Mud Pies

The property management team have been noting several issues recently with Mud Kitchens and Trapeze & Ladder swings.

Who doesn’t love a great mud pie! Mud Kitchens are great for messy play but are often built with a back to them and given they are often low; this means that they are potentially climbable and offer a series of steps so that children could gain access to the top of this back which is usually about 90-120cm above the ground.

The issue is that if the mud kitchen is placed on or near a hard surface, or if it is installed against a fence, this presents an unacceptable fall risk issue onto a hard surface or the means to escape as the climbable portion of the fence has become less than the required 1.2m. 

Another issue is that of toppling. We recommend mud kitchens are fixed in place away from fences and that consideration is given to reduce the back upstands or remove these entirely if it’s not practical to have these over a soft fall surface.

 

 

Insurance

Please contact [email protected] immediately if you have any insurance related issues, such as vandalism, theft or damage to property so they can start the insurance process. You will be asked to complete an insurance claim form (which admin will provide). Please include photos and a Police Report if applicable. If the damage/fault needs to be fixed urgently, then a contractor is able to ‘make safe’ your Playcentre immediately and the paperwork can follow.   

Our insurance policy does not cover the cost of the cause of the damage, but may cover the damage resulting from that cause. For example A dishwasher has a burst pipe: the cost of the plumber to repair the pipe will not be covered, but any damage caused to kitchen cabinetry, floors and walls etc. resulting from the leak/flooding may be covered. The drying out costs and excess power usage are also covered in the claim so please keep ALL invoices relating to a claim. 

Playcentre Aotearoa has an insurance excess of $5,000 and the Playcentres are required to pay $500 of that excess. The first $5,000 is classed as an internal claim, with claims over this amount being referred to our Insurance broker where an assessor will likely be assigned to the claim and may visit the Centre.  

Watch this space in the next Bulletin for more information about “Insurance – What Is Covered and What is Not”. 

 

Signage

It is important for all centres to be aware of the signage clauses in their lease agreements. Most leases require centres to obtain written consent from their landlords before erecting any signs or advertisements on the premises. While landlords should not unreasonably withhold consent for signage, following the proper procedures is crucial to avoid issues, such as unauthorised signage removal at the centre’s expense.

If you have any questions, please let us know at [email protected].

Here is a link to the Playcentre signage procedure: https://www.playcentre.org.nz/documents/11-3-signage-procedures/.

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/