Karori Children's Centre

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 121, 17 February 1944, Page 4

Karori Children's Centre

Sir. —We appreciate that the object of the Kindergarten Association was to define the difference between the terms “Day Nursery,” and “Nursery School, but it is through the elaboration of this difference that we feel wrong ideas may be formed of our capabilities. Stress is laid on the fact that a nursery school features trained supervision, and the opinion may be formed, that in view of our operating what is commonly referred to as a day nursery, this skilled guidance was lacking at our centre. The Karori Children’s Centre has been operating since July, 1942, and was the first of its kind and is still the ouly one in New Zealand to offer so many services. These include kindergarten (mornings only), day nursery (all day attendance for children of all ages up to five), play centre (available to children of members on any three afternoons in the week and arc xiiider trained supervision), and lunch and after school for children having younger brothers or sisters at the centre but. who are theme elves attending primary school. These children have the right to hot dinner and the facilities of the centre after school if their parents are at work. ... It is because of these varied services that we cannot call ourselves a nursery school, but the children in the day nursery section enjoy all the advantages of the nursery school and are guided in their work on “a sound educational basis by a kindergarten teacher who is a graduate of the Wellington Free Kindergarten Association. The children in this section attend regularly, which is one ot the features of 4 nursery school, as distinct from a day nursery stressed by the Kindergarten Association. Tt is true, however, that we cater for casjials who also are given th ; : benefit of trained supervision. In conclusion we would say that we have the following.trained staff. A matron who obtained her Plunket certificate since the time that one of the requirements was passing through the pre-school centre attached to Karitnne Hospital. Dunedin. She is also genera l trained so that it will be seen that not cnly are health and hygiene amply provided for but also the matter of minor accidents to which children are prone.' A kindergarten teacher who is a certificated graduate of the Wellington Free Kindergarten Association. A fully trained and experienced Karitnnenurse, —Wo are. etc. —KARORI CHILDREN’S CENTRE. INC. G. S. Amos, President; David A. Syme. Treasurer. Wellington, February 14.