Planning a post-COVID kick start?

As we get back to some kind of normal, there's lots of uncertainty about how the lives of our whānau will change, and what it will mean for rolls and waitlists. While we can't control the impacts of COVID-19, there are many things that we can influence - and there's never been a more important time to have a plan, be proactive rather than waiting for opportunities to come to you, and make the most of every connection.

More than 80 Kidsfirst teachers and Head Teachers turned up to our promotions 'Cuppa and a Chat' ZOOM meeting earlier this month, highlighting the level of interest that people have in keeping the profile of their kindergarten up during these uncertain times.

The conversation was wide-ranging, but some common themes emerged:

The need to make a plan. The kindergartens that do best are the ones that have a clear promotional plan that keeps on going, regardless of the health of their waitlist or roll. Your local promotion plan should run throughout the kindergarten year, and include initiatives like stay-and-play, getting profile at local events (when these return), connection with local referrers and more. A great template can be found in OneDrive under Promotional Materials.

Using EDUCA to stay connected. Many teaching teams are making good use of it as a hub for connection with parents, like Kylie and the team at Kidsfirst Cashmere.

Relationships are everything. It's one of the great strengths of kindergarten - that we are at the heart of communities, and that we know our families and local support resources so well. Having those relationships helps us to do the best for every family and every child - but they are also a great source for promoting the kindergarten more widely. Talk to your local schools, social and health services about helping families to start their ECE journey at kindergarten, tell them about what we offer, and that everyone is always welcome!

Now's the time to focus on local profile. Our Google and Facebook ad campaigns are up and running again this week, so the Kidsfirst name will be out there. Don't forget that it usually takes more than one 'hit' for parents to show an interest or enrol/waitlist, and that many profile points are local to each kindergarten. Make the most of the increased brand profile by upping yours, too. Have you got your flags out, your posters up, your brochures out?

Get to work on those waitlists. There's been a lot of uncertainty and change over the past couple of months, and many parents will be thinking again about ECE options. Make sure you keep in touch with waitlist parents and keep the connection alive until they are ready to start.