With a recently completed, purpose-built childcare centre, filled with colourful new, upcycled and natural educational toys and two outdoor playgrounds to look after, it’s no wonder KINZ Orewa manager Alli Munt is excited.
The centre, in Centreway Road, Orewa, is the fifth KINZ (Kindergarten NZ) in Auckland and the largest, catering for 105 children, including 15 under two-year-olds.
Alli says that design is key to making such a large centre work well and be light, bright and welcoming. The building has been divided into play and rest areas for infants (three months to two years) as well as spaces for children aged 2–5 years. Outdoor areas include shade, sandpits, mature native trees and plenty of places to explore. A small vegetable patch will be planted, with the children free to eat from it as they please.
The location, close to Western Reserve and Orewa Beach, is a bonus that Alli says the teachers will take full advantage of. “We want to get the children out and about whenever possible to enjoy the beach and bike track,” she says. “Outdoor play is so important and definitely part of developing confident, competent children.”
KINZ is a subsidiary of the Auckland Kindergarten Association. The Orewa KINZ has a team of qualified staff, as well as some teachers in training; Alli says the children will benefit from this blend of experience, enthusiasm and new ideas. The ratios are 1:4 for infants and a maximum of 1:10 for the over two-year-olds. A qualified chef will make sure all the children’s nutritional needs are met and any allergies or special food needs catered for.
Alli ha s worked in early childhood education for 28 years, including 17 as a manager. She says a successful care and early learning centre is built on strong relationships between the teachers, children and parents.
“It’s hard when parents are working long hours – they need to know they are doing the best they can for their children and at KINZ we are there to support and work with them,” Alli says.
Interaction with the community is something that Alli considers a vital part of the children’s education and she is hoping that locals with special skills such as arts, crafts or music will come into the centre and share their knowledge.
KINZ Orewa is holding open days on April 1–3 and opens for children on April 18.
