FAQs

Seeds and Sprouts Childcare is independently owned and operated by a local family. Seeds and Sprouts is a whānau focused Early Learning Centre which caters for children aged 0 to 5. We aim to provide a natural, happy, social home away from home.

We are open from 7:30am – 5:30pm, Monday to Friday.

At present we do have some full time spaces available; we encourage you to call in and let us write down your details so we can ring you and discuss starting childcare options for you. We look forward to meeting you and your child/ren.

We have set fees for a short day (6 hours) and a long day (10 hours), however other sessions are available upon request. We are here to support parents as much as we can, so please don’t hesitate to ask any questions. 20 Hours ECE are available at our centre for children aged 3 to 5 years. There are no fees charged for 20 Hours ECE.

Please contact us for a fees schedule for exact pricing.

Seeds and Sprouts Childcare is open 7:30am to 5:30pm, we have a minimum enrolment of 2 days and encourage these days to be at least 6 hours per day. This allows your child to become familiar with our daily routine, helps your child build reciprocal relationships, and helps your child settle into a new environment which supports them to have fun!

We encourage this as our centre has an 'open door' policy. Contact the Centre to let us know when you are coming or if you are already out and about you are welcome to call in. Staff will be available to show you around, answer questions and discuss the individual needs of your child. We will also offer you an enrolment pack.

Absolutely and we encourage this as this is where you are looking at having your child in care. It's important that our families build relationships with our centre staff.

Each child has a portfolio and an online e-profile, it contains their learning and development. This includes stories with photos, learning assessments, and communication with parents/whanau. The portfolio is available for parents to view and contribute any time. E-portfolio offers parents the opportunity to view their child's portfolio on line anytime and anywhere, including allowing other family members to view and contribute as well.

We try our best to maintain a very high level of hygiene to prevent infection e.g. good hand washing practises for children, staff and visitors to the Centre. Do expect your child to become unwell especially in the first year of childcare, however we will do our best to support you with an unwell child and contact you at once if we feel your child should not be at the Centre. Seeds & Sprouts do send children home if they appear unwell so that we can stop any contagious illness.

There is no charge when the Centre is closed or on public holidays.

Yes if your child is 2- 3 years old, then you may qualify for up to 50 hours per week depending on your circumstances for example if you are working or on a course you may be eligible for up to 50 hours per week, if you are not working and not on a course you may be eligible for up to 9 hours per week.

If your child is aged between 3-5 you can access up to 20 hours per week and if you are working and or on a course you may be eligible for up to 20 hours per week plus up to 30 hours per week WINZ childcare subsidy depending on your work or course situation. WINZ childcare subsidy finished on your child's 5th birthday, however you can apply for 30 days after your child has turned 5 and the 20 Hours ECE stops when your child turns 5.

If your child is in nappies please provide them with enough nappies for each day, or you are more than welcome to provide them a week at a time (packet). The centre will provide wipes. We encourage all tamariki to explore all areas of the centre and this often includes water, messy play, paint, mud etc. Please provide your child with several changes of clothes (named) for these experiences, as well as adequate footwear and a sunhat for the summer months. We ask you to please provide your child with a nutritious lunch box with enough food for your child to last the day.