Typically responds within
A couple of days
Vacancies
Limited availability
Gems Kōwhai opened its doors in June 2017. This purpose built environment, conveniently located beside Shotover Primary School, cares for and educates children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.
The space for the young ones is created as a nurturing and warm environment where our youngest are nurtured and cared for. This is facilitated through the primary care system - which requires a dedicated and well functioning team to achieve this.
The Nest at Kowhai is homely in scale and furnishings, and well resourced to meet the ever changing needs and interests of our smallest people.
After interacting with the bigger tamariki through the fence, children are so excited and proud to move up into the bigger play spaces! The Kowhai playground wraps around the whole north facing part of the building and includes a kitchen garden, sandpits, play areas, outdoor covered carpentry and construction area, mud kitchen, native plantings, and climbing equipment. There is a lovely indoor outdoor flow with multiple entrances inside. Each day could feel like a completely different experience to an adventurous child.
ALL MEALS PROVIDED
All food is freshly prepared in our purpose built kitchen by a dedicated chef. The meals are carefully planned to be both nutritious and yummy for little people. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that children will try new foods when sharing the experience with others and this can make meal times at home so much easier!
We cater for all food intolerances, eversions and special diets without any additional charge.
FARM SCHOOL
Farm School is Gems unique version of the Scandinavian concept of Forest School. One day a fortnight all of our 4-5 year olds have the opportunity to visit owners Mike and Gems farm located within 5 minutes of our centres.
It is a day of exploration and adventure in our local environment where tamariki experience the daily and seasonal workings of this sheep and beef farm.
Farm school is an integral part of our transition to school programme, where the focus on building on self management skills, social competencies and resilience as our tamariki journey towards the next step in their education.
Gems Farm School and Nature play programmes are coordinated by our Gems Farm School lead teacher, who manages the programme across the organisation. It is a day enjoyed by all age groups - we welcome visiting family (grandparents are a familiar sight).
