Management and teaching staff work together by acknowledging parents as first teachers and working collaboratively to develop shared goals and expectations.

Parents/whānau are an important part of the learning community. As an integral feature of centre life, families are welcome to spend time in the centre, during programme hours as well as accompanying staff and children on excursions.

Family events are held during the year, in the form of parent evenings and social functions, including an end-of-year event which is held in the school grounds.

A small group of parents/whānau are represented on the Parents' Advisory committee which meets once a term. This committee provides essential feedback to the staff on matters of interest to families as well as arranging social events for the centre's families. This group of parents are consulted on the centre's policies.

Parents/whānau and teachers work in collaboration to provide a complete picture of the child through contributions to their profile book. The parent/whānau voice is an important aspect of the children's personal portfolios and contribute to this important documentation of their child's centre experiences.

A parent library is available to parents/whānau. It contains brochures, books and government publications of interest to families. We also have available for loan, educational books which can be issued to parents from the Rangi Ruru Girls' School library.

One of the reasons the pre-school was opened was to give the Rangi Ruru Early Childhood College's Diploma of Teaching and nanny education students experience working alongside experienced, qualified registered teachers whilst interacting with children.

Year 1 and Year 2 students in particular have regular opportunities to work with the children with the support of the College tutors and pre-school staff. We also have a close professional relationship with the early childhood college tutors. The Licensee of the pre-school, Alison Stevenson, is also the Director of the Early Childhood College.

The pre-school also benefits from the involvement of students from Rangi Ruru Girls' School, who can undertake work experience in the setting.