Frequently Asked Questions

Home-Based Care and Education has a much lower ratio - one Educator to a maximum of 4 tamariki. This means that your educator can build a relationship with your child (and you) more readily and easily. Your tamaiti is cared for in a home environment, not a ‘class room’ or institutional setting. The Educator becomes an extension of you and your home, enabling your child to settle better and feel a strong sense of well being, belonging and connection quicker. Often, Educators have several children from the one family over the course of the years and, because the Educator is ‘part of the family’ and well known, changes become easier to navigate. Research tells us that strong connections, like those offered in Home-Based care, are crucial for healthy development. Strong, responsive, and consistent relationships in early childhood are crucial for healthy development, providing a secure base that fosters brain development, emotional regulation, and resilience. These secure attachments help children develop a sense of safety, self-worth, and trust, enabling better exploration, social competence, and the capacity to cope with adversity.

Each educator sets their own fees but as a guide line and average, you can expect $9.00 an hour charges. When tamariki turn 3 years, they are entitled to 20Hours ECE subsidy of $6 per hour, lowering your cost. You must complete a 20Hours ECE attestation PRIOR to their 3rd birthday for this to be actioned.

We are able to access 20Hours ECE for tamariki aged 3 years to school age once you complete an attestation. We will provide this attestation a few weeks before their 3rd birthday.   If you qualify for WINZ, we can access this and pay your Educator directly.

Discuss with your Educator available hours for your tamaiti. Once agreement is reached we will ask you to complete a Change of Hours form. We ask that at least 2 weeks notice is given to The Village for any changes to hours please.

Changes of clothes (play can be messy), nappies if required and their kai plus a water bottle for the day. Please chat with your Educator for anything further such as wet wipes for pēpi, sunscreen etc.

Complete an Enquiry form online ( insert link) and we will be in touch with available Educators.

We will share documentation of learning and development via your child’s individual pukapuka (book) as well as online through private groups. We absolutely love feedback and growing our understanding of your child through your stories and photos. We welcome you to join excursions with your Educator and we will also invite you to Village Gatherings and Celebrations we hold throughout the year. We will share reviews of policies and procedures throughout the year - ideally once per month where you will be invited to add your thoughts and preferences. The Village is open to feedback and has a Whānau Collaboration policy that welcomes whanau input.

No, your child does not have to leave when they turn 5. We welcome tamariki to stay as long as they, their whanau and Educator are happy, understanding that Govt. funding does stop on their 6th birthday.

Because of the small group size - a maximum of 4 tamariki - your Educator is able to provide more authentic one on one attention, noticing what makes your child unique and providing opportunities to grow their understanding, skills and abilities through their interests and their family and cultural connections. Educators also share learning, interests, growth and development on a regular basis, inviting input and deeper conversations.

Each Educator has their favourite places to visit, depending on their group of tamariki and their interests and connections. These are often nature based such as beaches, parks, gardens and walks. Educators may organise visits to another Educators home. We, as The Village, offer Park / Library Stories, Time in Te Taiao and we are currently looking at offering Play Centre visits. Periodically we will be visiting places further away as the larger Village group. These can be to places recommended by Educators, whānau or tamariki. We do a full safety check prior to offering these excursions.