Settling in to a new childcare environment can be tricky for a baby or young child and it can be a whole lot harder for the adult dropping them off!

We offer a minimum of 3 visits before you start but all children are different. Some might settle very quickly and some might be more comfortable with more visits.  We will discuss this more with you at the time.

Each child has their own key teacher to help them settle and create a sense of belonging for you and your child.

We have great communication with our families which is particularly important during this time.  This can be a very emotional time for everyone and the whole team is here to support you in this.

At the Blue Cottage, we run a ready for school programme.  What might surprise you is that it is not about ABC and 123 although of course that is included.

Having worked closely with local schools, social and emotional competencies are the most important thing.  What does that mean?

Can your child?

• Follow a set of 3 instructions
• Dress themselves and put on their own shoes
• Make themselves understood
• Go to the toilet by themselves.
• Work independently
• Work in a group

Viewing babies and children as capable, these are all skills that we start building on with children as soon as they join The Blue Cottage.  We work within children’s interests and strengths to help educate and guide them.

What children put into their bodies, fuels their minds as they experience everything that The Blue Cottage offers.  Whether food is provided (in Pāpāmoa) or lunch boxes are brought in from home (in Otūmoetai), healthy food is promoted.

Children have the opportunity to bake as part of the curriculum.  We also grow fruit and vegetables which the children harvest, and prepare for their friends.

We take this very seriously.  Children need to feel safe to be able to explore their world and whānau need to feel their child is safe to be ablet o concentrate on their day.

Please see some of our key policies

• Illness
• Medicine
• Excursions
• Evacuation

Your child’s key teacher will get to know your child, their strengths and interests and will design a learning journey for them in collaboration with you and your aspirations.  The teachers will then write stories and capture magic moments and share these through StoryPark which is a private online journal.  We also print this out in a hard copy profile.  A book for your child, all about them.

Relationships with whānau are incredibly important and we grow these by working in partnership together and having lots of open communication with you.  All information about your child and their learning is available to you and if you have any questions ot concerns or simply want a catch up, we are happy to organise a hui/meeting with you.

We obtain and securely store personal information that you provide on the enrolment form.  This is in accordance with Ministry of Education (MoE) requirements and is shared with the MoE or Education Review Office (ERO) when requested by them.

For more information see our Privacy Statement for Whānau