Join the Home Grown Kids whānau
A proud Kiwi organisation, Home Grown Kids has over 20 years’ experience offering quality home-based education programmes that reflect our New Zealand
ECE curriculum – TeWhāriki.
We’re big on whānau and at the heart of our business are our Educators and Nannies.
Find out more:
History
New Zealand-owned and whānau operated, Home Grown Kids started out life in 1997 as NZ Nanny Support Service where we worked solely with Nannies working in Whānau homes. In 2007, we branched out to include Home-Based Educators who work out of thier own homes to provide quality care and education to preschool aged tamariki. More than 24 years’ experience has created a friendly, inclusive, truly ‘home grown’ Kiwi business that welcomes and supports Educators, Nannies, teachers and families from communities throughout New Zealand.
FAQs
For Educators:
HOW CAN HOME GROWN KIDS SUPPORT ME?
At Home Grown Kids we welcome you into our whānau. We want you to enjoy your job and love working in home-based care. To help you achieve this, we give you marketing support, business guidance, administrative support, educational advice, professional development opportunities, opportunities for meeting with others in the industry, and guidance to achieve both personal and professional goals. You’ll be visited by a local Visiting Teacher at least once a month. They’ll help you with educational programmes, provide resources, organise playgroups, outings and events. Plus, they’ll assist you to work toward parents’ goals and aspirations for tamariki. Call your Visiting Teacher at any time for advice over the phone.
HOW MANY TAMARIKI CAN I LOOK AFTER AT ONE TIME?
You can look after a maximum of four tamariki at any one time, with a maximum of two of those four children being under two years of age.
HOW DO I GET PAID?
We collect the payments for you on behalf of your families so you can be assured of regular, consistent payment. This removes any awkward situations where you might come across the need to ask parents for late payment.
HOW OFTEN DO I GET PAID?
Payment is made to you weekly on a Wednesday night.
WHAT ABOUT HOLIDAY PAY AND HOLIDAYS?
As an Educator with Home Grown Kids, you contract yourself to us to provide childcare from your own home. You are considered as self-employed and as such have full control over your payments.
WHAT ABOUT TAX?
As an Educator with Home Grown Kids you are self employed. You will be responsible for declaring your income to IRD, and for paying your own income tax.
Please see our full page dedicated to all things tax:
DO I NEED ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE/RECEIPT BOOKS?
No, we take care of this for you.
HOW MUCH WILL I BE PAID IF I LOOK AFTER TAMARIKI IN MY OWN HOME?
Potential parents are aware it is a negotiable rate with the Educator. Educators set their rates based on their experience. You should consider not setting your rate too high, or you may not attract as many families. Its important not to undersell yourself too. As long as you are willing to be flexible you can usually come to an agreeable rate with parents. Depending on where you live and your experience, we can advise you on what a competitive rate is. Call us to discuss.
For Families:
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EDUCATOR AND A NANNY?
A home-based Educator cares for a small group of up to four preschool tamariki in the home of the Educator. A Nanny provides education and care in the child’s home.
WHAT AGE GROUP DO YOU PROVIDE CHILDCARE FOR?
We provide early childhood care and education for children from birth to six years.
WHO CHOOSES THE EDUCATOR OR NANNY FOR MY CHILD?
You do. We will provide you with a choice (where possible) of Educators or Nannies suitable to you and your child’s needs. You can contact the Educator or Nanny yourself to arrange a suitable time for you and your child to visit with them, or we can organise a meeting and accompany you and your child to offer extra support if needed. You can check out our Educators and Nannies here.
HOW DO I KNOW MY CHILD WILL BE SAFE?
Following the Ministry of Education’s regulations, all our Educators/Nannies are thoroughly checked and screened to ensure the safety of your child in the Educator’s home environment. This includes a vetting process with police, previous employers and referees. Educators are then interviewed and a safety check of their property is completed. All our Educators and Nannies of tamariki enrolled in our ECE programme are supported by our Visiting Teachers who are qualified registered ECE Teachers with many years’ experience and expertise in Early Childhood Education.
WILL MY CHILD RECEIVE AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME AND HOW WILL I KNOW MY CHILD’S NEEDS ARE BEING MET?
Home Grown Kids is committed to providing a high quality educational home-based programme that reflects our New Zealand ECE curriculum Te Whāriki and is tailored to tamariki‘s individual interests, strengths and cultural needs.
Each child’s learning and development is supported by an individual learning plan. This is documented in an e-portfolio in the form of Learning Stories as well as photos and captions. Find out more. These will be recorded by your child’s Educator, Visiting Teachers and yourself.
WILL I BE ABLE TO VISIT MY CHILD DURING THE DAY?
Yes, you are able to visit your child anytime while in care.
CAN I CONTINUE TO BREASTFEED MY CHILD WHILE THEY ARE IN CARE?
Yes, you are most welcome to continue to breastfeed your child while they are in childcare.
CAN I VISIT OUR EDUCATOR’S HOME BEFORE MY CHILD STARTS TO HELP THEM SETTLE IN?
Yes, we want you and your child to feel at home and get to know their Educator. We recommend orientation visits before childcare begins and during these visits you are required to stay.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY EDUCATOR OR NANNY IS SICK?
We will do our best to provide you with an alternative Educator or Nanny should you require one.
CAN I USE A WINZ SUBSIDY?
Yes you can. We are an approved Work and Income provider and can support you to access a childcare subsidy if you are eligible. Find out more about WINZ subsidies.
