Now's the time to get that waitlist moving
- Kidsfirst
- Oct 19, 2022
- 2 min read
As COVID numbers continue to trend down, we're seeing a significant uptick in interest from prospective families. Form submissions to our website in August were up more than 80% over the previous year, and in turn, waitlist numbers are also on the rise.
Over the worst of the Omicron impacts, waitlists were slow to convert to enrolments in the first half of the year, and there was a noticeable 'hole' in the numbers. However, things picked up again in May and June, and we are confident that the abolition of the Traffic Light system, and easing of restrictions will see a return to some kind of normal pattern, or at least, settling into a new normal.
We are not the only provider facing the same issues – those in the private sector will be dealing with the same dynamics of enrolment hesitancy, and peoples' lives and behaviours changing – including the way they use ECE.
Our focus now is on getting that waitlist moving again, and it’s up to all of us to do our bit.
If you have families who are hesitant to commit, now’s the time to get them through the doors to experience all of the ways that kindergarten is Better Because.
With COVID restrictions easing, it's time to make every customer experience a quintessentially kindy one – talk with prospective whānau and learn more about what matters to them, know what sets your kindergarten apart from the competition, and make the time to talk with families when they come to visit.
Keep in touch with your waitlist, and when Stay and Play events start again, be sure to invite waitlist families. It’s a great way to give families and tamariki a taste of te ao kindy.
Long gone are the days that families automatically chose kindergarten – there’s a whole new generation out there that needs to understand how it is different and why we believe it’s a better start for tamariki.
Our spring marketing campaign starts very soon – so now’s the time to get planning as a teaching team to maximise the opportunities the increased profile brings.
If you’re feeling stuck or just want to run an idea past somebody, Jenny is always happy to make the time, and, share your stories here – they provide real inspiration for other teams.
We can’t wait to see what you come up with!