Parent Information
Our Fee Structure
Our fees have been carefully structured to ensure our centre can continue to provide the children of Little Sunflowers with the best possible childcare.
As one of the only mixed aged centre in our local community, we appreciate the amount of trust you put in us to look after your child, and we take our responsibility very seriously.
We also know the importance and necessity of trustworthy childcare to working families, so we need to remain affordable yet practical.
To meet these needs our childcare rates include:
Enrollment Fee: $60.00 one-off admin fee (non-refundable, payable before starting).
Hourly Rate: $8.00 per hour.
Full Day Rate: $72.00 per day.
Full-Time Rates:
$295.00 per week (8:00 a.m. ā 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday).
$200.00 per week with 20 free ECE hours (children 3 years and older).
20 hours free ECE for children aged three years and over (no extra charge) - max 6 hours per day.
Subsidies Available: WINZ/ELP subsidies and 20 free ECE hours for eligible children.
Fees must be paid two weeks in advance. Overdue accounts must be settled within one week to avoid cancellation of your childās booking.
A minimum of three sessions per week is required.
There will be an additional charge if you are late to collect your child.
Leaving the center requires three weeks' notice.
Parents will be notified in advance of any fee changes.
Fees can be paid in cash or through Internet Banking
The Childcare Company LTD
BNZ 02-0704-0520151-00
Primary Care & Our Settling Process
š¶ Primary Care
At Little Sunflowers we promote Primary Caregiving. This means each child is assigned to one teacher, who becomes your child's Primary Caregiver.
Getting to know your child's Primary Caregiver will help you feel more at ease about leaving your child with them.
Having an allocated Primary Caregiver can further assist the Settling Process making it a smooth and easy transition into our Little Sunflowers whanau/family.
š©āš« As your child's Primary Caregiver, I will:
build a relationship with you and your child,
show respect in all interactions,
provide a predictable environment,
let your child make choices,
allow your child to freely move and explore,
provide a physically safe, cognitively challenging and emotionally nurturing environment,
allow long uninterrupted times for play,
foster interactions between peers,
do all your child's care moments - bottles, nappies, kai times, and sleep routines,
build a strong connection with you and your child,
communicate daily about your child's day,
provide appropriate space for exploration,
model appropriate behaviour,
understand your child's needs and meet them where possible,
tell your child what I am doing with them before I do it.
š± The Settling Process
We understand that the transition from home to our center can be challenging for both children and parents. To make it as smooth and stress-free as possible, we offer three one-hour visits before your childās first full day at the center. These visits are free of charge, as long as a caregiver is present.
š Working Together
Your childās Primary Caregiver will work closely with you to ensure a positive experience from day one.
By understanding your childās personality, preferences, and needs, we can form strong, supportive relationships to help your child feel at home.
š Ongoing Support
You are always welcome to visit or call the center to check in on your childās well-being. We believe in maintaining open communication to ensure your childās comfort and happiness.
Our Programme & Learning Stories
Our Programme
At Little Sunflowers, our programme is guided by the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, Te WhÄriki. This document provides the foundation for "what and why" we do what we do, ensuring your child receives a rich and meaningful learning experience.
Child-Initiated Learning
We believe that childrenās interests should shape their learning journey. Our programme is largely child-led, with teachers designing experiences that support deeper exploration of the strengths and interests each child brings to the environment.
Transition to School
We support childrenās development in all areas, ensuring they are well-prepared for their lifelong learning journey through our Transition to School programme.
Parent Partnerships
We value strong relationships with parents and believe that children thrive when families and teachers work together. We invite you to share your aspirations for your child and encourage daily communication about their progress and experiences.
Daily Routine
Hereās a glimpse into a typical day at Little Sunflowers:
š 8:00 ā 9:30 a.m.: Arrival at booked time. Indoor/Outdoor play.
ā 9:30 a.m.: Morning tea together.
š 10:00 ā 11:30 a.m.: Indoor/Outdoor play.
š§¹ 11:30 a.m.: Tidy-up time/Early kai for sleepers.
š 11:45 a.m.: Mat time (group learning and storytelling).
š 12:00 p.m.: Lunch time.
š 12:25 p.m.: Indoor/Outdoor play.
š§¹ 3:00 p.m.: Tidy-up time.
š 3:10 p.m.: Afternoon kai.
š» 3:30 ā 5:00 p.m.: Indoor/Outdoor play until pickup.
Our flexible daily schedule ensures a balance between structure and child-led exploration, fostering a love for learning in a supportive environment.
