Our Full Story

OUR FULL STORY

The Nanny Centre New Zealand was established in 1988 to meet an area of need within childcare and education in the local community and the greater Auckland region.

The original site was in leased premises, upstairs, on the corner of Hoteo Ave and Great South Road, Papatoetoe, and then later (under new management) moved to further along the Great South Road to ground level premises to allow for easier access and better parking facilities.

From it’s inception The Nanny Centre offered two 6 month courses per year. It was a full time local course which was approved by NZQA to meet the needs at that time.

During this period the centre was smaller in student numbers and could be managed by one person.

In 1998 The Nanny Centre changed to new owners who had a vision to grow the training centre and further develop it. They felt it was important that the centre remain in the same vicinity but in a home of its own. This led them to seek a property that would offer a more attractive and suitable learning environment for the students. To this end, the property at 431 Great South Road was acquired. It provides a warm and homely atmosphere which is conducive to learning about childcare, education and home management. This is reinforced by positive feedback from students and graduates who continue to visit frequently, often bringing their charges with them.

Another part of the development of The Nanny Centre was updating and developing new material to align the course to meet the criteria of The National Certificate Level 3 on the Qualification Framework. The Nanny Centre was accredited to teach the revised course in 2000.

With the ensuing growth of student numbers there was a resultant growth in staff numbers. It was important that suitably qualified and experienced staff were employed, not only in tutorial positions but also in the areas of admin and student support.

These staff have embraced the vision for the centre and are dedicated not only to the positive outcomes for their students, but also their own professional development. They are continually revising the programme and updating material, as new information, techniques and theories come to hand.

Following the foundation being well established with the Level 3 programme, it was decided to take the next step in the vision and prepare for offering the Level 5 National Certificate.

This 12 month full time course was duly approved in 2006 and was offered for the 2007 year. It is proving to be a most successful programme with plaudits from students and other stakeholders who are impressed with the content (the depth of which is beyond the expectation of many), the quality of the delivery and the degree of student support.

Both programmes offer a National Certificate and a Nanny Centre Certificate in their Qualifications. These Qualifications are recognized and held in high regard in New Zealand and internationally. Either Qualification can be used in the area of  Home-based care ( as a Nanny/Educarer ) but the Level 5 programme is predominantly focused on Centre-based care and can be cross-credited into the Diploma or Degree in Early Childhood Education and /or other higher level Tertiary Qualifications.

Another important part of the vision for The Nanny Centre was the provision of ongoing support for both students and graduates in the area of employment. To meet this commitment The Nanny Centre Bureau was established in 2001. It was the first employment agency to be opened specifically to assist students and new graduates from a training establishment to have positive employment outcomes on completion of their studies and it has proved to be a valuable and sought after service.

The Bureau is no longer just for Nanny Centre graduates and students, but also for others who have trained elsewhere as nannies, teachers or nurses. All prospective candidates are thoroughly police and reference checked, have an interview that confirms their level of skill-based knowledge and their credentials must be bona-fide and meet a set criteria before being accepted onto the agency files for representation to clients.

Because of the expectations of The Nanny Centre and the standards it sets, there are also many happy families and care facilities who are now enjoying the benefits of employing quality carer/educators who offer a high standard of delivery and are confident, skilled and professional.

The staff of The Nanny Centre Bureau are committed to assisting people into employment that is right for them; always trying to match the personal requirements of the Carer with the specific needs of the Employer. Whether it be local, outside the Auckland area or international placement that is being considered, the staff are always on hand to offer their support and assistance.

In January 2010 The Nanny Centre became part of Vision College, which is a division of ATC New Zealand. ATC New Zealand is one of the largest Private Training Establishments in New Zealand and brought the benefits of sizable infrastructure and support to The Nanny Centre.

So, for the next step in the story of The Nanny Centre watch for further updates because the next chapter is in the making.