Bluepoint After School Care Questions and Answers
In Home After School Care & Learning through out Auckland
What is the cost for Bluepoint In-home After School Care?
Remember this is not a babysitting or nanny service. Bluepointers are trained by us to bring an educational approach to in-home after school care. Cost depends on hours and the degree of Bluepointer involvement, and the number of children (from one to three in any location). Hourly rates range from $10 per child in a group of 2 or 3 non-siblings to $25 per hour for specialised tutoring sessions. Your Bluepoint Area Manager can discuss details of cost with you once your specific needs are known.
How Can We Manage the Cost to Meet the Needs of Our Budget?
Some parents prioritise the days in the week when having an in-home personal caregiver is most important, combining Bluepoint care with other arrangements. Our system does not require parents to employ a Bluepointer every day of the week.
Another very cost-effective and competitive option is to work with another family in your area to share a Bluepointer. We call this arrangement a POD. Costs for this service are in most cases $10 per child per hour. Ask for information if this option interests you.
How specific can Bluepoint be in meeting the needs of my family?
The personal and educational needs of each child within a family are addressed. A Bluepoint manager will visit you in your home to discuss requirements, meet the child or children, and make their qualified evaluation. As far as possible individual needs will be taken into account. Bluepoint is very much tailored to each family.
Are there limitations on the age of children being cared for by a Bluepointer?
Not really. Students in the early years of secondary school may benefit from study mentoring. We do not normally care for pre-schoolers.
Do we have a say about who will be our Bluepointer?
We will only ever introduce a Bluepointer who we feel is right for your family. They will visit before our in-home care commences. That way your child or children will not be met at school or at home by a stranger.
How much do you know about each Bluepointer?
Besides going as far as the law allows to check on their backgrounds and histories, we rigorously follow up previous employers and referees. We also get to know each Bluepointer during our training programme.
Does Bluepoint in-home after school care balance work and play?
Absolutely. The balance of work and play is discussed with you and decided on at the initial meeting. We certainly agree it is important for a child to enjoy a period of relaxation and "de-briefing" before getting on with homework. It is important that each child is aware of what he or she can and can't do and what is expected.
How does Bluepoint contribute to gaining quality family time?
Ensuring that homework is completed or well on the way to completion by the time you arrive home means there's none of that frantic catch-up. After dinner there's more likely to be time available to spend together as a family. Something that we believe is a traditional value so often missing in today's time-pressured world.
Do we get any feedback on educational progress being made?
Bluepointers are trained to provide parents with a brief update of the day's activities and any observations they may have made, on a daily basis. Parents are encouraged to be clear early on about what they would like in this respect. Regular communication between Bluepointer and parents is part of the Bluepoint process.
What happens during school holidays?
If care, including all-day care is required during school holidays parents are encouraged to talk to their Bluepointer. Some Bluepointers are available for full-day holiday care. When this is not the case, the Bluepoint office is usually able to find a Bluepointer willing to take care of children during the holidays. If regular holiday care is to be part of the service this is set up at the beginning as part of the recruitment process.
What can you tell me about the Bluepoint founders?
Jacqueline and Gail both chose to combine parenting with their careers as educators. They know well the pressures that working parents face. They have had many years of experience as very successful classroom teachers, meeting first when they both held positions of responsibility at Macleans College, in Howick.
Later both were appointed principals of Auckland schools - Gail at Diocesan School for Girls and Jacqueline at Corran School. Their growing concern for the increasing pressures on families to juggle complicated and challenging programmes as parents struggle to meet the needs of their children and often demanding careers, led them to think about providing a solution. Recently retired from their positions as principals, they started talking - and Bluepoint was born.
Contact Bluepoint After School Care to discuss your requirements
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