[jshack52]

Hi Everyone

We have finally made it, we have been in NZ for just over a week now and in that time we have moved into our new house (which ended up being in browns bay) and have been shopping like mad to furnish the place - thank god for the albany mega centre and trade me!

If you happened to see a mazda station wagon loaded with three sofas, 2 on top, 1 in the boot along with a mum, dad and baby driving down the number 1 motorway that was us! Suffice to say I had a small trade me mishap saw 1 sofa but got 3!

Anyway, now i have got all that sorted i have to find myself something to do, so i have started to look for a job. My hubby got our PR with his job as a nurse but i really need to get my career back on track.

I need advice on childcare in browns bay or any of the east coast bays down to takapuna. My hubby works at the North Shore Hospice on the edge of lake pupoke so i need to find a good childcare place somewhere between home and takapuna, but would prefer browns bay/rothesay bay.

- Does anyone love their childcare centre or hate their childcare centre?

- Would you reccomend using a home carer such as jemmas or bernados?

- Does anyone have any idea how long it might take to get a place for a 8 month baby and how much a full time or 3 days per week place might cost.

Any advice would be appricated. I have been looking at the list the local library gave me but hardly any are online and the ones that had email have not got back to me. I know it has only been a week but i like to me organised and have a task to keep me busy. I May have to hit the phones, If anyone can point me in the right direction of who is good to call that would be great.

Also if there are any young mums out there around browns bay with babys that would like to meet up for a cup of tea let me know. I am 26, married and have an 8 month old daughter. I usually work as a legal assistant in the UK but may end up being a FT mum at this rate!

Thanks

Jess

[Tia Maria]

jshack52,

Well done on getting so much sorted already!

I can't help with Browns Bay places but the costs on this thread relate to Devonport so should be similar:

www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9683

I used a home carer when I was unwell during my pregnancy. I used the PORSE network who I found to be really good.

They will send various people around till you find one you like and who wants to do the hours you have available. This can take time but as you get to meet everyone you will only end up with someone you like.

For me it was a more expensive option, so it was something that we could only do for a short time. But this may not be the case for you so do contact them, they will come out and have a chat, and if it doesn't suit your needs or budget you can leave it at that.

Another good tip is to join a mother-toddler group, as the other mums will have lots of opinions about how good the local childcare places are and might be able to recommend a Nanny.

In the meantime check out which places take 8 month olds and enquire about waiting lists, they can be as long as a year, if thats the case then put your child's name down at any that look OK, so at least you are on the waiting list while you are trying to decide. Its easy enough to say you've made alternative arrangements if a place comes up you no longer want.

Good Luck

Cheers

Tia

[Familyofmonkeys]

Hi Jess, I am not too far away in Albany if you fancy meeting up for a cuppa. I have an 11 month old baby, a bonkers 2 year old, and a 4 year old too. My daughter goes to Kindy in Brown's Bay if that is of interest...although I guess that is a few years off for you yet :)

[jubjub]

Tia has already mentioned porse in the other thread, but the other homecare option is barnardos http://www.barnardos.org.nz/home/index.asp

Good luck, its not an easy decision and the waiting lists can be a few months long, i would get on the case ASAP if you need to return to work

[cathgates]

Hi Jess, congrats with the move - well done.
I want to jump on your thread if that's ok?
My two boys live with their Dad and originally weren't coming with us, now, my youngest, Danny, is coming. He's 10 and would start at intermediate school in January next year. We are hoping to settle in Tauranga, and will both be working full time.
Does anyone know about before and after school care for that age and in that area?
Any help, advice much appreciated.

Cath X

[jshack52]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Apologies for not sending thanks sooner, a virus has been playing havoc with my laptop.

Have decided to hold off on finding work for a bit longer as there is a childcare place available in browns bay for July so only a 6 month wait!

However, if my dream jobs comes up i will try a home care for a couple of months and see how it goes. I have contacted Porse, barnardos and Jemmas for info in the meantime.

would love to meet up with the family of monkeys for a cuppa, would be nice to make some new friends here and its not hard to drag me away from the cleaning thats for sure.

Cath, feel free to hyjack my thread - sorry i cant be any use in terms of childcare in other areas.

Jess
xxx

[shakyle2906]

Hi Jess, congrats with the move - well done.
I want to jump on your thread if that's ok?
My two boys live with their Dad and originally weren't coming with us, now, my youngest, Danny, is coming. He's 10 and would start at intermediate school in January next year. We are hoping to settle in Tauranga, and will both be working full time.
Does anyone know about before and after school care for that age and in that area?
Any help, advice much appreciated.

Cath X


Cath


Unsure really of places in Tauranga, but just to give you an idea, YMCA (www.nzymca.com) do an after school club and KAS Care around here (although KAS care are a local company). There is another company i emailed but cant recall name at mo, if i do will let you know.

I found out about them through the school and word of mouth really. I did a lot of emailing and searching when i got here as knew it would be something i would need to take care of as a number one priority.

My little boy is only 5.5 at the minute, so unsure of what costs youd be looking at. Currently i pay KAS Care about $90 a fortnight which includes 2hrs care a day, transport to the centre and a snack. They also help with homework.

Unsure of YMCA but have used them for holiday programmes and paid in October $32 a dy, which mounts up especially if you have the summer holidays to cover. I was lucky to find a childminder for these summer holidays which was more a 1-1 basis although i paid much the same.

Hope this gives you some idea!
Sharon

[shakyle2906]

Hi Everyone

We have finally made it, we have been in NZ for just over a week now and in that time we have moved into our new house (which ended up being in browns bay) and have been shopping like mad to furnish the place - thank god for the albany mega centre and trade me!

