Childcare options in Red Beach

The Early Years are an age of discovery - of one's Surroundings, one's Self and one's Choices.

Happy Hearts is a bright, purpose-built centre, staffed by highly-qualified teachers dedicated to quality education and nurturing practices for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers. 

Your child will enjoy their own separate, age-appropriate room - each with their own Head Teacher - where an educational focus makes learning fun.

The early years are a special time, and we ensure all children are genuinely cared for by passionate teachers who have the well-being of your child as their priority.

Whether it be Experimentation, Exploration or Play, our focus and themes are always child-led. The children let us know what they are interested in, and we explore that topic through song, music, drama, art, movement and the natural world.

All our spaces provide the opportunity for physical and imaginative play. The outside play environment includes wet-weather areas for children to engage in outdoor play and breathe fresh air, even on rainy days.

Our custom Transition-to-School programme is a hit with both parents and children.

As they approach school age, Room 3 offers a unique programme involving numeracy, literacy, social skills and preparing children for school-level expectations. This includes school visits, thus helping ease the transition when they turn 5.

We provide nutricous meals made in-house by our healthy heart accredited Chef (see menu samples).

All Happy Hearts graduates celebrate with a graduation ceremony marking this special transition in their life.

We are proud to be family owned and operated!

Nestled in the heart of Red Beach, our Centre is situated in a quiet suburb, beside a park and a short stroll through community sports fields to the beach. Our beautifully positioned and purpose built Education Centre offers dedicated indoor learning areas and an all weather outdoor playground.

We encourage lots of nature based learning and frequently take our classroom outdoors. Our curriculum prepares our children well for a smooth, effective transition into school life. Our premium and highly personalised programme has been designed to meet the needs of every child.

Many of our dedicated teachers, have been with us since our founding years, and continue to foster nurturing relationships with our children and their families. We marvel at the world around us, explore, laugh and grow our children to be confident and active participants in our beautiful Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Cathy Zuill established the Red Beach Early Learning Centre to provide the highest care for young minds, and has always believed in keeping groups small. Embracing a traditional learning environment, a forward thinking programme rich in literacy and numeracy and a holistic approach, to meet the needs of every child. We encourage our kiwi kids to be themselves in a natural environment, learning through observation, exploration, interaction and of course PLAY!

Programmes

Children have the opportunity every day, to choose to play and work indoors, and outdoors. Our Centre location allows us to constantly use the natural environment in our own backyard, the park, children’s playground sports fields and our beautiful Red Beach.

Our daily programme includes a range of structured, planned learning activities delivered by our highly qualified teaching team. This Includes:

• Mat times/ music / movement/ art / maths / science / numeracy / literacy / ICT /
• Physical challenges / creative play /dramatic play / carpentry / puzzles / manipulative and water play /gardening.

We also provide extension groups for our four year olds. With effective communication and a long standing relationship, between us and the local primary schools. We ensure we provide an excellent transition to school for our children. Feedback is very affirming and positive, both from the schools, and the families of new entrants. 

Portfolios

Teachers document examples of your child’s learning journey with us available to you online in our parents portal, Educa. We include learning stories, other assessment tools, photos, video, smilebox, as well as examples of your child’s written and creative work.

These portfolio’s are very special to the children, and belong to them. We have them out for the children to look at often in the Centre, and we send them home once a term for you to share with your child. We encourage you to add your comments and contributions to their portfolios.

The portfolios are useful to take with you when your child begins school visits, and further enhance an effective transition to school, for your child.

Communication With Parents

We have an open door policy and welcome you in the Centre at anytime. You can talk with teachers or management at anytime. We highly value our relationship with you and your family.

We communicate with you in many different ways including, face to face, emails, Educa online parent portal, children's portfolios, frequent newsletters, Facebook, online surveys, parent forums and workshops.

Special Events

As well as our annual children’s Christmas party, we hold other events for children and their families to further enhance the relationship between families and our teaching team.

When children leave us to go to primary school, we hold a special graduation ceremony/ leaving celebration. This involves the child planning a mat time, complete with any of their favourite, games, books and music and we present them with a leaving certificate and special handmade card from the teachers and children.

Field Trips and Outings

We visit our local community frequently including walking to the many great spots on offer in our own backyard, to the local school and shops.

Trips further away are organised to support and enhance learning outcomes for the children, such as Kelly Tarltons, the Zoo, Regional Parks, The Museum, Motat, the Library and local Marae.

Sleeping and Resting

Children are able to rest and sleep if they need to, and sleeping children are under constant supervision by our teachers.

Fees and Charges

No charge for Statutory Holidays, annual Christmas close down, plus one week per year agreed on an individual basis.

20 hour subsidy available for 3 to 5 year olds. Winz Subsidies available for 2 to 5 year olds. Full day and half day options available.

Meals and Snacks

We provide morning and afternoon tea, and you provide a packed lunch and a drink bottle.

Hours

Monday and Thursday

• 8.30 am to 4.15 pm.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday

• 8.30 am to 3.30 pm.

Full/ half day options available.