Maniototo Kindergarten
Kindergarten is at the planning stage with
opening
anticipated in 2012.
Maniototo
Kindergarten Establishment Committee
Who are we and what are we
doing?
Our
aim: Our focus is to establish a five day
ECE
centre in Ranfurly on the Maniototo
Area School
grounds, as identified as a community need in a public survey.
What
are we: We are the ‘Maniototo
Kindergarten Establishment
Committee’ and we operate under the Central Otago Kindergarten
Association
(COKA).
Who
are we: We are made up of representatives
from all aspects
of our community. We include Central
Otago REAP, Our Well Child Nurse, Maniototo Rural Women, Maniototo Area
School,
Social Network Representatives, the Combined Churches,
Plunket,
Playcentre, Playgroup and the Central Otago Kindergarten Association as
well as
parents of our community’s children.
Our preschool numbers are very stable and show
that this would be a viable option in the long term. Currently there
are 110
pre-school children in the Maniototo and according to Statistics NZ
data, by
2016 this will reach 120 children.
Community
benefits identified from
establishing this centre are numerous.
ü it will give families care and
education options
ü it will allow Mums and
caregivers some time out for their own mental and physical well being,
ü it will give us additional
access to the 20 free government funded hours at a licensed centre,
ü it will help prepare our
children for the step to school by giving them a strong base to build
learning
on,
ü it will entice more involvement
of families in Early Child Education as the travel time will be worth
it for a
full day session,
ü it will help widen families support
and friendship networks
ü the Kindergarten will provide
employment opportunities within its day to day running such as office
people, grounds
man and teachers
ü and because we are too far away
from other centres that offer these all day services to make travel a
viable
option, it will help reduce our rural isolation and lack of
opportunities.
MANIOTOTO
KINDERGARTEN UPDATE 26 OCTOBER 2011
We
have now secured sufficient funds, and construction of
the building has commenced at Big River Homes in Balclutha. When completed the building will be
transported to our site on the corner of the Maniototo Area School
grounds.
Preparation of the site will occur in due course.
The
playground plans are being finalised and costed. It
is hoped that we will be able to use a lot of volunteer labour to
complete the
playground development.
The
committee is busy applying for grants to fund some
aspects of the project such as fencing, storage shed, whiteware, shade
sails, landscaping
etc. Fund-raising has been unceasing since the Committee started and
this will
continue into the future. Many
activities have been undertaken and COKA and the Establishment
Committee would
like to thank the community for its support and encouragement.
COKA
have a policy of employing one hundred percent
qualified teachers in our kindergartens and this will be the case in
Ranfurly.
We will be looking to advertise the positions at the beginning of 2012. The Head Teacher will commence work
approximately one month before the kindergarten opens hopefully by the
start of
term 2, 2012. One other full time and a part time teacher will be
required but
again this depends on the number of enrolments.
We
will also be employing an administrator for a minimum
of 6 hours per week and putting gardening and cleaning contracts out
for tender.
Depending
on the number of enrolments received prior to
opening, the kindergarten will initially be licensed for 20 over 2 year
old children. Enrolments are being taken
from now on with
enrolment forms available on the COKA website www.coka.co.nz
or from Geraldine Duncan.
A
minimum enrolment of 6 hours per week will be required
and fees for non 20 ECE hours will be $5.00 per hour (incl GST).
Sessions will
be either morning, afternoon or all day.
The
opening hours have not yet been finalised but will
likely to be 8.30 -3.30, with the kindergarten closed for term breaks
and 4
weeks at Christmas.
If you want to
have a look at the building and site plans they will be on the
Maniototo
section within the COKA website.
If
you have any questions or would like further
information please ask either a Committee member or Angela Jacobson at
COKA –
03 4486383 or angela@coka.co.nz
Geraldine Duncan
President
Maniototo Kindergarten Establishment Committee
Manio ECE Summary Survey
Download the Enrolment Form Here
Download Final Floor Plan & Elevations Here
Download Playground Landscape Design Here
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