Our vision: ‘The child is at the forefront of our minds and the focus of our interactions’
- About us -
We know that every child is an individual and each family is unique.
We work hard to support the whole whānau by offering flexibility and a welcoming environment. We encourage children to grow and progress at their own pace, and be their own person.
Our centre encourages learning and gives kids opportunities to develop physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually.
With a record of excellent ratings from the Education Review Office, and by keeping up to date with current research in early childhood education, we can provide the best start to your child's learning.
- We provide -
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Flexible hours (no minimum)
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High teacher to child ratios
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All meals, nappies and wipes
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Free play and structure
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Preparation for School programme
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Little Explorers
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Individual Learning portfolios
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Primary caregivers for infants and special teachers for all children
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Regular trips for all children, including van trips!
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Support for children with special needs & allergies
- Services -
Flexible bookings
Families are busier than ever these days, with parents working all kinds of changing shifts and hours.
We get that, so we organise our bookings around your needs.
Experiences to remember
We love providing the children with new and interesting experiences.
They help children grow into confident adults who are excited by change and new challenges.
Frequently asked questions
Have you been looking at heaps of childcare options? Do you have a tonne of questions?
We've got you covered - take a look at our FAQ section, or feel free to get in touch with us directly.
- Experiences -
There's always plenty for children to do at Crackerjacks, and they are always busy.
The kids might be going on a bug hunt, enjoying messy play, interacting with the chickens, ducks, kunekune pigs, donkey, alpaca, or hopping in the centre van for an excursion.
We are constantly providing new experiences to challenge their thinking, as well as giving opportunities for them to practice and master skills.
We provide plenty of varied resources for each age group to support their learning, and encourage their social and emotional development.
"I have always found Crackerjacks welcoming and extremely accommodating. We have had positive experiences with all the staff. The caring and relaxed nature of Crackerjacks has always been a noticeable point."
— Kylie
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Do you any have spaces at the moment?We currently have limited spaces available for our under threes. We do unfortunately have an extensive waiting list for our Over Threes. We are unable to give an accurate timeframe on when the space may become available as it is often dependant on children going to school or moving out of the area.
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What is the miminmum number of hours that we need to book in for each week?There is no minimum, but we recommend booking your child in for a couple of times a week, for a few hours at a time, to enable them to get settled in.
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Can I change my child’s bookings if I need to?Yes, you can. Just let us know what you need, and we can make the change according to spaces available for the times that you require.
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Do you allow WINZ subsidies?Yes, we do, and we are happy to help you complete the form. Here are some helpful links: WINZ Childcare support information WINZ Childcare application form
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What age groups do you cater for?We cater for children from birth to school age in three flexible age groupings.
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What are your fees?We charge a flat rate of $7 per hour for all age groups. We do offer a separate fee for the second and subsequent children at a rate of $6 per hour
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Do you charge a booking or enrolment fee?No, we don’t. It is free to enrol your child, and once they start you only pay for the hours they attend. There is no fee for your child’s portfolio as it is included in their hourly rate.
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What is included in your fee?Everything your child needs while they're here, including all food (for children over one year old), a water bottle, nappies, wipes, a sunhat, sunblock, and bed linen for sleep time. We also have a centre van which is used for trips for children in the Juniors and Seniors age groups free of charge
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What's your ratio of teachers to children?In our infants' area we have 1 teacher to 3 children; in our toddlers’ area we have 1 teacher to 5 children; and with our preschoolers we have 1 teacher to 7 children.
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What do my kids need to bring with them?Children over one year old will need to bring changes of named clothes, and we provide everything else. For children under one year old, please provide the food and milk you would like them to have while they're with us, as well as changes of named clothes. All children will need a 'wet bag' for their wet or messy clothes. These can be purchased and named at the office for $10.00.
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Do you supply lunch for the children?Yes, we provide all food for children over one year old, and we cater for allergies and special dietary needs. For children under one year old, please provide the food and milk you would like them to have while they're with us.
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Do you supply nappies?Yes, we do, as well as wipes.
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Do you take the kids on trips?Yes, every child goes on an excursion in the Centre’s van at least once per term. Previous trips have included Hamilton airport, the Hamilton train station, our local marae, Yarndley’s Bush, local tractor yards, farms, and the emergency services. There is no cost, and no requirement to be parent helper.
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Do I have to pay if my child is away?We have a separate structure for our Under and Over 3's. Under 3's - No charge for absences Over 3's - Normal hourly charge, less allocated 20 hours ECE
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How do you accommodate special needs children?Each child who has special or differing needs will be individually supported within our centre. We are happy to follow IEPs from outside agencies, and will work with parents to ensure that we are providing best practice for their child. Our support for special needs children includes dietary and allergy needs. We have an excellent track record for supporting families and children with a wide range of needs. You are welcome to get in touch with us to discuss how we can best support your child here.
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What do you do about different dietary needs?We cater for all kinds of dietary and food allergy needs (egg, gluten, dairy, vegetarian, etc). We meet with each family to document a plan for how we will accommodate your child's dietary needs.
Need more info?
- Contact us -
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
7:30am - 5:30pm