Getting tamariki off waitlists and into kindy
- Kidsfirst
- May 10, 2022
- 2 min read
With COVID dominating so much of everyday life for whānau and kindergartens, it can sometimes be hard to shift the focus to the routine tasks that usually keep everything ticking over. Everything can also feel a bit more complicated as plans chop and change and families juggle all of the disruptions that COVID brings.
It’s still important we don’t lose our focus on waitlist whānau, whose start dates might become more fluid as they attend to other aspects of day-to-day life – and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to do that.
We can’t always get face-to-face with families, but fortunately there is a wealth of Kidsfirst online resources that showcase the kindergarten philosophy and remind whānau of why kindergarten is worth waiting for.
Our kaiako-informed Whānau Connect section is tailored to suit a range of queries that parents of kindergarten age tamariki have, and covers a range of topics that help them understand how kindergarten is different.
You know your families best and will have an intimate understanding of what’s important to each of them – so feel free to include links in your next email to three or more stories that might remind them of why kindergarten is worth waiting for.
Here are some links you can copy and paste into your next email, and other articles on the Whānau Connect section cover similar topics:
There are some great COVID specific resources available, too. A new section on our new Te Ao Kindy pages talks directly to the importance that Kidsfirst places on being Kindy Safe, and offers reassurance to whānau who might be feeling hesitant about coming to kindy in these uncertain times.