FAQs

How do I know if I’ve chosen the right kind of care for my child?
We strongly advise that you visit us at Sunny Days and we would love to see you and answer any questions. It is important to visit any Centre you are considering and current advice from Early Childhood Education professionals is to try and visit a Centre on at least two occasions.

Once without your child so that you can focus on how the Centre looks and feels for you. Observe the children and teachers interacting, are they having fun, are they relaxed, busy and mostly happy? Look at the equipment and play areas. Is the equipment in good condition? Satisfy yourself that there are enough activities to stimulate and appeal to different children’s abilities and interests. Look at the areas of play, are there quiet areas as well as messy play areas and action play? Take note of the supervision, whether there’s an easy flow indoors & outdoors. Ask questions of the teachers.

The second visit with your child is again about how you both feel about the Centre. Is your child having fun? Is it a welcoming, encouraging and supportive environment for your child?

How many children are enrolled? Is there is a waiting list?
Sunny Days is licensed for 62 including up to 14 under twos. This means at any one time the maximum number of children in our care must not exceed 62.

The number of enrolled children varies. We can and usually do have more than 62 enrolled children as many children attend part time. We do keep a waiting list, if you are thinking ahead and would like to put your child’s name down.

Is your service licensed or chartered?
Sunny Days is a licensed early childhood education and care centre. Take a look at our latest ERO review here.

Do you provide snacks and lunch?
Sunny Days provides morning and afternoon tea. These will typically consist of fruit / bread / toast and water / juice / milo. Children bring a packed lunch for the Kiwi and Tui rooms (over twos). Nutritious lunches are also provided for the Pukeko Room children (under 2’s).

When a child’s birthday is being celebrated, party food may be provided by the child’s Parent/Caregiver. We welcome your participation in celebrating your child’s birthday.

What involvement is expected of the parent?
We welcome and encourage parent participation, discussion about your child’s progress and involvement. You can spend one-on-one talking with your child about their day which makes their learning a valued part of the family/ whānau day and will help build their self confidence.

• Talk about what they’ve been doing
• Include your child in the conversation when you’re talking to the teachers about your child’s activities
• Display their paintings and other work at home

Costs and payments?
What is the cost of childcare at Sunny Days?

• Sunny Days have one standard hourly rate of $5.69
• There is no charge direct to parents for absences (e.g sick days or holidays)*
• Fees are paid upon receiving a fortnightly invoice

Payment options are:

Automatic Payment/Internet Payment – To Napier Family Centre’s account 02-0700-0250588-00. Please include as references: SD (Sunny Days), your child’s name, and account number (found on upper right corner of invoice).

Cheque – Can be given directly to reception at the Napier family Centre or you can post directly to our administration office:

Sunny Days
P.O. Box 3041,
Onekawa,
Napier 4142

Direct Debit – Please phone administration on 843 7280 to discuss how you would like your direct debit arrangement to process (re amount and frequency).

Cash or EFTPOS – Available at the Napier Family Centre on the corner of Wycliffe Street and Morris Spence Avenue in Onekawa and you will be given a receipt.

WINZ
If you think you may qualify for a childcare subsidy from WINZ, let us know at the time of enrolment and we will work with you to complete the application.

For more information click here.

*Sunny Days reserves the right to apply a discretionary discount to Parent fees, where appropriate, and is reviewable from time to time. Absences attract only one portion of our discounting Policy. The Ministry of Education absent rule and the Work and Income 3 week absent rule both still apply. 

What about getting my child to and from Sunny Days?

• Sunny Days is located at 30-32 Barker Road, Marewa Napier
• Parents/Guardians and authorised persons can pick up and drop off children
• A van service is available in some instances to pick up and or drop off

When is Sunny Days open?

• 7.45a.m. – 5.15p.m. Monday to Friday, inducing school holidays
• Closed for Christmas/New Year period
• Closed on public holidays

Do you offer FREE Early Childhood Education?
Sunny Days offers 20 hours ECE for children ages 3-5. A child is able to access these hours when they turn three. A child can use a maximum of six ECE hours per day. For more information click here.

How do you help children settle in?
We will discuss with you how to best support your child to settle in to Sunny Days. Our teachers are very experienced at helping children settle. Children and parents will all have different needs and we aim to help this transition be as smooth and positive as possible. There’s no right or wrong period of time, some children will naturally settle in quickly, others need to take more time.

Other things good to discuss when you visit are:

• How do you support learning for each child and small groups of children?
• How do you keep records of the children’s learning?
• How do you manage children’s behaviour?
• What qualifications do your teachers have?
• What is the daily routine?
• How will I know how my child is getting on?

How can I provide feedback:

At Sunny Days we value your feedback and we invite you to chat to our kaiako/Centre Manager about any concerns or issues as they arise. Parents and caregivers have the right to register a complaint without fear of retribution and to have that complaint dealt with promptly and courteously. If you wish to make a formal complaint, please refer to our Complaints Policy for guidelines.

Complaints Policy Sunny Days for website