Jenny's Update

Kia ora everyone, Meri Kirihimete, and season’s greetings!

Term four is almost over, and how wonderful it has been to be almost back to normal – warm and sunny days, positivity and optimism is all around. We’re all looking forward to a well-earned break with whānau and friends – do take some time out to look after yourself especially.

Many of you have been out in the community continuing your local promotional activity. Thanks to all of you who have taken the opportunity to get out there and literally fly our flag! If I haven’t done a marketing session with your team lately, let me know when it will suit you and I’ll come and see you in the new year.

As the year draws to a close, here’s a reminder of some key points to think about when thinking about building or maintaining your rolls in 2023:

• Raising the visibility of your kindergarten in the community is about working smarter, not harder. It’s about reconnecting and rebuilding those relationships that fell aside during COVID, and making deliberate plans to bring new families in through this. Things like taking the children out and about, getting your posters and pamphlets out to where families go (without doing the legwork), and thinking of new ways to connect with your referrers.

• Take a two-layer approach. The top layer are our referrers – the ones you as kaiako want to have relationships with, and who send families to us. (Schools, Playgroups, Playcentre, Plunket etc). They are the ones you should try to contact, either visit them or ask them to visit you. The second layer (churches, sports clubs, playgroups, local businesses etc) are those that families can take the pamphlets and posters out to – and don’t forget to make a note of where they’ve gone.

• When you’re communicating with referrers and families, make sure you are clear about what we have to offer – and always assume that whoever you are talking to knows nothing. The basics are important – think about our #betterbecause messages. Then, we take two-year-olds, it could be free for up to 20 hours through our 20 hours free for all children, or even more hours with our Get More offer. And don’t forget to tell prospective families about what makes your kindy the unique and special place it is.

In 2023 I’d encourage you to get a year planner up on the wall just for promotional activity, whether it’s getting the parents to take posters and pamphlets out, visiting schools, Playgroups, or Playcentre, booking the school fair, putting the online ad in the local school newsletter or the local community pages online, following up on replacing pamphlets out in the community, or sending through a Facebook story and photos. Make it an agenda item at your team meetings too – just a five-minute discussion on the next few weeks’ activity and who’s doing what. Use your individual strengths to divide the workload.

In any communication with families, always include a call to action such as: come visit us on Tuesday at 10am – it’s our baking day; come to our Stay and Play on Thursday at 10am; you can pre-enrol now (include the link to apply page on our website); ring me Tuesday morning, or I’ll call you at 3pm, email me, ask us about etc. And always, always follow up on any walk-ins, phone calls, visitors, emails. It’s that personal touch that people remember.

Lastly – and most importantly – stay connected with your waitlist families. Communication is the key to success. Find the best method for each family, be it text, email, phone call – or send a postcard!

Here’s a wee note I received from Deb at Bush Street recently…

"Kia ora Jenny

I just wanted to send you an excerpt from an email conversation I have been having with a Mum on our waiting list, I literally sent an email this afternoon and then less than a couple of minutes later I got the response - I had a little Jenny on my shoulder and she was saying - "keep in touch with those on the waiting list"!! - turns out you were right - who knew 😉

'Kia Ora Jess

I am just touching base as I note that we have Cohen on our waiting list, we have some spaces coming available next year as some tamariki are moving off to school later this term. I was wondering if you still required a space for Cohen or if you wished to remain on the waitlist for a later date. If you could please let me know that would be much appreciated.

Thank you, Deborah.

Hi Deborah

Do you know, I have been meaning to email you for a couple weeks now and keep getting side tracked or wondering if I am making the right decision, so to have your name pop up and with the info you have supplied, I think it is! I would like to enrol Cohen for a Thurs and Fri, full days, please if available?

Thanks for getting in touch 😊

Jess'"

Noho ora mai, have a safe and relaxing break. See you next year!

Jen

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