Working parents in Rotorua struggle to provide holiday care

SCHOOL'S OUT: But now to keep them supervised over the holidays. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

A Rotorua working mother-of-two says finding childcare over the school break is a nightmare and holiday programmes can cost about $400 per week for her kids.

School holiday programme providers in Rotorua will receive more than $230,000 in government funding next year and police also want to make sure parents have adequate supervision for kids under-14 and aren't leaving them to fend for themselves.

Figures from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) show funding for programmes had jumped from $143,759 in 2015 to $230,350 for 2018.

Ministry community partnerships and programmes group manager Marama Edwards said after-school and holiday childcare programmes were valued by parents who managed a job while caring for their family.

''The holiday programmes may also provide opportunities for kids to try things they might not otherwise get involved in with children their own age.''

Contributions to accredited providers were based on attendance numbers and the types of programmes offered at each venue, she said.

In 2017 there were 14 accredited school holiday providers in Rotorua compared to 12 in 2015.

''In addition to being accredited, providers are required to charge parents or caregivers a fee to be eligible for this support. MSD can provide subsidies to help parents with these fees and the amount of the subsidy depends on income.''

Rotorua mother-of-two Shabina Grounder said it was hard for her and her husband finding carers for their kids during the holidays.

The couple did not qualify for a government subsidy and used holiday programmes but said it cost about $400 per week, with some activities costing extra.

''It's quite hard as we need something that is affordable and often they close down for periods over Christmas and into January.''

Grounder works in retail.

'You can't take any time off in January so my husband and I have to look for students who are over 18."

They also tried to share their annual leave so one of them could look after their children, aged 5 and 7.

Playtopia managing director George White said it normally filled up over the school holidays.

The centre catered for children aged 5 to 8 and had another programme for 9- to 13-year-olds, he said.

Baking, creating board games, crafts, swimming and dress-up day were among activities on offer.

Meanwhile, police youth national manager Inspector Ross Lienert said officers did get called to incidents where children were left unsupervised and the outcome of those callouts varied.

''Police would take into account the ages of the children, the length of time they were going to be left, the availability of others to provide help, and any known dangers at the locality.''

There was a difference between leaving your child in a car while you nipped into the supermarket and leaving your kids alone at home for an entire day while you were out at work, he said.

''We want parents to consider the risks involved and to consider whether or not the appropriate measures are in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their child. At the end of the day it is about the child when it comes to these decisions.''

A teenager aged 14 and over could supervise other children at their parent's discretion.

''Some children will have the maturity level to be able to safely look after a younger child, whereas another child of the same age may not, and therefore each situation is unique.''