Centre Policies

The Centre has responsibility under legislation and in society to provide a safe environment that ensures all children are treated with dignity and respect, are free from physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and that all children while attending Karori kids receive a safe environment both physically and emotionally.

Karori Kids preschool aims to make communication with parents as open, regular and informative as possible. We recognise that while parents are interested in several aspects of our centre, they are often restricted by time.

We wish to develop happy children that are mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually well. will implement practices that promote the health and wellbeing of children, which include the preparation of our children, teachers, families and community for traumatic incidents and emergencies.

Karori Kids preschool aims to organise outings for the children enrolled at the centre. These will always involve all of the children. This policy applies to all excursions outside of the centre.

We are committed to doing all we reasonably can to support employees who are victims of family violence.

It is important that parents and caregivers are clear on their fee obligations to the Centre and that the Centre has a clear policy in regard to non-payment, or leaving the Centre without giving the required four weeks notice

To promote children’s health and well-being through sound nutritional practices. To provide children with strategies to build their knowledge and understanding in sustainable healthy eating habits that continue through their lives while following the New Zealand Food Safety Act 2014 amended in 2016. To adhere to the “Reducing food-related choking for babies and young children at early learning services” Ministry of Health guidelines that came into effect in January 2021.

To ensure and encourage good hygiene practices associated with handwashing are provided for children and adults.

We are committed to providing a healthy and safe environment, that is free from harm, for all children, staff and visitors at our centre.

Any child suffering from any ailment, illness, or other condition affecting the child’s health may be excluded from attending the Centre (by requesting the parent or caregiver not to bring the child) at the Supervisor’s discretion, for such period as the Supervisor thinks appropriate, or until medical clearance has been given. In cases of vomiting and or diarrhea there is a compulsory 48-hour exclusion.

The purpose of this operational policy is to outline how our local curriculum programme aligns with and is drawn from, the Early Childhood Education National Curriculum, Te Whāriki. This operational policy also specifies the processes we have in place to ensure we comply with the Curriculum requirements of the Ministry of Education’s Licencing Criteria for childcare centres; Curriculum standards C1 – C13.

Our fundamental respect and value for Maori as tangata whenua is reflected in our daily practice.

To protect and manage the health and safety of staff, children and visitors in the event of a pandemic.

This policy is needed to ensure compliance with regulation 33 and to provide guidance to parents and caregivers as to the standards of behaviour expected of children at the Centre in order that they can be supported at home.

There are suitable facilities provided for washing sick or soiled children and a procedure outlining how hygiene and infection control outcomes will be met when washing sick and soiled children.

The teaching team at Karori kid’s preschool are committed to supporting all the children in our care and their families to settle into the centre and provide an environment where their emotional well-being is nurtured, and they feel a sense of belonging.

It is important that children are safe and comfortable while sleeping or resting, and that teachers are kept safe as well. Sleep and/or rest time during the day is a developmental requirement for most children. Facilities for safe, good quality sleep are a requirement of the education Regulations (Early childhood) 2008, for full-day care centres.

Our centre has a completely smoke, vapour and substance abuse fee environment, to promote healthy living and good habits for the teachers and children.

To provide guidance to parents and caregivers as to the standards of behaviour expected of children at the Centre. The objective of this policy is to ensure that all children, their parents or caregivers, and teachers experience an environment where they are safe, secure, respected and their dignity is protected and that children are given opportunities to develop more consistently positive social behaviours as they mature. The paragraphs below set out specific goals for those involved in the Centre.

To ensure children are protected from skin damage caused by the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun, those at the Centre will promote and demonstrate sun-smart practices.

To ensure children are to be appropriately supervised at all times as supervision is critical to the safety of children.

To ensure Karori kids Inc prepares all children for transition to school through the daily programme that supports and extends the children’s cognitive, physical and emotional development.

Due to health and safety precautions, cleaning can occur from time to time depending on the severity of circumstances and/or suggested by the Ministry of Health and Early Childhood Education.

Our commitment to quality improvement is lead from the top (Manager, senior teachers and parent committee) and is a key element of our service design. We acknowledge our centre is always a work in progress.

There shall be no discrimination because of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age or family circumstance

The well-being of all children enrolled is paramount. We recognise that biting is a normal part of young children’s development. Consistency in behaviour management is essential for reducing the instances of this behaviour.

To ensure safe hygiene and respectful practices throughout the nappy and toileting procedures.

Professional Growth Cycle for teachers are held annually at the centre in non-contact time with the centre manager.

Use of privately-owned ICT equipment/devices (including mobile phones and portable storage devices) at the centre or any centre-related activity is restricted to activities which are appropriate to the centre learning environment.

We enjoy the input that student teachers have to offer our centre, teachers and children. Teachers appreciate students who use initiative, respect all children and the knowledge and experience of our teachers.

It is in the best interests of all at the Centre that concerns, and complaints are dealt with promptly, effectively, in confidence and in a manner that treats those involved fairly and respects their rights as individuals.

The parents and teachers of the Centre believe that all teachers, parents and children are entitled to be treated fairly and in a way that respects their rights as individuals.

All children, including children with challenging and specific needs and their Whānau are entitled to have their individual needs catered for at the Centre, and be treated with dignity and respect. We will ensure that the Centre and its teachers are able to provide positive educational opportunities and learning outcomes for children with additional needs.

Karori Kids is committed to ensuring equality in employment and will not practice any form of discrimination, whether the discrimination be direct or indirect. Forms of discrimination include race, gender, employment status, ethnic or national origin, disability, political opinion, religious belief, sexual orientation, ethical belief, age, and family or marital status.

At Karori Kids we are committed to continually improving the learning, teaching, policies and procedures within our curriculum through a fluid process of inquiry and evaluation. For this reason, we have adopted the Real Inquiry™ process as our primary method striving to create flow as we learn and teach together.

We promote Papa Atawhai (conservation) and Kaitiakitanga (guardianship of land) at the centre by recycling, growing our own vegetables and looking after the land at Karori kids.

Professional Growth Cycle for teachers are held annually at the centre in non-contact time with the centre manager.

We will operate a fair, safe and healthy Centre/workplace that values diversity and is free from discrimination.

Karori Kids Incorporated acknowledges the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing that contributes to good health and overall development of Kaiako community.

To ensure that the teachers and the Centre can provide educational opportunities and positive outcomes for children with developmental and/or physical challenges in a safe and caring environment with support from Special Education services and Ministry of Education.

The purpose of this operational procedure is to ensure appropriate compliance with Licencing Criteria GMA7A. This policy also contributes to Human Resource Management policies operated by this centre.

Our tamariki are inspired to be courageous, free exploring and adventurous, risk takers who feel a sense of stability in their surroundings and have the opportunity to take time to escape to a quiet, comfortable and safe place.

To ensure that procedures are in place for the assessment, evaluation and planning of each child’s needs within the curriculum goals; and to ensure that the Centre’s curriculum implementation assists the children at the Centre 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.

At Karori kids, we consider animals to be an important part of the daily experiences we provide for our children. Children are able to develop respect and a sense of responsibility in caring for the animals at Karori kids. The well-being of any animals in the care of Karori kids is of paramount importance to their inclusion in our programme.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure appropriate procedures are in place for the use of the centre computer and the Internet. The children will not have access to the internet.

To ensure and encourage and good hygiene practices associated with handwashing are provided for children and adults.

The Centre has obligations under the

Act 2020 in relation to personal information - that is

any information which is collected about an identifiable individual.