Childcare options in Mairangi Bay

Reach for the Stars Early Learning Centre provides dedicated early childhood care to families living and working in Albany.

Choosing the right early childhood care for your family is important. If your child will be spending time in childcare, then you want to know they are being cared for and educated in a way that matches your families values.

Reach for the Stars Early Learning Centre is a privately owned and operated early childhood centre run by hands-on owners Karyn and Bruce Poole. Karyn comes from a teaching background while Bruce has experience of running his own business as well as working in service industries.  The couple are frequently at the centre, with Bruce acting as centre handyman and cook when needed, and are backed by a team of dedicated early childhood teachers.

At Reach for the Stars Early Learning Centre we empower our children to become confident, independent lifelong learners by providing an engaging learning environment where children are given every opportunity, encouragement, guidance and support to ‘reach for the stars’, and to develop to their full potential.

Our philosophy

Our centre’s educational philosophy is based on three pillars of education.

Te Whāriki

Te Whāriki is the name of the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum Framework. It provides guidelines for education and care of children from birth to six years of age and is based on the aspirations that children grow up:

as competent and confident learners and communicators healthy in mind, body and spirit secure in their sense of belonging secure in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society

Te Whāriki follows four basic principles of Empowerment, Holistic development, Family and Community and Relationships and five strands of learning - Well being, Contribution, Belonging, Communication and Exploration. Reach for the Stars Early Learning Centre also supports the bi-cultural heritage of New Zealand and Te Tiriti O Waitangi.

R.I.E /Magda Gerber Philosophy

The foundation of the R.I.E. Philosophy and its principals is RESPECT.  We honour each child’s unique capabilities and encourage them to reach developmental milestone as they are ready. This philosophy includes 10 principles of caregiving including modelling the behaviour you want to teach, learning each child's unique way of communicating and letting children try to solve problems on their own. Young children have a primary caregiver to build a relationship with.

Reggio Emilia Approach

Probably the most well-known aspect of this approach is the concept of a Hundred Languages. This is the belief that children use many different ways to show their understanding and express their thoughts and creativity.  A hundred different ways of thinking, of discovering, of learning.  Through drawing and sculpting, through dance and movement, through painting and pretend play, through modelling and music, and that each one of these Hundred Languages must be valued and nurtured.

Why choose us?

Here are 10 great reasons why our daycare is right for your family.

• We are a privately owned centre with hands-on owners. Unlike some centre owners, we are actively involved and know the children who attend our centre.
• We have great teacher-child ratios. Our ratios exceed the minimum Ministry requirements, ensuring children always have a group of caring teachers on hand to help them.
• A large proportion of our staff are qualified. We have over 80% qualified teachers and our non-qualified staff are all working towards qualifying.
• Our centre is small. Reach for the Stars Early Learning Centre is licensed for just 85 children with a maximum of 25 under-2s. This combined with our room structure means your child will never get lost or be overwhelmed and contributes to our family feel.
• Reach for the Stars Early Learning Centre is in a great setting. Our centre is located in a quiet crescent with plenty of easy parking but away from the traffic and fumes of the main road. Our indoor and outdoor areas are well equipped and maintained.
• Children are provided with freshly cooked meals. These are prepared each day by our centre's cook.
• Hygiene is a high priority. Babies and toddlers spend a lot of time on the floor, so we make sure our carpets are thoroughly cleaned regularly as well as the rest of the centre being kept clean and tidy.
• Parents are fully involved. At Reach for the Stars Early Learning Centre we encourage parents to be involved in their child's learning. Children have learning journals, we run social media pages, parent's evenings are held two or three times a year and family events are often held.
• Reach for the Stars Early Learning Centre offers competitive fees. We know childcare can be expensive so our fees are competitive. The 20 hours subsidy is available for 3-5-year-olds.
• All cultures are celebrated. Reach for the Stars Early Learning Centre is a multi-cultural centre with families and staff from many backgrounds. We are also committed to New Zealand's bicultural heritage and include Maori culture within our centre's routines

Kindy Cottage are a boutique North Shore daycare centre, purpose built for the care and education of children aged 5 months to 5 years. With dedicated nursery and preschool area, Kindy Cottage is situated in Windsor Park on Auckland’s North Shore. Situated in a peaceful residential area, neighbouring a reserve, Kindy Cottage is a peaceful calming environment which nourishes and inspires young children. More than just a daycare, Kindy Cottage is an extension of your child’s home. With child-centred learning and stimulating activities, Kindy Cottage strives to give the next generation the best possible start! 

With an experienced team of qualified early childhood teachers, who love what they do, Kindy Cottage provides exciting learning opportunities for your child. As a small North Shore daycare, we have a low child-to-teacher ratio, which mean we get to know each and every child well!

Our philosophy

Kindy Cottage follows the philosophies of Magda Gerber and Reggio Emilia

R.I.E / Magda Gerber Philosophy

This philosophy was first introduced by Emmi Pikler and made popular by educator Magda Gerber. The main principal of this philosophy is respect. Each child is unique and is encouraged to develop and meet milestones only when they are ready. There are 10 principles of caregiving which include learning a child's individual way of communicating, paying full attention even during basic caregiving like nappy changes and providing space for children to problem solve on their own. 

Reggio Emilia Approach

The main aspect of this philosophy is the idea of a Hundred Languages - that children all communicate and express thoughts in different ways. According to this philosophy, children should have access to many different forms of expression including music, dance and art. Teachers are there to guide children and to help them document and display their learning.

Why choose us?

