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Four Weeks Free Childcare in Christchurch - ABC

Friday 4 March 2011, 6:45PM

By Kidicorp Ltd - ABC Brand

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CHRISTCHURCH

 

ABC Learning Centres has made an unprecedented offer of assistance in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake.

The company has announced four weeks' free childcare per child for all children currently enrolled at its 27 affected centres and has extended the deal to new enrolments as well.

CEO Rob Facer says it is simply the right thing to do.

 “We want to do something to help not just our ABC families but those in the wider community – they are all struggling with a host of challenges as a result of this devastating event,” he says.

The offer comes with no fine print and no presumption of ongoing enrolment after the month is up. At centres where there is capacity, after existing families, preference will be given to those who have suffered as a result of the quake and to families of emergency services personnel.

“Even if it gives families some peace of mind while they are dealing with other issues and then they move on with other arrangements when the month is up ... we will have felt that we have made a difference and lent a valuable helping hand,” says Facer.

More than 1600 currently enrolled children and 276 staff at centres when the earthquake struck last Tuesday were safely sent home by the end of the day to the relief of everyone involved.

“We are just so thankful to our Christchurch team who kept level heads and kept the children in their care safe and calm,” says Facer, “they’ve done a marvellous job.”

ABC’s Specialist Inspection Team is currently assessing centre damage and as soon as the Ministry of Education gives the go-ahead, centres that have passed inspection can begin re- opening.

The four free weeks will begin on the first day each centre opens, including ABC Kaiapoi, ABC Rangiora, ABC Rangiora North and ABC Rolleston, which opened on Monday 28 February.

Parents who have relocated out of Christchurch due to the earthquake have been offered a week’s free childcare at an ABC centre in their new area to help the settling in process.

ABC Developmental Learning Centres NZ has 127 centres nationwide and is this country’s largest private provider of early childhood education services.