Schools are gearing up to give parents a place to leave their children ahead of the teacher's strike tomorrow - but one after-school provider says some don't want any services that may undermine the strike.
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The strike is expected to close the vast majority of primary and intermediate schools, affecting more than 400,000 children. The strike follows stalled pay talks between teachers' union the Educational Institute and the Education Ministry.
Kelly Club New Zealand is one of several after-school companies offering extended services tomorrow.
Managing director Paul Jamieson said most of the 49 schools it worked with had asked the company to provide programmes during the strike, but some had asked it not to.
"Some schools have made various different decisions. Some we're still waiting for answers. The majority of them have decided that they would welcome a programme being run," Mr Jamieson said.
"There is the odd programme that has said they would like us to support the teachers and therefore perhaps not run a programme, which is an interesting way to look at it because that is potentially affecting their parent community."
Sports clubs, community groups, and even wildlife parks have been promoting their services ahead of the strike.
The general manager of Otago Hockey, Andy McLean, said more than 70 children were enrolled for a festival day on Wednesday.
He said the day was an opportunity to involve children in the sport and give parents an option for childcare on the day of the strike.
In Wellington, Charlotte Hassad from Island Bay Football Club said about 30 children were expected at a one-day version of its holiday football programme.
"We thought this was a good opportunity to help out parents in our community," she said.
In Auckland, St Patrick's Church in Panmure is offering a full-day programme for children at the local Catholic school.
Father Andrew Matthew from the church said it did not want parents to be left out of pocket by the strike.
"There are some parents that have to pay for caregivers and we thought that was a bit unreasonable," he said.
Though most schools are expected to close on Wednesday, a few are providing supervision of children for families that can't make other arrangements.
At Clevedon School, in Auckland's rural fringe, principal Julie Schumacher said the offer depended on only a small number of the school's 450 students turning up.
"If we'd had 200 children say they had to come to school we wouldn't have been able to and we would have, under health and safety, had to close," she said.
"We've got staff who are not involved in the union, not part of the NZEI who will be at school so they will be able to supervise those children."
Ms Schumacher said providing supervision was a way of acknowledging that the school's community supported teachers' bid for better pay and working conditions.