Parents - Questions & Answers

Read on for answers to questions which parents have asked us in the past. If your question is not answered here or you would like to know more please contact us on 0508 678 910 or complete and send this form. We are only too happy to help.
 
Click on the question you would like the answer to or scroll down the page to see all questions and answers provided.
 
 
Q. Is Bright Futures Home-based Care & Learning the best care for my child or children?
A. Many parents have already chosen Bright Futures because our educarers can provide their child the special attention he/she needs to be cared for and to learn in the safety, comfort and familiar surroundings of a home.
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Q. Do you participate in the government's 20 hours ECE for 3 and 4 year olds?
A.  Bright Futures will not charge you additional costs for the 20 hours early childhood education available for 3 & 4 year-olds. This applies to a maximum of 6 hrs per day for your child up to maximum 20 hours per week. Our Bright Futures Manager can discuss with you how this affects fees for your child.
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Q. How do I enrol my child or children?
A. Simply call us on 0508 678 910 or email us and we will arrange the enrolment from there.  All you need to do is fill out a few simple forms and decide what days and hours of care you require. After which we will arrange a meeting for you with the best available educarer to match with you and your child or children’s needs.
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Q. How quickly can Bright Futures arrange care for my child or children?
A. We pride ourselves on making arrangements quick, easy and practical. Provided we have spaces available and you are able to meet with one or more of our educarers at a suitable time then care can usually be arranged immediately.
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Q. How much do you charge?
A. Our standard rates are $4.70 per hour per child (effective 29 April 2013) making it one of the most affordable childcare options available. If you are eligible for a Work & Income (WINZ) subsidy you will pay only the difference between our standard rate and the subsidy you are entitled to. The fees quoted on the website are subject to change. Please email us or call us 0508 678 910 to confirm current rates.
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Q. Who is eligible for a Work & Income (WINZ) subsidy?
A. Work & Income childcare subsidy rates are based on your weekly income before tax and the number of children in the family. We will discuss your eligibility with you when you enrol your child or children and are only too happy to help you complete the Work & income form if required. For more information click here to go to the Work & Income website.
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Q. How do parents know what their child has done in the day and how they are developing?
A. Your chosen educarer will keep a book of your child’s day, exciting happenings, new words, their drawings, photographs etc, which you can look at or pick up each day. Of course you can talk to your educarer directly or the team at Bright Futures anytime about your child’s progress.
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Q. You say Bright Futures offers learning as well as childcare – what do you mean by this?
A. All Bright Futures educarers follow the Te Whaariki curriculum as set out by the Ministry of Education. These guidelines cover Well Being (Mana Atua), Communication (Mana Reo), Belonging (Mana Whenua), Exploration (Mana Aoturoa) and Contribution (Mana Tangata). We also use the ‘Learning Stories’ development programme which is well known for it’s use of photographs and illustrations to help children understand and communicate relationships between themselves, their family and their carer.
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Q. What training have Bright Futures educarers had? 
A. The quality of educarers is of much importance to Bright Futures. Before taking on an educarer, Bright Futures must be reassured the person has early childhood education or home-base care training or what we believe is the equivalent experience to what any training would provide.
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Q. My child has special requirements – will Bright Futures be able to look after them?
A. In the majority of cases, yes. Bright Futures and our educarers are very accommodating of all children and understand that no two children are the same.  Before your child starts care we ask that you complete our About Your Child form which covers things like their rest times, their toileting routine, how they like to be comforted etc. The educarer uses this information to help care for your child as you do.
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Q. What is Bright Futures’ policy around medication?
A. No medication will be given without the permission from you, the parent/caregiver, and the completion of the Medication form.
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Q. What happens if my child or children are unwell?
A. That’s OK, children are unwell from time-to-time. If your child or children are unwell then you need to let us know that that they will not be going to the Educarers home as soon as possible. Ministry of Education regulations require us to exclude all children who are sick in order to protect the other children and the educarer. If you child or children become unwell at the educarers then we will contact you to arrange for them to be picked up.
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Q. What happens if the educarer is unwell?
A. Like children, educarers also are unwell from time to time. If this happens we will contact you to let you know. In most cases we can arrange alternative care with another Bright Futures educarer if you require it.
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Bright Futures • phone 0508 678 910 • email us