Here's what we think sets us apart:

• Low child to teacher ratio - we have one teacher for every three children in the nursery and one teacher for every eight children in the preschool. We also have a high number of qualified and registered early childhood teachers
• A homely daycare environment - being a small centre we can offer an environment that is an extension of your home and our experienced team of teachers get to know each and every child well.
• A great location - our centre is located in a quiet residential street away from noisy traffic, commercial or industrial areas. Children learn in a peaceful environment with a playground naturally shaded by mature trees and with native birdlife from the reserve next door. It is also convenient whether you live locally or whether you are dropping your child off on the way to work on the North Shore.
• Our close relationship with the East Coast Bays community - we have close ties with our local community and work with schools, businesses and organisations from nearby areas including Mairangi Bay, Torbay, Murrays Bay, Sunnynook, Albany, Windsor Park, Rosedale and Rothesay Bay. Our fantastic murals on the playground fence were designed and created with a class of Year 5 students from Murrays Bay School.
• A focus on individual interests, skills and development - we believe in a child-centred approach, letting children take the lead both in the nursery which has children up to 2 and a half and in the preschool which cares for the older children.
• A school transition programme - our school transition programme for 4-year-olds extends numeracy and literacy and is positively recognised by local primary schools.
• Close partnerships with parents and wider whanau - we love forming great relationships with our families and you are always welcome. We'll keep you up to date with everything your child has done through in-centre updates and online portfolios.
• Competitive fees - while the vibe of an early learning centre and the standard of education is paramount, we know that for many families the cost of childcare also has to be a consideration. So we aim to keep fees competitive and offer subsidies where applicable.

Our vision at Mairangi Bay Playcentre is to be an outstanding centre, where every child develops life skills, self-assurance, creative thought, and a love of learning. And that through the principles of Manaakitanga and Whanaungatanga every family feels supported and empowered to raise successful happy children.

At Mairangi Bay Playcentre we create very self-assured, creative, adventurous children who are excited to learn. Our children become good communicators who are considerate, kind and accepting of differences in others. They are extremely confident with adults and develop high expectations for their own treatment. They leave Playcentre as citizens of the world, with wonderfully inquiring minds, their own passions and the ability to think outside the box.

We look forward to welcoming you and your whanau for 3 free visits.

Welcome to Rangitoto Kindergarten

Kia ora, 안녕하세요, 你好, السلام عليكم, Goeiedag, Kia orana, Assalam u Alaikum, Hello

At Rangitoto Kindergarten relationships are at the heart of our kindergarten and it is central to all aspects of kindergarten life.

Our philosophy is authentic to our kindergarten environment and our culture.  Children, families/whānau and teachers are seen as leaders and experts, rich in diversity, culture and funds of knowledge.

Rangitoto Kindergarten is an integral part of our local Mairangi Bay community on the North Shore of Tāmaki Makaurau. Rangitoto Kindergarten has taken its name from our maunga, Rangitoto, one of Auckland’s most significant landmarks.

Rangitoto Kindergarten first opened its doors to children and families/whānau in November 1974 and continues to have a strong connection with our wider community.

We acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  As a team we are committed to partnership with the tangata whenua and weaving tikanga Maori within our practice.

We are an Enviroschool Kindergarten. We align with the Enviroschools kaupapa (purpose) of “creating a healthy peaceful and sustainable world through people teaching and learning together.”  We embrace Papatuanuku, our natural world and the rich learning opportunities it provides by integrating sustainable, environmental practices within our programme.

Alongside our Kindergarten programme, we run a Nature Kindergarten group, which sees the oldest children head off into the local bush for hours of exploration, adventure, discovery and the sheer delight of being “in” nature.

Our Purpose

To provide effective early childhood education services to ensure every child leaves kindergarten with the foundations of personal development and a love of life and learning

Your Child, Your Place

At our centres your child will learn:

• How to relate to other children and their teachers
• How to take responsibility, develop independence and self-confidence
• How to share and explore their understanding of people, places and things
• How to express ideas and acknowledge feelings
• Negotiating, turn taking, cooperation and conflict resolution
• Respect for other cultures, languages and traditions
• How to better interact with family and the wider community
• Hauora (the four dimensions of health), physical, mental, social and spiritual health
• Sustainability and the natural environment

Our History

Kaitiaki Kindergartens were originally known as the East Coast Bays Free Kindergarten Association. Torbay was the association’s first kindergarten which opened in 1954 and it is still a very active kindergarten to this day. As we grew we became known as the Northern Auckland Free Kindergarten Association. Today, we go by the name of ‘Kaitiaki Kindergartens’. Kaitiaki means, “a guardian or trustee, typically of an environmental area or resource.” This change reflects our responsibility to each and every child, community member and kindergarten in the Kaitiaki wider family.

We’re about:

• children, families and whanau
• quality early childhood education
• a qualified and registered workforce
• community
• not-for-profit
• home grown
• kiwi owned

Kindergarten is a partnership between:

Teachers

Qualified, registered teachers provide and deliver educational programmes under the guidance and support of the Professional Practice Leaders.

Our communities

Support teachers and the Association to help raise funds to ensure it has the resources required by the teachers and staff and to build community relationships.

Board of management

Elected by the community by members (parents/whanau) to govern the Association. The board sets policies and the strategic direction of the Association and appoints the General Manager to manage the Association on their behalf.

Our environment is a place of beauty both inside and outside. Our learning environment is enriched with love and the atmosphere is calm and nurturing.

At Wonder Bees, we foster the innate tendency of tamariki 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.