More and more Kiwi parents are sending their children to early childhood care but choosing the right centre is always a big decision. Is it affordable, in the right location and are the team of teachers caring, experienced and passionate about what they do?
Kauri Kids Papatoetoe Head Teacher Anne Valeli has a true passion for teaching and helping our youngest Aucklanders grow into confident, happy children who are well-equipped for the next stages of life.
She has worked in early childhood education and care for over 25 years, eight of those with Auckland Council’s Kauri Kids.
“I started a career in early childhood as I believe the early years of a child are the most important. I have a real passion for teaching and giving children the skills to help them grow. It’s a joy coming to work, as every day is different,” she says.
Based in the Allan Brewster Leisure Centre, Kauri Kids Papatoetoe is among 10 other centres conveniently located around the region. Each centre is staffed by a team of committed and caring early childhood educators like Anne, who are passionate about building relationships in the community and understanding the needs of children and their families.
“We provide quality, affordable and flexible education and care for children under five. We adapt our care to each child and make an effort to get to know every parent. We understand that transitioning into early childhood care can be hard, so we want everyone to feel at home.”
Anne and her team at Kauri Kids Papatoetoe work closely with the community to create a fun and diverse learning environment for children.
“We often take the children to the local library or the community garden down the road where they can learn about how things grow. We also have people from the community come in to talk about what they do.”
Anne’s advice to parents weighing up their childcare options is to visit their local Kauri Kids centre.
“Kauri Kids is unique from other childcare centres as we’re under the same umbrella as Auckland Council Leisure. We provide parents with the peace of mind that their kids are being cared for in a safe environment, so that they can take some time for themselves by fitting in a workout at the gym or going for a swim.”
Visit Auckland Leisure for more information about Kauri Kids.
