PARENT INFORMATION

Yes! As part of our complete service, Toki Explorers provides nutritious, home-cooked meals prepared fresh by our in-house cook.

Our meals are thoughtfully prepared with young children in mind, offering a variety of wholesome and nutritious foods throughout the day. We aim to provide balanced meals that support children’s energy, growth and development, while also introducing them to different tastes, textures and ingredients.

Having our own in-house cook also means our meals can be prepared with the individual needs of our children in mind. We work with families to understand dietary requirements, allergies and specific food needs, helping ensure children can enjoy mealtimes safely and comfortably.

We provide outstanding teacher to child ratios at Toki Explorers. We maintain a minimum ratios of 1:4 for Under 2’s and 1:8 for Over 2’s, which is well above the The Early Childhood Regulations.

Starting school is a big milestone in every child’s life, and one that can bring a mixture of excitement, anticipation and new experiences for both children and their whānau. Our Readiness for School program has been created by our experienced and qualified team, in collaboration with the new entrant teachers of our local schools. At Toki Explorers, we understand how important this transition is, and our Readiness for School Programme is designed to help children feel confident, capable and ready to take this next step in their learning journey.

We recognise that every child develops differently. Our learning experiences and resources are thoughtfully personalised to reflect each child’s interests, strengths, abilities and developmental stage. This allows children to build on what they already know, while providing opportunities to extend their thinking, develop new skills and take on challenges with confidence.

As children approach school age, we place a greater focus on developing the foundational skills that support successful learning at school. Through engaging, play-based experiences, children are encouraged to explore early literacy and numeracy concepts in ways that are meaningful and enjoyable.

However, being ready for school is about much more than knowing letters and numbers. We also help children develop the social, emotional and practical skills they will need to confidently navigate their new environment. Children are supported to listen and follow instructions, communicate their needs, take responsibility for their belongings, work alongside others, manage emotions, persevere when something is challenging and develop independence in everyday tasks.

Our teachers work closely with each child and their whānau to understand their individual journey and celebrate the progress they are making. We want parents to feel confident that their child’s unique strengths and needs are understood and that they are being supported every step of the way.

At Toki Explorers, we want every child to leave us feeling proud of what they can do, excited about what comes next and confident to take their next big step into school.

At Toki Explorers, we believe that strong relationships with families are at the heart of quality early childhood education. You know your child better than anyone, and we value the knowledge, insights and experiences you bring to our partnership.

We encourage open, honest and two-way communication. We want you to feel comfortable talking with us about your child’s day, sharing something happening at home, asking questions or discussing anything that may be important to your child. Just as importantly, if there is something you feel we could do differently or something you believe could be improved, we genuinely want to hear from you.

We understand that families are busy, so we provide a variety of ways to keep you connected with what is happening at Toki Explorers. Our most common forms of communication include:

• Daily conversations at drop-off and pick-up, giving you the opportunity to share information and hear about your child’s experiences, interests and achievements.
• Educa helps us keep families connected to their child’s learning journey, providing a special window into their experiences, discoveries and achievements at Toki Explorers. Families can view learning stories, celebrate their child’s progress and stay connected with the learning happening throughout their child’s day.
• Notices on our front-door noticeboard, keeping families informed about upcoming events, important dates and centre information.
• Newsletters, providing updates about what’s happening across the centre, children’s learning and upcoming activities.
• Menus, so families can see what nutritious meals and snacks are being provided throughout the week.
• Phone calls and emails when more detailed or individual communication is needed.
• Policy Review Book, providing families with opportunities to contribute feedback and have a voice in the ongoing review of our centre policies and practices.
• Facebook, where we can share centre news, reminders, celebrations and glimpses into the experiences happening at Toki Explorers.

We identify the importance of providing quality early childhood education by a skilled and knowledgeable staff and maintain at least 80% qualified teaching team and continuous professional development for all our teachers.

We highly recommend that all parents/guardians and children visit our amazing centre before making a decision. Please complete the form on our contact page. We will contact you and make an appointment to show you around and explain all that is going on.