Early Childhood

Who are we?

St Mary’s Early Childhood Education Centre was established in 1995 by St Mary’s Anglican Church, Karori, as an outreach to families in the community.

The Centre is run as a Community Early Childhood Education Centre with a Management Committee comprising a representative of the church, the licensee, staff and parents.

Our Vision

The Centre’s children, staff and families develop a love of learning, caring and sharing through modelling Christ’s love.

Centre Profile

The Centre is open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday for 48 weeks of the year.
It is closed for three weeks over Christmas and New Year and for the first week of the July school holidays.

It is licensed for 30 children, 5 under 2 years and 25 two years and over. We require children to be at least 12 months old. The Centre provides care and education through full time and full day spaces to approximately 45 families.

All food for the children is provided and prepared by the Centre.

2013 Fee Schedule (includes GST)

Day / Week	Hours / Lunch	Under 2	Over 2	3 & 4 year olds with "20HoursECE" (up to 20 hours) - See Note below
9am to 3pm	6 hours including lunch	$56.18	$47.92	$0.00
9am to 4pm, or 8am to 3pm	7 hours including lunch	$64.03	$54.46	$7.78
9am to 5pm, or 8am to 4pm	8 hours including lunch	$71.63	$60.80	$15.20
8am to 5pm	9 hours including lunch	$79.38	$67.26	$22.42
Fulltime 8am to 5pm Mon to Fri	45 hours including lunch	$396.90	$311.85	$173.25

Note: We have an Optional Charge for 3 and 4 year olds of $1.85 per hour for each of the "20HoursECE" utilised.

Staff

The Centre team is led by Nicole Miller, the Head Teacher and supported by Linda Travers, the Centre Administrator. The teaching team consists of eight teachers, seven of whom are qualified and registered. Four of our teachers are full time and four are part time. One of our teachers supports us by spending some of her time teaching and some time as our Family and Community Liaison Officer building links with our families and helping us to support them as much as we can as a Centre. We also have a Centre Cook who prepares all of the meals based on the Healthy Heart Award system.

Programme Planning

We have modified our programme to ensure it is based around the children’s interests and that it is available to all parents/caregivers and families. We acknowledge children’s interests and set about finding ways to ensure that we can extend and further develop their learning.

We have identified the range of children’s ages and learning and we have established programmes to specifically work within those age groups.

We have our group time for half an hour after morning tea each day. We split into groups based on the ages of the children and their stages of development. The groups are: Under two and a half year olds, two and a half to three and a half year olds, and three and a half to five year olds. There is a Transition to School group session for just 4 year olds from 1.00pm to 1.30pm. The children experience numeracy, literacy, science and mathematical skills incorporated through their interests and play. We acknowledge community events and we provide activities such as storytelling, finger plays, listening games, instrument exploration, action songs and movement, sharing news and a variety of other experiences.

A Day at St Mary’s Early Childhood Education Centre

8.00am – 9.45am	Free choice of activities/experiences
9.45am - 10.00am	Active Movement Session for all children
10.00am – 10.15am	Morning Tea
10.15am – 10.45am	Group Time (see explanation above)
10.45am – 12 noon	Free choice of activities/experiences
12.00pm – 12.30pm	Lunch Time
12.30pm – 1.00pm	Sleep/Rest time
1.00pm – 1.30pm	Group Time for Transition to School group (4 year olds)
1.00pm – 2.15pm	Free choice of activities/experiences
2.15pm – 2.30pm	Story Time for all children
2.30pm – 2.45pm	Afternoon Tea
2.45pm – 5pm	Free choice of activities/experiences

Links with Families and the Community

We have many successful social events throughout the year for a variety of different reasons. We like to ensure one social gathering a term. This is a great way to get to meet the teachers as well as your children’s friends and their parents.

In 2008 we created a new role Family and Community Liaison Officer for one of our teachers. Her role is to support our families and to visit children and families in times of need, to organise meals, to settle in new families, organise events such as Shrove Tuesday, Easter, Mothers Day and Fathers Day celebrations as well as workshops. To celebrate Christmas we involve all of the children in acting out a christmas themed play every day for a whole week. This enables parents/caregivers and family members to come along to watch. Those who are unable to attend can watch a video of the performances.

For further information please contact:

Nicole Miller (Head Teacher) or Linda Travers (Centre Administrator)
Phone (04) 476 0319
Fax (04) 476 0319
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Centre's Address: 170 Karori Road, Karori, Wellington

If you would like to visit us, please call the Centre on 476 0319 to arrange a mutually convenient time.

How to Place Your Child at St Mary’s Early Childhood Education Centre

We are a popular Centre with a reputation for high quality childcare, consequently the demand for places is high and new children need to get their name on the Centre Waiting List as soon as possible. Please call the Centre to request a Waiting List Application Form.