Local Early Learning Centre Celebrates Two Decades of Growth

Coastlands Preschool staff are celebrating twenty years of operation tomorrow, and said personalised care has driven the centre’s success.

A local preschool is marking twenty years since opening, growing from a single-room operation into a centre with three learning spaces and an outdoor area.

Assistant Manager Sian West said the centre began with just one room, and has since expanded to include three learning spaces and a large outdoor area.

She said what sets the preschool apart is its strong focus on relationships, supported by regular trips to the beach and lower staff-to-child ratios.

"Staff have got time to talk to the parents and get to know them and get to know their kids and their families and what they do," she said.

West, whose three sons attended the centre, said the level of connection gives parents confidence their children’s needs are understood.

Manager Jacqui Johnston said maintaining higher staffing levels has been a key focus since she joined four years ago.

"We have one teacher to seven children. Ministerial require one to ten but we just feel it's important for the older children."

Johnston said the lower ratios allow for better communication with parents and more personalised care for tamariki.

"You only need to turn on the news and to hear any early child teacher speak to the diverse needs in children."

"Trying to meet those needs when you're supposed to only have one teacher to ten children is just about impossible."

She said lower ratios allow teachers to better respond to increasingly diverse needs among children.

"We’ve got more teachers within our rooms, so if a child needs one-on-one time, teachers are able to give that extra care."

The approach also supports children’s social and learning development, she said.

"You can be a lot more personalised in the care that you give knowing where children are at learning-wise and can personalise for that child."

She said in recent years, staff have been assigned new leadership roles, including two teachers to aid transition into primary school. 

"So when they're talking to the parents about their child going on to school they know the education situation that the child is going to be going to and can help prepare the child more, have that discussion with the parents about what to expect and support that child through that transition on to school."

Coastlands Preschool will be celebrating twenty years of education tommorrow. IMAGE: Supplied

The centre has also introduced leadership roles focused on supporting children transitioning to primary school, she said.

"When talking with parents about their child going on to school, they understand the education setting the child is heading into and can help prepare them, as well as support that transition."

Johnston said the centre has become a community hub, with former families returning even after their children have moved on.

"It becomes a little hub for people to meet and build relationships, as well as their children receiving education."

She said the under-two area, in particular, is often described as a "home away from home".

The centre will mark the milestone tomorrow with a celebration including cake and cookies.