Holiday closure and reopening centre after term breaks checklist

Here’s a quick checklist of things to remember before closing your centre for the summer break to avoid any unexpected surprises when you return to the centre in Term 1, 2025.

End of term closure 2024 

 

What? 

To Do 

End of term cleanup 

All areas cleaned; items stored in correct place.

Broken items disposed of

Carpet / floor cleaning  

Items to be moved off carpet / floors for

cleaning and contractor organised 

Fridge / freezer of perishable items  

Take home / dispose of

Emptying of all rubbish bins  

To wheelie bins

Pets  

Who will look after centre pets during holiday break? Organise food supplies for carer

Electronics  

Storage of phone, tablet, laptops, camera securely

Electrical items  

E.g. printer, oven etc. are turned off at wall. Not fridge. Turn off timers for heatpumps

Water / gas  

Ensuring all taps are turned off, sinks not blocked. Turn off Hot Water Cylinder to save money while centre is closed. Turn off water at the toby to help prevent any possible flood. Ensure gas is turned off if necessary.

Security lights /Cameras 

Check if working

Windows / doors  

Ensure all are locked, including sheds, cupboards, and gates

Outdoor equipment  

Store all equipment if possible or lock down with chains and padlocks. Remove swings. Take down shade sails if vandalism or storms likely

Garden  

Mowing of lawns, weeds, veg garden

Weekly check  

Of premises for any issues (or more often if needed), designate people to do this

Rubbish  

Weekly putting out of rubbish bins and bringing back in, if needed

Collection of mail  

Collecting mail from mailbox and sorting, including flyers and junk mail

 

Re-opening at start of term 1 2025

What?

To Do 

External / internal check of premises  

Check building and playground for damage. Lawns may need to be mowed. Check for poisonous plants

Set up of centre for term  

If items have been moved for carpet / floor cleaning, put back into correct areas

Clean of areas  

Vacuum, sweep, dust, insects etc.

Purchase of housekeeping  

E.g. milk, tea, coffee etc.

Water / Gas

Switch water toby on and switch hot water cylinder back on, then run some taps for a few minutes to ‘flush’ the pipes. Switch gas back on

H&S checks

Ensure a thorough H&S check is done prior to opening

Property Projects

The cut-off date for submitting projects to be completed over the summer has now passed. You are welcome to continue to submit projects however please note that all projects received after 15 Nov will not be reviewed until 2025.

We are working as hard as possible to get projects received before this date approved so the works can be completed over the holidays but some aspects of a project approval, i.e. landlord approval, contractor registration, are not within our control. Also we have approximately 270 projects currently in process. Therefore the projects which are most urgent will be prioritised. We apologise if we don’t get to your project this year.

 

Hi-Vis Vests for Trial Evacuations

We have been advised by Fire and Emergency NZ [FENZ] that they would like Fire Wardens to wear hi -vis vests because they are more noticeable than a sash or armband.

Please note this for your trial evacuations in 2025.

Lead Paint

Due to the age of many of our Playcentre buildings, we are finding that lead paint has been identified during inspections. In most cases this does not pose a risk because it is intact, but if areas do begin to flake then we need to employ contractors to encapsulate or remove the flaking paint. This is particularly necessary if the flakes are ending up in the sandpit or playground area. There is also the possibility of lead paint on older climbing frames and painted sandpit toys. The concern with lead paint is that it tastes sweet and is tempting for young children to eat once they have a taste.

Our WSP inspections are picking up any issues, but if you have flaking paint on your building or if you plan to nail or screw anything into material that could contain lead paint, please email [email protected] with photos of the area and we will look into reports we have online and organise testing if required.

As part of our Health and Safety suggestions, please ensure that everyone washes their hands before eating, especially after playing outside. Make sure that toys are washed frequently, especially those that are used outside. Regularly wipe with a damp cloth all flat surfaces like window sills, floors and ledges.

