Record number of graduates for Playcentre

Graduation stars – hard working Playcentre parents Sharyn Richardson (Tawa-Lindon Playcentre and Rebecca Schulz (Paramata Playcentre) display their triplicate of certificates towards the Playcentre Diploma in Early Childhood and Adult Education.

Wellington Playcentre Association have celebrated the achievements of a record 321 graduates who have gained certificates towards the NZQA recognised NZ Playcentre Diploma in Early Childhood and Adult Education at the Johnsonville Club. The graduates included 18 men.

“Playcentre is in very good heart,” said Bev Kata, Wellington Playcentre Association education convenor.

“In the year we are celebrating our 60th birthday nationally, we also have a record number of parents completing qualifications,” she said.

“Our graduation event, Through the Decades, was a chance to recognise the hard work our parents have put in, and the huge contribution Playcentre has made, and continues to make, to local communities and their children and families throughout Wellington.

“One of our star graduates was Sharyn Richardson of Tawa-Linden Playcentre – she has achieved three certificates towards the Diploma programme in one year! This is a superlative effort by a relatively new Playcentre member,” said Ms Kata.

“Sharyn has two children, Levi aged two, and Jade, five months.”

Playcentres are run by parent co-operatives, and each session is supervised by trained parent teams. Playcentres operate under the early childhood curriculum, and the Competent Children study rates them as providing excellent quality educational outcomes.

“In my view, it is the quality of our education programme, along with the hands on experience parents get from working with the children and with each other when they are supervising Playcentre sessions, that enable us to provide this excellent learning environment for our children,” said Ms Kata.

“Parents at Playcentre find that not only do they gain parenting techniques, and skills to help their kids learn, they make life long friends and gain a whole lot of new skills for themselves.

“It is wonderful to see there are so many parents in Wellington who are taking up the opportunity to be actively involved with their children’s education, with all the benefits that brings to them, their children and their community.”

There are 39 Playcentres in operation throughout Wellington, Porirua, Kapiti Coast and the Hutt Valley, catering for children from birth to school entry.

Parents are offered free NZQA recognised training in child development, positive guidance, communication, and management skills.

Wellington was the location of the first Playcentre ever in NZ – in Karori in 1941.