The power of online reviews
- Kidsfirst
- Aug 2, 2022
- 3 min read
Increasingly, whānau turn to online platforms to learn more about products and services – and early childhood education is no different.
Our kindergartens receive a steady stream of Google Reviews, and most of them are very positive. They help other families make decisions about whether Kidsfirst is right for them, and showcase the impact that teaching teams are making in the everyday life of tamariki, in ways only the words of whānau can.
Please encourage families to add a review when they leave – all they have to do is Google your kindergarten and click the ‘write a review’ button on the right hand side.
Here’s a snapshot of some of our recent reviews:
This Kidsfirst Isleworth family were grateful for the special care and attention their child received – really bringing life to our #betterbecause promise that ‘every child is an individual’:
“My daughter loved this preschool. She has autism, and [they] really went out of their way to help my daughter, and also made the preschool very sensory, which she loved. The outside is amazing with big sandpits, slides, little paths, and bike tracks – they also have amazing staff that really do make it feel like you’re a part of a family. If you’re in the Bishopdale area, check them out.”
Many of our kindergartens have been around so long, they’ve been a part of two or more generations of a family. The sense of connection and whanaungatanga this creates brings them back again and again, as this Kidsfirst Edmonds Smith Street parent explains:
“I attended this kindy when it was just Edmonds Smith Street Kindergarten back in 1989-1990 – had great memories of what I can remember, especially the play-doh cakes for birthdays! Fast forward 23 years later, and my boys came here – they’re now teens. Great Special Ed teachers my boy had, which were Sue and Ally, absolutely amazing. The team of teachers were friendly, caring, and provided a loving, clean, and safe environment for the tamariki, for the time my boys were there anyway 💚”
Sometimes, just one or two sentences captures the essence of the fantastic mahi going on at all of our kindergartens, like this review from a happy Kidsfirst Queenspark customer:
“Lovely teachers, and a great place for tamariki to learn and grow. It’s also a great way to prepare them for kura next door.”
And this one about Kidsfirst West Rolleston:
“Amazing kindergarten with great staff and amazing learning opportunities for young children.”
And finally, from a Kidsfirst Cashmere whānau member who sums up the kindergarten spirit perfectly:
“Our child had such a wonderful time at Kidsfirst Kindergartens Cashmere. Wonderful staff who really care about each child, and a supportive and kind atmosphere. The outdoor playground was just perfect!”
Increasingly, we are putting a lot of time into updating and managing each kindergartens’ Google My Business listing. We are working through a process of updating photos and adding Kidsfirst brand content to give visitors a better feel for the Kidsfirst experience. Along with your individual kindergarten page, they are an important step along the way in the journey of our prospective parents, as customers.
We do see every review that comes in, including the ones that are out of line with our usual 4-5 star ranking. Sometimes, these have been submitted by accident (for example, were meant for another centre) and we have worked to have Google remove others that appear unjustified or unfair. This can be a long and challenging process, but we persevere with it.
You may have seen the kindergarten hours on your Google listing change for apparently no reason at all – this is usually a Google automation issue, and we now have a process in place to ensure that our manual updates override their bots to stop it happening. But, please always let us know if you have an issue by sending us a message through the contact page of this site.
You may have seen the kindergarten hours on your Google listing change for apparently no reason at all - this is usually a Google automation issue, and we now have a process in place to ensure that our manual updates override their bots to stop it happening. But please always let us know if you have an issue by sending us a message through the contact page of this site.