montessori methods alongside Te Whariki, New Zealand's national curriculum for Early Childhood Education.
Features:
Usually privately owned
Longer operating hours from morning till late afternoon to suit working parents
May offer half-day sessions, school hours or full days of care
Offer various educational philosophies such as Reggio Emilia Approach, Montessori, RIE and Steiner methods
Open all year round except for statutory holidays
Often provide meals on-site
Provide lower teacher: child ratios than the standard set by the Ministry of Education
Kindergarten
A popular choice among parents due to its relatively low cost, Kindergartens or 'Kindy' cater for children aged two through to five years. These centres adhere to Te Whariki curriculum and are open during school terms with closures during holidays.
Features:
Usually state owned but privately owned as well
Operate on school term schedules when schools are in session, closed during school breaks
May offer sessions tlored for different age groups like morning or afternoon only
Some might provide full-day care from 9am to 2pm
Might request some contributions towards fees
Teachers are usually qualified
Teacher-to-child ratios typically follow the minimum set by government regulations
Home-Based Care
Another option is home-based education and care offered by groups of up to four children aged birth through to five years, cared for either in the educator's residence or in the child's home. Home-based services follow Te Whariki curriculum and provide a familiar environment which is particularly comforting for young children.
Features:
Teachers are not required to be qualified but encouraged to study for certification
Low teacher-to-child ratios
Flexible routines based on individual needs of children and families
Typically, meals are not provided
Each educator must belong to a home-based service group led by a coordinator who is often a qualified and certified ECE teacher
Playcentres
A community-driven option favored by parents where childcare management lies with parent volunteers. Playcenters are government-funded entities requiring contributions from parent members. The concept of playcenters is based on fostering a supportive village for the mutual growth of families and children. They cater to children aged birth through school age, promoting relationships with sustnable communities.
Features:
Childcare responsibilities are held by parent volunteers
Operate under a community governance model where parents contribute towards management and mntenance
Offered in conjunction with learning and development opportunities based on sustnability principles
Bear Park: A Premium Learning Environment
At Bear Park Kohimarama, we uphold our philosophy that the quality of care directly impacts future development. Our vision inspires us to create connections through sustnable materials fostering lifelong learners.
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