Barnardos starting homebased child care

2022-08-24 - TRACIE BARRETT tracie.barrett@odt.co.nz

A SHORTAGE of child care spaces in Cromwell, especially for babies, has seen some parents unable to take up or return to work, and led to Barnardos expanding its early learning services.

Barnardos community coordinator Sally Kemp said the demand for child care in Cromwell was significant and the organisation wanted to meet the needs of the community by providing a homebased child care service.

‘‘People have been waiting to get their children into child care before they can go back to work or, alternatively, taking them through to Alexandra,’’ she said.

Willows Early Learning Centre Cromwell manager Sally Cameron said their roll was full until the end of next year, as a result of a lot of people moving to the town.

‘‘They find work and arrange accommodation and then have to find child care. I have known of one family who has not been able to take up work because they could not get child care,’’ she said.

Barnardos visiting teacher Shelley Cornish said homebased care was also an opportunity for parents of young children to earn an income while caring for their own children at home.

All educators would undergo police and reference checks, before Barnardos paid for them to take an 18week course that they would graduate with a Level 4 Certificate in child care.

Miss Kemp said the roles offered

WANAKA Fine, mod NW. 14° at 4pm QUEENSTOWN Some cloud, mod W. 13° at 4pm CROMWELL Fine, mod NW. 16.5° at 4pm ALEXANDRA Some cloud, mod N. 16.5° at 4pm educators flexible hours and the chance to work from home.

‘‘We wrap around an intensive support programme to support our Educators, including administration, marketing and business support, first aid training and a Certificate in Early Learning Level 4, nursery equipment and more.’’

Mrs Cornish has taught early childhood for 17 years, 15 of those with Barnardos, and was excited to be starting a homebased network in Cromwell.

‘‘I hope to develop a small cluster where I will begin providing a playgroup so that they can establish relationships with each other and work as a network.’’