[Lupin]

Here in the UK my 3 year old has just started attending a playgroup a couple of afternoons a week and as she's 3, it's free. I think she'd miss it if we don't find her something similar in NZ, but how much would this cost us? I'm assuming it isn't free???

Thanks all :)

[Oregonkiwi]

Hi
my son will be 2 1/2 when we arrive so I've been thinking the same thing. Apart from informal play groups, which I guess you would just ask around to find, and private day care centers, the main options are Playcentre and kindergarten (kindy). Playcentre is for ages 0-5, kindy is for 3-5 in theory, but due to waiting lists, most kids start kindy when they're 4 (in Auckland at least, other areas may be different). Kids go on the kindy waiting lists at age 2. They start at 3 sessions a week and then move up to 5 sessions a week (either mornings or afternoons). Each kindy has different hours and fees but you're looking at around $2-$5 per session - it's technically free but you pay a "donation".
Kindy is more of a structured, pre-school thing, where you drop off the kids. At Playcentre you usually stay with the kids, and parental involvment is expected, it's more of a co-op whereas kindy is more of a school.. The fees for Playcentre vary at each location, but again it's pretty minimal.
There is a Kindergarten Association for each city/area, here's the link for Auckland
http://www.akkindergarten.org.nz/aka_subcategory.php?section_id=10
Playcentre link
http://playcentre.org.nz/about_us.php

[Lupin]

Thanks, will investigate Hawkes Bay.

Kind-Y :o

[sizzlingbadger]

We pay around $90 $100 a term, depending on the length of term for my 3 year old. She goes 5 days a week from 8.30 till 12.30 and will soon start extended sessions two days a week, 8.30 - 2.30, when she's 4. Terms are usually around 9/10 weeks long here.

As OregonKiwi said you will usually find long waiting lists in the bigger cities. A friend of mine in Wellington has had to wait till her youngest boy was 4 before he started where as out here in Featherston Megan started afternoon kindy when she was just 3.

The best tactic is getting your son enrolled as soon as you arrive even if you end up moving it's worth getting him started as soon as. Also get in contact with the nearest Plunket they should be able to help you out with groups in the area.

[Lupin]

Plunket???

[Oregonkiwi]

Plunket = Royal New Zealand Plunket Society:
http://www.plunket.org.nz/Index2.htm

[sizzlingbadger]

Sorry, Plunket is a word no one comes across in the UK :)

I was the same as you when we first arrived.

It's the same as a health visitor in the UK but they don't administer injections, the nurse at the doctors surgery does that. They seem to be a lot more laid back here. My son recently had his two year old check and it wasn't half as riguorous (sp) as my other two childrens were in the UK. I think in the UK they would be a lot more worried by his size and weight, a lot of people think he's about 12 months ! but she doesn't seem to be worried as we're a small family :roll

[Lupin]

Thanks Oregonkiwi and sizzlingbadger :)