Nor'West News: January 24, 2017
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14<br />
Tuesday <strong>January</strong> <strong>24</strong> <strong>2017</strong><br />
NOR’WEST NEWS<br />
Neighbour<br />
Hello<br />
Flexible booking hours give families<br />
greater choice<br />
For busy working parents with young children, a local childcare centre that offers<br />
flexibility can make all the difference when they are juggling work schedules and<br />
caring for their family. That’s where the privately run First Learners centres come<br />
to the fore.<br />
Owned and operated by Linda Broekman,<br />
who trained as a kindergarten teacher and has<br />
decades of experience across the early learning<br />
environment, the three First Learners centres<br />
in Shirley, Mairehau and Rangiora cater for all<br />
families’ needs.<br />
“We are very flexible with our booking<br />
hours,” says Linda. “We don’t have set<br />
sessions, so parents and caregivers can leave<br />
their children in our care on any day or days<br />
and for any length of time that suits them.”<br />
The centres cater for children from birth<br />
to six years and are staffed by qualified and<br />
experienced teachers, with a low child to staff<br />
ratio.<br />
“Our philosophy focuses on the needs of<br />
each individual child, and we cater for their<br />
differing developmental needs with separate<br />
sections according to age groups,” Linda<br />
explains.<br />
First Learners offers a free play environment<br />
as well as some structured time according<br />
to age, ensuring that the children are kept<br />
engaged, stimulated and challenged while<br />
at the same time having fun and developing<br />
their social skills, creativity and confidence.<br />
The play areas are spacious and well<br />
equipped, with the children free to access<br />
both indoor and outdoor areas. By allowing<br />
them to make choices about where they want<br />
to be and what activities they want to get<br />
involved in, the staff encourage the children<br />
to explore and be curious and creative.<br />
The centres offer the government subsidised<br />
20 free hours, and these are “absolutely free,<br />
with no extra charges”, Linda says.<br />
And when children are enrolled at any of<br />
the First Leaners centres, the first four weeks<br />
are offered free, with certain conditions.<br />
Details of these can be found on their website,<br />
www.firstlearners.co.nz.<br />
Linda and her staff have an open door<br />
policy, so parents and caregivers are welcome<br />
to call in at any time to inspect the centres and<br />
chat about their child’s needs.<br />
The centres are open Monday to Friday<br />
from 7.30am to 5.30pm (Rangiora<br />
7.15am-6pm). For more information visit<br />
www.firstlearners.co.nz or call Linda on<br />
(03) 313 1<strong>24</strong>2.<br />
Quality Childcare<br />
• Flexible booking hours<br />
• Open 7.30 to 5.30<br />
• Large outdoor area<br />
• Friendly and welcoming<br />
with open door policy.<br />
First 4 weeks<br />
FREE<br />
Reach your<br />
local community<br />
with us<br />
To advertise in this<br />
feature, please contact:<br />
Monique<br />
Maynard<br />
P. 364 7474<br />
Phone: 385 8311 | 262 Westminister St, Mairehau<br />
mairehau@firstlearners.co.nz | www.firstlearners.co.nz<br />
INTRODUCING<br />
...our new stylist,<br />
Hannah Reynolds<br />
Book your<br />
appointment today!<br />
Unit 2, 159 Cranford St, St Albans | Ph: 03 355 2125
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