Three Trees Learning Centre

Nature is just a stone’s throw away

​Three Trees Learning Centre is a space for nurturing, discovery, exploration and fun!

Our unique approach to early childhood education is built on a philosophy of child-centred learning through play that embraces the great outdoors. Three Trees is underpinned by the world renowned Reggio Emilia Approach to education and RIE caregiving principles.

Award winning Three Trees Learning Centre offers children frequent opportunities for outdoor play in a setting that combines state of the art design with a natural, woodlands-inspired environment.

Our fully catered centre provides all meals, nappies and wipes for your little ones throughout the day. Three Trees is Cloth nappy friendly.

Contact our team now to learn more about our holistic approach to learning through play and exploration.

Architecturally-designed to optimise learning

​Three Trees Learning Centre was designed by award winning architects Collingridge & Smith. They applied their knowledge to ensure spaces are acoustically designed to create engaging learning environments and are well-ventilated to support the health and well-being of children and staff.

The vision for Three Trees Learning Centre was brought to life by 4E's Consulting – a bespoke early childhood education business that specialises in design and development. It focuses on engaging, enabling and empowering communities, through evolving education.

These are the values that shape the Three Trees Philosophy

Our Children

Tamariki

Our tamariki are respected and trusted for their inner potential and celebrated for who they are and where they have come from. They are valued for their meaningful work and purposeful child-led play – being active participants in their own learning journey. Our tamariki are respected for their capacity to investigate, explore and maintain curiosity in the world around them. We believe that connection and immersion in nature is key to a child's well-being. Our tamariki are given opportunities to access the vibrant, earthy wonders of the outdoors in our unique outdoors environment. At the same time they are developing social interactions with peers and engaging as competent and confident learners who are actively involved in their own development. This allows them to build a degree of resilience and persistence through self-awareness, self-motivation and self-regulation.

Our Teachers

Kaiako

Our kaiako are viewed as learners who work alongside tamariki and remain true to their role of nurturing, encouraging and inspiring the holistic development of all tamariki. Our kaiako thrive through their engagement with tamariki, sharing and celebrating in their moments of unplanned, unexpected and ultimately unlimited experiences in the outdoors. They are valued for their knowledge, commitment and passion for tamariki. We see our kaiako as co-learners, supporting and guiding tamariki to explore and discover the world around them. We believe our kaiako are the key stakeholders in forming, nurturing and growing strong relationships with our tamariki, whanau and community.

Our Family & Community

Whānau

Education at Three Trees Learning Centre is a collaborative process. Tamariki, kaiako, whanau and the community constantly engage to reflect on the aspirations for all tamariki. Our inspirational environment offers infants, toddlers and older tamariki regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in and around our Three Trees environment. We as people, grow from learning in a supportive environment that embodies a wide range of support, knowledge and perspectives. By learning collaboratively we develop a strong sense of community and grow an empathetic community of learners.

Our Environment

Taiao

Our environment is a place of beauty both inside and out. Our learning environment is enriched with love and the atmosphere is calm and nurturing. At Three Trees Learning Centre, we foster the tamariki’s innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. This happens through taking learning out of the classroom, re-introducing the outdoors whilst enhancing all areas of their development through a natural discovery approach. We value the environment as a third teacher or an environmental steward. The tamariki enjoy the freedom of leading their own learning, exploring and discovering uninhibited in our environment.  Children learn most effectively when they are connecting deeply with nature through play experiences. This is about creating interactions with people and the places where they play, learning to care for nature and the world in which we live.  The concept of sustainability is introduced through experiential learning. Being outdoors in a natural setting enables children to develop a connection with the natural world that can lead to long-term environmental awareness and understanding as well as positive outcomes for their developing views of the world.