Just Kidz Beachlands, is proud of the experienced and passionate staff who provide ‘a fun place to learn’, whilst ensuring each and every learner feels safe, welcomed, recognised and supported in their development and care. The staff are nurturing and value each child, encouraging their potential and inspiring curiosity and exploration, leading to a life of learning and social competence. In this, children learn with and alongside each other, communicating and sharing, whilst developing confidence in leading their learning, inspired by Reggio Emilia philosophy and Te Whāriki, the NZ ECE curriculum.

At Just Kidz Beachlands, we value, respect and recognise each child’s culture and identity. We want our children and families to hold a true sense of belonging within our centre and to feel that we are an extension of their home and community. Children and whanau will feel warm and welcomed, supported, heard and acknowledged.

We provide information about children’s ongoing development and learning through online portfolios, to enable sharing with family easily, as well as providing a portfolio book that each child can keep and revisit. These resources, beautifully capture the magic of learning and experience that each child embraces. In this, we work in partnership with parents and whanau in building on each child’s learning journey and recognise parents as first teachers.

Our Philosophy

At Pohutukawa Kidz, we have a deep understanding of what makes children tick. Our Focus is on helping each child develop his/her potential through a healthy mix of educational and recreational activities.

Te Whariki shows us that “Children are confident and Competent Learners” which is why our educational programme encompasses this principle.

It used to be said “It takes a whole Village to raise a child ,” We believe it takes a “whole team to raise a child .” Our Expertise and experience in the industry will be pooled in with our experienced and passionate teachers.

Our Goal is to provide your child with a safe, clean, nurturing, caring environment, where your child will feel safe, secure and important, thus letting their own individuality and talents shine.

At Pohutukawa Kidz they can achieve and learn to fulfil their own individual potential.

Mission

The mission of our early childhood education programs is to work in partnership with families and the community. We strive to enhance the abilities and skills of our children integrating Social, Physical, Intellectual, communicational and emotional developments using Science, Mathematics, Arts, Recreation and Technology (SMART) programmes

Vision

Together, we can prepare your child for the wonderful future that lies ahead.

Our Benefits - He Whakakitenga

To achieve our vision and benefits are:

• A commitment and passion to support success and Maori and pasifika learners.
• Children learn best in a setting that reflects the diversity of the community.
• All children are capable of learning and have individual needs skills and talents.
• Children learn best as active participants in co-operative play based experiences.
• Children learn best through experiences that enhance their self-esteem help them make choices and develop competencies.
• Children learn best using a unified developmentally appropriate curriculum using child centered teaching practices and support services.
• Parents/ caregivers and kaiako are child primary and on-going educators, sharing equally in the child’s education.
• Centre based learning experiences provide the child with the foundation of ongoing learning and support the child and family to become responsible partners in community life.

Chasing Joy

How did Chasing Joy get its name?

Joy is about being in the moment, experiencing great delight and happiness brought about by something extraordinarily satisfying.  Joyous people look for the good in every situation - which is a real skill.

Joy was also Todd’s Mum’s middle name.  Carolyn passed away when Todd was just eight years old.  From all the stories we’ve been told and what Todd remembers of his Mum, Carolyn was a joy by name and a joy by nature.  She was warm, clever, full of life, generous and always saw the good in people.  We think naming our centre after someone with qualities like those makes for a pretty awesome foundation.

Curiosity is a natural by product of joyful learning.  If there is one thing we wanted  (and still want) for our children it is to be curious about the world around them; to be able to live in, and appreciate being in the moment.

Who are the owners?

Chasing Joy Early Learning is a privately owned centre in the beautiful community of Beachlands, Auckland.

Todd and Anneke (said Arnika) have dreamed of owning and running a centre since their own children were very young.

Anneke is a primary trained teacher.  She is passionate about high quality education and supporting teachers on their own journeys. 

Todd is the other director.  Although not in the centre on a daily basis, he is Mr Fixit on the weekends, and offers a cool head and always a common sense approach.

Chasing Joy is our only preschool.  Our whole hearts are invested in making this centre everything we would have wanted for our own children. We hope our place brings joy to children, their whanau, our kaiako (teachers) and the wider community of Beachlands.

Look forward to seeing you soon

~Todd and Anneke Reeves

Are you considering your childcare options?

Do you want that special 'home away from home' for your child?

We are proud to offer high quality chidcare in a gorgeous homely environment.  

Our teaching team are passionate and inspiring to work alonside each day and from this the children have the most amazing hands on learning experiences.

As owners of the centre both Vicki and Sarah are fully qualified early childhood teachers.  This is reflected each day in our interactions with the children, staff and families.  We love to help, we know each child and their families and we have a wonderful respect for our team.  You will see us each day 'mucking in' and having a great time as we do it!

We look forward to meeting you!

Our Philosophy...

At Early Connections, we believe ...

That all people young and old come together as one, connecting through life experiences, dreams and goals.

We appreciate individuality, inclusiveness, dignity and respectfulness.

We believe that if children feel safe and secure in trusting relationships and a safe homely environment they will confidently engage in play, exploration, contribution and relationships.

We value the environment and all that this can offer through natural exploration and inquisitiveness. We offer many opportunities for learning, education, and life skills and we embrace this in all that we do.

We support our local community and all that if offers.  Exploration is an important aspect of child development and our natural environment that surrounds us offers plenty of opportunity for this.

Through our experiences and every day learning we believe that we can all connect and learn from each other’s knowledge and passions.

Early Connections values professional and personal development and aims to meet the needs of our children, family, and teachers through a range of expertise from both within our team and externally.

 Cool Kids is an early learning centre in Beachlands.

Beachlands Montessori is in a purpose-built centre with light and airy modern classrooms.

We have well-designed play areas for toddlers and pre-schoolers and each space includes specially designed equipment to support our Montessori education philosophy. Children have access to a range of opportunities including reading, writing, painting and more.

The outdoor area includes:

• climbing equipment
• slides
• swings
• space for outdoor games
• sandpit
• a playhouse

Children can also interact with our friendly dinosaurs including our welcoming  Brachiosaurus by the front entrance.

Our indoor and outdoor spaces are carefully designed to inspire and encourage children

1. Our purpose-built centre is light, airy and welcoming
2. The environment is prepared with specially designed Montessori Material suited to individual needs
3. Our outdoor area includes play equipment, a sand pit, a playhouse and friendly dinosaurs