If you happened to see a mazda station wagon loaded with three sofas, 2 on top, 1 in the boot along with a mum, dad and baby driving down the number 1 motorway that was us! Suffice to say I had a small trade me mishap saw 1 sofa but got 3!

Anyway, now i have got all that sorted i have to find myself something to do, so i have started to look for a job. My hubby got our PR with his job as a nurse but i really need to get my career back on track.

I need advice on childcare in browns bay or any of the east coast bays down to takapuna. My hubby works at the North Shore Hospice on the edge of lake pupoke so i need to find a good childcare place somewhere between home and takapuna, but would prefer browns bay/rothesay bay.

- Does anyone love their childcare centre or hate their childcare centre?

- Would you reccomend using a home carer such as jemmas or bernados?

- Does anyone have any idea how long it might take to get a place for a 8 month baby and how much a full time or 3 days per week place might cost.

Any advice would be appricated. I have been looking at the list the local library gave me but hardly any are online and the ones that had email have not got back to me. I know it has only been a week but i like to me organised and have a task to keep me busy. I May have to hit the phones, If anyone can point me in the right direction of who is good to call that would be great.

Also if there are any young mums out there around browns bay with babys that would like to meet up for a cup of tea let me know. I am 26, married and have an 8 month old daughter. I usually work as a legal assistant in the UK but may end up being a FT mum at this rate!

Thanks

Jess



Hi Jess

I was lucky to get our son in a local Kindy which cost me something ridiculoulsy silly like $10 a week, but he had to be at least 3 to join.

I also used a Learning Centre, which i know take on younger children. I paid $145 for 5 days a week which included 8-4.30, al meals and trips.

There is also Porse, Barnardos and Kiwi Kids but unsure of age levels, I am sure that Holland (Jade) would be able to help you, she currently works for Anglican Care and so may be able to give you some ideas.

HTH

Sharon
x

[Tia Maria]

Bump for Stevey! :D

Cheers

Tia

[steveybj]

I am still banging my head against the wall for childcare, I am going to be working shifts in auckland and my wife working mon-fri office hours, I am just after a childcare that can accomodate my shift system as we dont want the little one in full time, I am awaiting an email from Barnados (yes my wife does think I am selling the child) Any ideas from people would be great in the Auckland regions

steve

[mgbridges]

Sorry to hear you are still having problems. Of the top of my head here are a few ideas:


The Kindy at the end of our road had an 'Enrol Now' sign up just recently so they might have spaces but I'm afraid I don't know what age they take them from. Anyway its Oaktree Kindy and its on the corner of Oaktree Ave and Palliser Lane in Browns Bay. Tel: 09 479 5979 Email: oaktree.kgtn@naka.co.nz
There is also Kindercare out on Greville Rd. www.kindercare.co.nz
The new EduKids that is under the Albany Mega Centre, entrance around the back were the cinema/food court is.
There is a creche next to Browns Bay library but IIRC the waiting list is rather long.
Have you tried advertising for help either on a card at the Supermarkets or maybe in the North Shore Times?
www.skids.co.nz might be an option.


HTH, good luck and if I can help in any other way just drop me a PM.
Anneliese

[Familyofmonkeys]

Sorry to hear you are still having problems. Of the top of my head here are a few ideas:

[LIST]
The Kindy at the end of our road had an 'Enrol Now' sign up just recently so they might have spaces but I'm afraid I don't know what age they take them from. Anyway its Oaktree Kindy and its on the corner of Oaktree Ave and Palliser Lane in Browns Bay. Tel: 09 479 5979 Email: oaktree.kgtn@naka.co.nz

Both my older two have been attending above kindy. they take kids for 3 afternoons 2.5 hrs from age 3....there is a waiting list so most kids start about 3yrs 6-8 months. Morning kindy is for 5 days, 3 hrs sessions....also waiting list so they tend to start a little after they turn 4.


There is also Kindercare out on Greville Rd. www.kindercare.co.nz


I spoke to kindercare earlier this year and both the Greville Rd and Oteha Valey rd ones were no longer doing sessional places..only full days. But their waiting lists are not as long as the kindercare centres nearer CBD which is a positive.


Also try North Auckland kindergarten association:
http://www.naka.co.nz/kindergartens/

also:
http://www.albanypreschool.co.nz/

There are also many, many other childcare centres dotted around the Albany to Sunnynook area, and most aren't in yellow pages or on internet. Can't think of any names of top of my head...but if you drive round you will see some on following roads:

There are several on Bush Road (near to Pinehurst School), Apollo Drive, East Coast Road (north of Greville Rd), Ponderosa Drive has a new childcare centre, Carlisle Rd (near junction with Oteha Valley Rd)., Albany highway...just South of Albany Jnr School there are 2 chilscare centres, one on each side of road.

I would also suggest having a drive around the industrial estates.....was surprised to drive past 2 childcare centres right in middle of industrail estates on the way to Mitre 10 Mega recently.

[shakyle2906]

Have they an ABC learning centre up there ?

Can be quite pricey, but our son was in there for short time whilst waiting to restart school at 5 and had a ball!

They do have a website.

Sharon
x

[thewoodies]

Heading your way in december exact location not known yet but heading to north shore (near our friend!!) to start with.

I would also love to meet up for a coffee - I have a 1 year old and 3 year old! Perhaps if we all like each other we could help each other out while we get sorted. I will also be looking for childcare depends if OH gets job first ! :D