Welcome to Just Kidz

Choosing a home away from home for your child is one of the most challenging and often emotional decisions you will need to make. We understand that you want the best for your child and the assurance that they will be safe and well nurtured, loved, provided for and given the best start in their education journey. We fully embrace this and strive to be the best early childhood provider in our communities. Quality is our aim at every turn, and we are deeply passionate about providing the best experiences for children to help them embrace learning, become confident and self-assured and develop strong moral and social skills. We only employ qualified teachers or teachers in training to maintain our high-quality standards and offer superior care by maintaining better than government child-to-adult ratios to ensure your child has the best level of care and quality interactions.

With our home away from home, deep bonds are formed on both sides, and families return to us time and again with siblings and friends or even just to return to say hi after their child has left for primary school. Parents and families are always welcome.

"A Fun Place to Learn – Our mission is to provide quality, affordable childcare for children, ensuring they enjoy a safe, fun place to learn. We want to inspire young children to have a passion for learning and develop to their fullest potential due to our nurturing care and teaching guidance."

As a team, we feel deeply privileged to work with the many families and children across our communities and thrive in the knowledge that what we do and how we do it makes a positive difference in so many lives. However, don’t just take our word for it; come and visit with us and see the wonderful environment, meet with the passionate staff and feel the warm, welcoming and nurturing atmosphere that we are known for.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Hours and Fees

Our operating hours are from 7:00 am – 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. We are open all year, only closing for public holidays. We offer a range of sessions, from all-day care or full-time attendance across the week to part-time attendance, which includes half-days or ‘kindy’ sessions. We provide nutritious food for children of all ages throughout the day, including our young babies, starting with solids. If you would like to know more about our fees and services, please get in touch with the branch of your choice and make a time to visit with them.

Communication With Parents and Whanau

Here at Just Kidz, we highly value our relationships with our family and whānau and see this as a vital key to our children’s learning. We strongly believe that getting to know children and their families is an important first step. It includes respecting and valuing the important role of parents and whānau as the child’s first teacher in children’s learning and development. We are committed to strong relationships and a great partnership with our Parents and Whānau. We ensure our relationships are warm, trusting, respectful and affirming and believe that this is essential to developing children’s social ability and emotional well-being.

How Do We Do This?

By Greeting Our Families Warmly Each Day

Being personally and warmly greeted when a child is being dropped off or collected from the Centre is really important. We want children and their families to feel welcome and comfortable, encouraging them to be a part of our programme. Children's individual needs and circumstances and those of their families are considered at these times to ensure smooth transitions to and from the Centre.
We Believe Communication Is So Important

We believe communication is so important — we are all approachable and accessible for parents at times that suit both parties. Through informal daily conversations or through our online portfolios, the focus is on our children’s social and emotional well-being. This is also evident in infants' daily routines, which include detailed information about the child's health and well-being. Emails, face-to-face, our website, newsletters, phone calls, questionnaires, whānau hui and our daily dairies also communicate with whānau.
We Love Sharing With You How Your Child’s Day Went

How your child’s day went is essential information. We appreciate the sacrifice it can often take to be away from your child, and we want to ensure that you are informed of all the fun things they have experienced, any milestones they are reaching, and even any areas they need support with. Through informal conversations at preschool, we will share with you such things as what they may have said during the day, what play and activities they became involved with or new skills learnt; their behaviour, feelings, general well-being and perhaps a piece of artwork or something they made could be shared with you. We want you to be a part of their day and experiences, and it's great to talk about their day with them on your way home. These conversations often take the form of quick chats during session time, but longer conversations can be arranged at a mutually agreed time if you need to discuss anything in more detail. We are here to help you where we can or refer you to a person who is more qualified to do so. Portfolios will also be lovingly created to share many of these moments, memories, and milestones with you that you can keep and share with extended family online. In addition, we provide more formal opportunities during the year to meet and discuss your child’s progress and celebrate their learning. We love hearing from you about your child’s interests and achievements at home, so be sure to tell us any news. It can be very affirming of your child’s skills and interests at the time.
Parents Are Welcome at Any Time of the Day

Parents are welcome at any time of the day and are free to join in with our daily activities and review the online photos and Learning Stories. From time to time, there will be events in the Centre for special occasions or outings, and you will be invited to take part if you wish to or are able to do so. We love having parent helpers at these events and look forward to welcoming you on board for these fun occasions.
We Embrace Diverse Cultures and Abilities and Adopt Inclusive Assessment Practices

