What is PORSE?

Published on Tuesday, 28 November 2017
Last updated on Tuesday, 12 February 2019

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In a nutshell, PORSE is a home-based child care and education and training business. 

Founded in 1990 by Jenny Yule, PORSE is now a national name and works with thousands of New Zealanders to provide:

  • In-home child care services
  • Community play and learning programmes
  • On-the-job training
  • STAR/Gateway unit standards for high school students

What is the thinking behind PORSE?

By connecting families with educators and nannies, as well as training and employing these carers, PORSE strives to expand New Zealanders’ hearts, minds and well-being through nurturing home-based child care. 

‘PORSE’ is an acronym for: 

  • Play 
  • Observe 
  • Relate 
  • Support 
  • Extend 

and it is these tenets that make up the PORSE philosophy. 

PORSE says its, ‘Approach to home-based childcare is based on experience and research around the importance of play, learning and development through close child-adult relationships, allowing your child to grow and explore with confidence.’

What does this mean for families?

PORSE nurtures respectful relationships between children, educators and parents, and works to create a secure, stimulating and positive environment for youngsters. 

The PORSE Programme is family-directed and guided by Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. 

In addition, PORSE’s in-home child care is affordable and flexible, with families being given the choice of an educator or a nanny. Both are great options: 

  • PORSE educators work from their own home, providing safe, calm and familiar care. They accommodate a child’s individual habits and routine, and look after no more than four kids at a time; while 
  • PORSE nannies provide one-on-one care in the family home and are employed by the child’s parents. 

How can families, educators and nannies get more information?

For more details, go to PORSE or call PORSE on 0800 023 456.

To find a PORSE educator or nanny for your family, click here

To see how you can become a PORSE educator or nanny, click here

And to learn about PORSE education and training options, click here

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