Combination of everything fills rolls at Belfast

Kidsfirst Belfast was officially removed from the ‘Spaces Available’ section of the website last week - an achievement that is always worth noting.

Kidsfirst Belfast Head Teacher Justine Martin-McKenzie says there’s no one single initiative that drove a recent leap in enrolments, but persistence and efforts in a number of different directions have made all the difference.

“The extra advertising has helped and we’ve been making sure we are more visible on the road with both a flag and a footpath sign. We also pick up children with older sisters and brothers at the school - not always the first one, but often others when parents realise adding the kindergarten means they only need to make one stop. New signage on our building visible from the school path helped.”

Like all kindergartens, Belfast has a strong relationship with the school next door that go beyond transition.

“We don’t just watch school activities like Cross Country and Athletics Day any more - we’re in them.”

Making the kindergarten more welcoming has been another focus for the Belfast team, who have created a warmer atmosphere by repainting the kindergarten interior in calmer colours and making sure they stay in touch with prospective parents.

“One mother came in after visiting a number of centres. I called her a few days later to see how she was getting on, and it turned out I was the only one who had got back to her. Staying in touch with people and encouraging them to fill out the paperwork straight away are two of the small things we have done that make a difference.”

Whānau are attracted for the same reasons many choose Kidsfirst - often, it’s the Big Back Yards with lots of room and nooks and crannies to explore and play in.

“We have apple trees, trees to climb, hills. You just don’t see that in other centres around here. It’s a definite selling point.”

Like most kindergartens, Belfast has historically struggled to fill specific days of the week. Adding extra activities to the quieter days have helped boost the numbers.

“Mondays were in the teens - we’re now back up to thirty. We now have exciting things happening on a Friday - we’ll go to Styx Mill or put other trips on a Friday. People start to notice.”

The Belfast team will now turn its attention to growing and maintaining its waitlist.