We believe inclusive assessment practices are important when working in partnership with parents and whanau. Children’s online portfolios that document their learning are used as a basis for conversations between teachers, the child and the parents. These are accessible 24 hours, 7 days a week online. Parent and whānau contributions are constantly encouraged, along with parent involvement in deciding the next learning steps for their child. With this, the Centre is sensitive to each child's individual needs. If your child has any additional or special needs (e.g. dietary, cultural, medical, etc.), we would encourage you to speak to the Manager or Head Teacher about how we can best accommodate and support them. We are here to help you where we can or refer you to a person who is more qualified to do so.
We Have a Parent Library

We have a Parent Library with a selection of informative books, videos and the Centres Policies. If you wish to borrow anything, please ask us to sign it out for you.
Please Keep Your Contact Details Updated

It is very important that parents keep us informed of any changes to addresses and phone numbers, including work details. Please let us know immediately if any of your details change.

Starting Your Child With Us

Choosing the best preschool for your child can be challenging. It can be a time of anxiety as parents find the best option and deal with their own feelings of worry, guilt or anticipation. Children can also be anxious, excited or nervous. At Just Kidz, we understand this and endeavour to support you through this transition into beginning our preschool. We will communicate with you regularly during the settling period to let you know how your child is settling. If your child becomes very distressed at any point, we will contact you. You are also welcome to phone us and check on your child to see how they are settling.

How You Can Help Your Child
You can ease this process and help this transition flow more smoothly by preparing your child prior to starting.

Talk to them about preschool, the fun things they will do there, and the friends they will make.
If they do not have a bag yet, get them to help choose one to put their belongings in.
Explain that it is a special place for children to play while mums and dads are busy dealing with jobs or tasks and that you will always come back to collect them and see all the fun they have been having.
Visit the preschool together and get to know the teachers and staff prior to their starting day. Letting your child move away from you to play during these visits is positive, so encourage them to explore if they are ready.
Fill in the ‘All About Me’ form so the staff can develop a more personal relationship with your child, understanding their interests and what helps to make them comfortable. Let us know if you currently have any routines for your child. We will try to keep your child’s routine as similar as possible within our setting where we can. Let us know if anything changes, which is especially important for little babies, such as if their sleep times or bottle needs to change.
Saying Goodbye

This is the hardest part of the day, and we totally understand what an emotional challenge this can be. Do your best to be brave for your child and show them they will be fine. Children pick up on our anxiety very quickly. If you show your child that you trust the staff and are happy leaving them with us, they will quickly develop that trust.

Always say goodbye. This helps your child feel secure, gives them an opportunity to have that last hug and helps them understand that you go but will come back. If we try to sneak away to avoid tears, it can create feelings of insecurity and high anxiety in your child. They can get a bigger shock looking for you, only to find you have disappeared. It can be very worrying for them. It is important that they hear from you that you love them, you are going now and that you will come back in a while. Our staff will help you and comfort your child and help them feel better. Remember, you can call us, and we will update you on how your child is settling in.
Things to Bring
Under 2 Children

Prepared formula or breast milk.
Nappies.

All children:

Plenty of changes of clothing (3), especially when toilet training.
A summer/winter hat.

Please send your child in appropriate clothing for play and label their belongings clearly. Do dress your child in appropriate clothing. Aprons are supplied for children to wear; however, they may still get paint, water, etc., on them. Messy/water play is fun and educational and is a part of our programme. Please do not send children in their best clothes. We cannot guarantee they will come home clean. Children need to be able to explore fully without fear of ruining the best outfit.

Policies and Procedures

At Just Kidz, we have policies and procedures set in place to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in our care. These are available to read in our centres at any time, and enrolled families will be consulted when they are reviewed. We have included some of our policies and their outlined procedures here for you to read.

