Our Childcare Journey
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Town planning application granted for Milford Day Nursery
1971
After navigating unchartered waters of resource consent process and dealing with objections from neighbours, Glennie presented her case and won consent.
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First centre opens - Milford Day Nursery
1972
The centre was licensed for 32 children, but opened with 12 children and 3 staff in January 1972.
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Opening of Kindercare Early childhood Teacher’s College with 15 students
1982
Opening of Kindercare Early childhood Teacher’s College (now New Zealand Tertiary College) with 15 students
To keep children Safe, Loved and Learning, they need to be in the care of competent, nurturing Teachers – which is motivated Glennie to open a training college, specialising in the training of Early Childhood Teachers. In doing so, she changed the status of early childhood education in New Zealand by offering the first two-year course to prepare graduates to teach preschool children in an alternative setting to traditional kindergarten.
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Centre opens in Vega Place, off Constellation Drive, in Mairangi Bay
1993
Opening with a licence to care for 90 children, this was the largest childcare centre in the country at the time. It was also Kindercare’s first centre in a “light industrial” area. In 1994, the licence was increased to 170 children.
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Launch of Kindercare’s Cherry.bytes program and Excel Education Program
2000
Cherry.bytes: used wisely and innovatively in education, technology has the potential to open up a whole new world of learning opportunities. Cherry.bytes is unique to Kindercare – a program we researched, piloted and introduced, as another tool to extend Kindercare’s early childhood curriculum and support the development of your child’s full potential. Working primarily on iPads, as well as opportunities to use other technology, weekly sessions incorporate interactive and creative activities to extend and enhance the classroom focus.
Excel Education Program: Kindercare’s Excel Education Program is a specially designed and researched framework that incorporates New Zealand’s national early childhood curriculum – Te Whaariki. Our Excel Education Program empowers our teachers to support the curriculum’s focus on the development of the whole child – well-being, belonging, contribution, communication and exploration. -
Early childhood centre opens in Pinehill
2003
Early childhood centre opens in Pinehill, with Kindercare’s new Support Office on first floor.
With the growth of Kindercare, more space was needed for the Support Team, as well as facilities for staff to connect, and to participate in professional development. -
Kindercare enters the Christchurch market
2004
Kindercare enters the Christchurch market
With the acquisition of 8 centres, previously Paddington’s, Kindercare extended our service into the first region outside of Auckland – supporting Christchurch children and families and growing our team. -
Launch of the Living and Learning Foundation
2005
The Living & Learning Foundation (LLF) is a private, not-for-profit foundation that provides support to New Zealand children, families and communities, who are from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Generous donations provide substantial benefits, including, amongst others, assisting children with special needs, support with health, community projects and needs, and parenting programs. Living and Learning International also funds and supports several international initiatives in disadvantaged communities.
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Christchurch quake: closure of 3 centres
2011
Christchurch quake: closure of 3 centres (in Armagh Street, Puriri Street and Fendalton Road)
In 2012, the centre in Puriri Street was re-opened to children and families.
In 2014, when the lease on our centre in Fendalton Road came up for renewal, Kindercare chose not to renew it. -
Kindercare celebrates 40th birthday!
2012
Kindercare celebrates 40th birthday!
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Glennie hands over leadership of Kindercare
2014
Kelly is appointed Chief Executive. Glennie remains as Chairman of the Kindercare Board.
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Introduction of online portfolios – Educa
2015
Educa provides Kindercare parents, families and staff with an online communication and documentation tool, that enables us to keep in touch with families “in the moment”, and to create online portfolios for children, that document their early childhood journey.
