Kindies silent about change

The Wanganui Kindergarten Association is keeping mum about a proposal to extend the number of weeks each year local kindergartens are open.

The Chronicle understands the move is driven by significant debt.

The kindergartens are paid, per child, per week, and this proposal will have the centres operating on more weeks of the year, thus bringing in more money. Alternatively, some local kindergartens may need to close.

Despite repeated attempts, Wanganui Kindergarten Association general manager Trish Taylor-Pope would not be drawn on the proposal.

A New Zealand Kindergartens Inc spokeswoman said the umbrella organisation was aware Wanganui's kindergarten association had arranged a meeting to discuss a proposal with its members.

However, she said it would refer all comment to the local group.

The meeting was due to take place yesterday afternoon.

The association's kindergartens generally operate during the school term, and teachers are required to take leave over summer and during term breaks. But the proposal would see a shorter mandatory break over summer (of three weeks) and another in July (of one week).

The remainder of the teachers' leave could be taken whenever, meaning a roster could be established to keep the kindergartens open during the school holidays and either side of mandatory breaks.

The Wanganui Kindergarten Association has 13 kindergartens in the area, according to its website.