“The Ark” Tokoroa Childcare is a centre for 44 children, 12 under 2s, and 32 over 2s with a real community and family feel about it.   The licensee lives locally, and committee members, staff, parents and caregivers who are members of the centre’s incorporated society meet monthly.   Jill Brilliant, the operations manager and a great team of teachers make new arrivals and family/whanau very welcome.

Open:  Monday to Friday 7.30am – 5.30pm. Open during the school term breaks.  Closed for 2 – 3 weeks at Christmas

Address:  50 Maraetai Rd, Tokoroa

Online:  www.ark.net.nz

Children with Disabilities:   The centre building is fully compliant for access by people with disabilities.  It offers an inclusive environment and plenty of space for physical movement and playing both indoors and outdoors

Children with Medical Conditions:  The Ark teaching team have experience with children with different medical conditions and  check with parents/whanau as to the needs of their child.  All permanent staff hold a first aid certificates.

Gifted and Talented Children: The programme is driven by child initiation based on children’s interests.  Through assessments the staff identify opportunities and possibilities for extending the child.

Children with Special Learning Needs:  The staff have monthly planning meetings where children’s learning successes and concerns are discussed and shared.  Lots of various teaching strategies are put into practice and the teacher consult specialist Education Support Workers for additional teaching advice as needed.  The teachers take courses and engage in professional development to keep up to date and ensure they are meeting the needs of all children.

Staff Gender:  All staff are women.

Languages Spoken by Staff Fluently:  English, Maori, Samoan, and Tokelauan.

Qualifications held by Staff:  Diploma of Teaching Early Childhood Education and Degrees in ECE teaching.   

Parent Say:  As an incorporated society parents are welcomed to join the society and have the right to vote and make decisions.

Grouping Practices:   Throughout the day children of different ages mix together.   At lunch-time children eat in smaller groups so that there isn’t a big meal time rush.  Sometimes the older children have their own afternoon meetings which are held in The Ark’s whanau room.

Features Tokoroa Childcare Centre Are Proud Of: 

1. Our Children

“We have a great tuakana/teina (older/younger child) concept here due to the mix age opportunities we cater for.  Our children have wonderful respect for each other and good working and playing relationships”.

2. The Indoor Environment

“We have good open space.  The children’s group learning is displayed so that upon entering the centre families can see children’s portfolios and these are accessible to parents/whanau and their children”.

3.  The Outdoor Environment

“We have been very fortunate to be given land from our neighbouring high school to extend our playground.  Quite often parent comment on how great it is for children to run freely”.