Learning Stories
At Little Sunflowers we us learning stories as a unique way of capturing examples of the learning that happens at the centre.
Each child has a teacher who is responsible for keeping their learning journey up to date.
With a minimum of two stories added each term, these reflections are treasured keepsakes for many families, showcasing your child's development and milestones.
We use Storypark, a secure and user-friendly online platform, to store all of your childās learning stories. This allows you to:
Access your childās learning stories anytime, anywhere.
Add your own comments, feedback, and input to enrich the documentation.
Share special moments with extended family members if you wish.
What to Bring
š» What to Bring
At Little Sunflowers, children enjoy a variety of fun and hands-on activities, which means they may get messy or wet during the day. To ensure your child stays comfortable, please pack the following items in their bag:
š Clothing
Two full changes of clothes (including socks and underwear).
Toilet training essentials: 3ā4 pairs of underwear (if needed).
š Seasonal Essentials
Summer: A sunhat to protect your child during outdoor play.
Winter: A warm hat and extra layers of clothing.
šļø Other Items
A waterproof bag: For wet or soiled clothing.
Nappies: If required, these will be stored at the center.
Food
š„Ŗ Food and Drink
At Little Sunflowers, we promote healthy eating to support your childās growth, learning, and play. Please follow these guidelines to ensure your child is well-prepared for their day:
š„ Healthy Lunchbox Choices
Pack a healthy lunchbox with enough food to sustain your child throughout the day.
Include a variety of nutritious options, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein.
š§ Drink Bottles
All children must bring their own clearly named drink bottle.
Water is encouraged as the best option for hydration.
š¼ Milk or Formula
If your child requires milk or formula, please provide it in their bag.
Avent bottles are available for children who need milk during the day.
š Reminder: To help us keep everything organized, please clearly name all items in your childās bag.
Sleep at Little Sunflowers
Each child's sleep routine is matched as closely as we can with their sleep patterns at home.
Sleeping children are checked every 5 minutes for children aged under 6 months, and every 10 minutes for children over 6 months.
Each child has their own linen which is laundered weekly.
We do not wake sleeping children. We are however happy to look at options that work for families at home. For example, sleeping every second day, quiet times, earlier sleeps etc.
Our main focus is to do what is best for the child's learning and development.
Sickness, Medication, Queries and Concerns.
š¦ Sickness Guidelines
Vomiting or Diarrhea:
Your child must remain at home for 48 hours after their last episode.
High Temperature:
Your child needs to stay home for 24 hours after their temperature returns to normal.
Antibiotics:
If your child requires antibiotics, there is a 48-hour stand-down period from the first dose.
Cold, Runny Nose, Rashes, Conjunctivitis, or General Illness:
We ask that your child remains at home until they are well enough to participate fully in activities.
š During the Session
If your child shows any signs of sickness while at the center, we will contact you immediately to arrange for prompt pickup.
Medication
Please advise staff if your child is taking any medication.
All medicines must be kept in the kitchen and recorded in the daily or on-going re...... located under the roll.
Parent Queries or Concerns
At Little Sunflowers, we value open communication and are always happy to address any questions or concerns you may have about the center or your childās learning journey.
How to Reach Us
If you have any questions or concerns, please donāt hesitate to talk with us directly.
We are more than happy to arrange a time that suits you to discuss your childās progress or any other matters.
Alternative Communication
If for any reason you feel uncomfortable speaking with the staff, you can reach out to someone outside of the center, such as the parent representative.
Your Voice Matters
Your input is important to us, and we want to ensure that you feel heard and supported in your childās education.
Communication and Centre Website & Facebook
š Communication
To ensure the safety and well-being of all children at Little Sunflowers, we require that all parents sign their child in and out of the center each day. This is a legal requirement set by the Ministry of Education.
šØ Safety and Compliance
Signing in and out is a vital safety measure in the event of an emergency evacuation.
It ensures we can account for every child and follow proper procedures.
š Centre Website and Facebook
We have a website and Facebook page where we share updates, group learning stories, photos of the children participating in activities, artwork, and more. These platforms help us celebrate your child's experiences and keep you informed about the exciting things happening at Little Sunflowers.
šø Permission for Photos
We ask permission from all families for your child to be included in/on our website and Facebook .
If you prefer that your childās picture is not used, please inform the team, and we will respect your wishes.
Staying Connected
We encourage you to visit our website and social media pages to see the wonderful moments your child is experiencing, while ensuring you are comfortable with the content shared.