An informative pdf is linked here: lead-a-guide-for-schools-and-early-childhood-education-services.pdf

Nightshade Plant Species

We want to keep our community informed about the presence of poisonous nightshade plants in New Zealand. Understanding these species is essential for ensuring safety of children, pets, and wildlife.

Overview of Poisonous Nightshade Species:
1. Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna) – rare in NZ
    Description: Recognizable by its bell-shaped purple flowers and shiny black berries. Highly toxic; ingestion can lead to severe health issues.
2. Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum) – photo – most common in NZ
     Description: A herbaceous plant with small white flowers and black berries. Unripe berries and foliage are toxic, causing nausea and vomiting.
3. Bitter Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
     Description: This climbing plant features purple flowers and red berries. All parts are toxic and can result in gastrointestinal distress.
4. Smooth Nightshade (Solanum mauritianum)
     Description: A large shrub with soft, hairy leaves and small purple flowers. The unripe berries and foliage are toxic and pose a risk if ingested.
5. Tobacco (Nicotiana spp.)
     Description: While primarily known for its use in smoking, some species can be toxic if consumed in large quantities, especially the leaves.
6. Tree Tomato (Solanum betaceum)
    Description: Grown for its edible fruit, but the leaves and unripe fruit can be toxic if ingested in large amounts.
7. Other Nightshade Mentions that are common:
Kowhai Nui – The native small-flowered nightshade (Solanum nodiflorum) has glossy black berries with a strongly reflexed (bent backwards) calyx. Smaller flowers, 5-8 mm across, are arranged on short stems, all originating from the same point (umbel-like). Found in forest, scrub and plantations, especially in coastal sites in the north of the North and South Islands, and in the Kermadecs.
Wooly Nightshade – (Solanum mauritianum). They can grow up to 10m. The dust from the leaves and stems can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. The berries are poisonous to humans if eaten, particularly children, but also to cattle and pigs. Vigorous growing habit, seedlings established in summer can produce seeds by autumn. Seeds can remain dormant in the soil and germinate up to 20-30 years later.
Velvety Nightshade, Apple Of Sodom, African Boxthorn and others.

Safety Tips:

      • Education: The most simple message is “all nightshade plants are toxic to people and many animals”. Please educate your children about the dangers of these plants. Emphasize the importance of not touching or eating unknown plants or berries.
      • Monitoring: Regularly check your gardens and surrounding areas for these plants, especially if you have children or pets playing outdoors.
      • Removal: If small and easy to remove put on gloves and a mask and pull up plants then dispose in the rubbish (or at the transfer station). Do not put in your compost bin.
      • Reporting: If plants are larger, please contact askproperty with some photos and details of the location.
      • Emergency Procedures: Know the symptoms of poisoning (nausea, vomiting, confusion) and seek medical help immediately if exposure occurs. Contact National Poisons Centre 0800 POISON (0800 764 766) if any nightshade is eaten.

By staying informed and vigilant, we can help ensure a safe environment for our community. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to reach out.

Building Check

If you notice any recent damage to the exterior of your building, in the first instance please notify

[email protected]. Please include images and details of the damage.

Property FAQ

FAQ are available on the website, Property FAQ’s | Playcentre/. These are updated as new questions are asked.

If you have had situations at your centre that you think other centres may appreciate knowing, please let us know at [email protected] and we can arrange for them to be added to the FAQ page of the Playcentre website.

Property Projects

Playcentre Aotearoa ask that all centres email the admin team: [email protected] at the very start of a project when you are initially thinking about undertaking any project. This information will then be distributed to the appropriate property team member who may be in touch to discuss any potential support or issues, guidance and advice that may be identified by the team. This is for both playcentre funding assisted projects and non-playcentre funded projects. This includes building and playground projects. This could prevent costly mistakes!

Who are the Property Team Members?

Please click the link below to view the property team members contact details.

https://www.playcentre.org.nz/learnwithus/property/property-contacts/