Hope for children should centre close

Early childhood education centres in Wanganui believe they can absorb children from UCOL's Akoranga Childcare Centre, which may close.

On Thursday the Wanganui Chronicle revealed UCOL is proposing to close the centre, with the loss of seven jobs and 33 children who needed to find new placements.

Other centres have already had parents making inquiries about their children.

Bizzy Bee co-owner Rose Battersby said, "The first I heard about it was a parent calling to ask about having their child here. We definitely have some full-time places to take kids.

"We've just finished advertising for a qualified teacher, if someone from there was to get in quick-smart, we might be able to help them out. It's a bit sad it's happening. Hopefully the parents can find places, and if we end up gaining a lot of those kids, we could well possibly have a position for someone down the track."

Central Baptist Kindergartens manager Royce Dewe said, "We have had requests from parents and from teachers looking for work since Monday. We have an ever-changing roll so we will have some spaces available, especially for next year.

"We have a very stable staff here, but we've offered to put people's names down for relieving jobs. The early child care sector is a changing scene with the Government having reduced funding for fully qualified teachers.

"We'll certainly do what we can. It's all about pulling together as a community."

Kiddicare manager Georgina Keegan said she had several inquiries this week looking to start their kids there in 2013. "I've taken two, my second-in-charge has taken three, there was another on Monday. It's very sensible for parents to try and secure placements before the centre closes.

"You always look for the best in everything that happens, but I really feel for the staff there. I know a couple of them. The early child care sector is crying out for them, but at the same time they can't afford to take them on because of all these Government cuts."

The probable closure of the Bell St centre has also attracted comment on the Chronicle's website. "Isabelle" from Durie Hill wrote: "The sad thing is that this could have been avoided ... my grandchildren go to that centre, and it's a wonderful asset that used to make money until UCOL moved away from them. If UCOL had moved the creche at the same time that they moved the rest of the campus, then this situation most likely would never have occurred - lack of vision/marketing on UCOL's part."

Another commenter, "igmck" from Foxton, posted: "If it is underutilised and unprofitable it should be scrapped, too much emphasis by the left on financing losing ventures. Time to face reality."