Vision, Mission, Philosophy and Values Policy

At Just Kidz, we strive to provide children with an authentic, high-quality, warm, accepting, safe, and welcoming environment. With the image of the child in mind, we base our philosophy on the New Zealand Early Childhood Education (ECE) Curriculum Te Whāriki with a strong inspirational influence from the educational philosophy of Reggio Emilia in Italy, and the Magda Gerber, Resources for Infant Educators (RIE) approach.
Read our Vision, Mission, Philosophy and Values Policy
Parent Involvement and Communication Policy

Here at Just Kidz, we highly value our relationships with our family and whānau and see this as a vital key to our children’s learning. We believe we have strong relationships and a great partnership with our Parents and Whānau. We believe our relationships are warm, trusting, respectful, and affirming, essential to developing children's social ability and emotional well-being. We strongly believe that getting to know children and their families is an important first step for our staff in developing relationships. This includes respecting and valuing the important role of parents and whānau as the child’s first teacher in children’s learning and development.
Read our Parent Involvement and Communication Policy
Transitions Policy

In the early years, it is vital that children are supported by positive learning experiences in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable. Effective and consistent transitions from home to preschool, transitions between rooms, and then transitioning from preschool to primary school, with plenty of support and preparation to reduce stress, will ensure that this is possible. Children and their families experience an environment where they feel comfortable with the routines, customs, and regular events.
Read Our Transitions Policy
Food, Nutrition, and Food Safety Policy

Just Kidz Educare is committed to promoting an environment that supports children's health and well-being. As a part of this commitment, we provide healthy and nourishing meals onsite for all children. We are committed to serving food and drink at regular intervals, in such variety, quality, and quantity as necessary to meet the needs of all the children attending.
Read our Food, Nutrition, and Food Safety Policy
Accident/ Illness Policy

At Just Kidz, we are committed to the well-being of all children, so in the event of a child being sick while at Just Kidz, they will be isolated in the Centre's office away from other children to minimise the risk of spreading the illness. The child shall be excluded from the Centre until they are back in good health.
Read our Accident/ Illness Policy
Child Protection Policy

The purpose of this operational policy is to ensure all possible actions are taken to protect and, where possible, prevent children from abuse and neglect, which is the direct consequence of a deliberate act or omission by an adult and which has the potential or effect of serious harm to the child.
Read our Child Protection Policy
Please Keep Your Contact Details Updated

It is very important that parents keep us informed of any changes to addresses and phone numbers, including work details. Please let us know immediately if any of your details change.

Food and Nutrition

Just Kidz is committed to promoting an environment that supports children's health and well-being. As a part of this commitment, we provide healthy and nourishing meals onsite for all children. We are committed to serving food and drink at regular intervals, in such variety, quality, and quantity as necessary to meet the needs of all the children attending. In the below text, we have included some links that you may find useful.

For children arriving before 8 am, we can support you and your child/ren by offering breakfast. Please let us know if this is something you would need. We offer morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. A late snack will be provided for children who attend past 5.10 pm. Each Centre holds a food licence to enable them to provide food and follows food safety guidance in accordance with this. We are proud of the nutritious food served and attain Healthy Heart Awards in recognition of this. We can meet several dietary needs, such as vegetarianism and some specific allergies. We are also nut-free centres.

We take food safety very seriously, and in addition to hygienic practices and food safety in storage, we prepare all meals and snacks according to guidance, temperature, size, consistency, or the type of appropriate foods recommended. We have first aid-trained staff available when children are present and give careful attention at eating times. Reducing food-related choking for babies and young children at early learning services.

We also follow careful guidelines on preparing and using breast milk and formula.

We are also aware of the needs of young babies (under 6 months) and do not give infants water to drink.

We strongly believe that nourished children, who receive excellent nutrition, hydration, and food in the appropriate quantity to satiate them, will move through their day happy, energised, and open to learning and development. We dedicate time each week to planning and ensuring these outcomes are met. In addition to planning meals and considering the development and needs of our children in the Centre, we work with parents to ensure that their child is developing a healthy relationship with food and that their child’s needs are being met.

We also follow careful guidelines on preparing and using breast milk and formula.
We are also aware of the needs of young babies (under 6 months) and do not give infants water to drink.
We strongly believe that nourished children, who receive excellent nutrition, hydration, and food in the appropriate quantity to satiate them, will move through their day happy, energised, and open to learning and development. We dedicate time each week to planning and ensuring these outcomes are met. In addition to planning meals and considering the development and needs of our children in the Centre, we work with parents to ensure that their child is developing a healthy relationship with food and that their child’s needs are being met.