Childcare options in West Harbour

JeMMa’s Home-based Education and Childcare was founded on the belief that early childhood education plays a major role in a child’s ability to develop skills and learn throughout life. 

As a kindergarten teacher, Jenny Tyrrell could see that children who had a focus of learning whilst in a home environment appeared better equipped to learn in the future. As well as this, children who were well socialised with other children of different ages appeared to cope better than others. 

It was those two key observations which cemented her belief; that a child, learning with other children, in a homebased environment rather than an institutional environment, was the best way to go. And that’s how JeMMa’s started. The name is derived from a combination of the two directors names, Jenny and Martin. 

At JeMMa’s we believe that home-based education and care is the next best alternative to learning at home with Mum or Dad 

Children who learn in a comfortable home-based environment seem to develop strong problem solving, social and learning skills. Because they are in a comfortable, uncrowded environment children they get the chance to develop and learn at steady pace with all the help they need. 

JeMMa’s children receive lots of one-on-one time with their educator, as well as interaction with other children in different age groups. These are two core components in the development of happy, energetic, sharing, respectful, thoughtful, problem solving and fun loving kids. 

Our Philosophy 

JeMMa’s is a quality privately owned family focused Homebased Education and Childcare Service that is committed to ensuring that all children, parents, whānau and kaiako are welcomed and encouraged to play an active role in promoting positive outcomes for our learners. We are guided and inspired by Te Whāriki our early childhood curriculum which encourages us to appreciate that children come into the world eager to learn and we see this as a privilege where we can work in partnership with children, parents and whānau to empower our learners through responsive engaging environments and experiences where they can reach their highest potential and develop an enthusiasm for ongoing learning. 

Building and sustaining quality learning focused relationships with everyone is the essence to who are and what believe is valuable for outcomes for children and their ongoing wellbeing and development. Our nurturing relationships will be underpinned through our Christian values and connection with people within our service and our wider communities.  Our environments will embrace cultural diversity of Aotearoa and our commitment to Te Tiriti O Waitangi will be authentic. 

We view all children as unique learners where they will have endless opportunities to learn through play and develop a range of knowledge, skills, and learning dispositions. This will spark children’s independence, urge to lead their own learning, social skills, curiosity, creativity, discovery, ability to express themselves and things that are important to them. Our kaiako will dedicate quality time with our children where they will nurture those in the moment opportunities and offer the guidance, support, and encouragement that our learners need to blossom and thrive. 

Happy Kiddy

We have two separate areas. Upstairs for 3 months to around 2 years and downstairs for 2 years to school age. At Happy Kiddy Castle, we know that Tender Loving Care is a primary component of early childhood education. For young children, the concepts of ‘care and education’ cannot be separated.

We provide a learning program based on both child-initiated and teacher-directed activities with the aim of supporting each individual child’s learning and development. We believe that children learn best when they are given time; to chose their interest areas and activities, to socialize with their peers and when they are supported by qualified, caring and professional Early Childhood Teachers. At “Happy Kiddy Centres” we provide an environment conducive to this.

Our Philosophy

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) We believe that all children have unique strengths and gifts who are capable of learning with and alongside other children from diverse cultures, regardless of their ability, age, gender, ethnicity and background. Our programme and teaching practices are underpinned by Te Whariki, New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum and Christian beliefs and values, where children are provided with a warm, welcoming, nurturing and safe learning environment. Parents are encouraged to share their aspirations and goals for their children as learners through the concept of whakawhanaungatanga (relationships with the wider community). We aspire for best teaching practice where we develop children to become confident, capable and competent life-long learners.

Our classroom is organized to facilitate maximum development of your child's potential. The mixed aged group of 2 to 6 years provides a family–like grouping where learning takes place naturally. More experienced children share what they have learned while reinforcing their own learning. Younger children get to observe the older children work with a variety of activities and are exposed to what comes next in the activity. 

The aim is to encourage active self-directed learning where children are able to repeatedly go back to practice activities that has been shown to them, in order to master their individual skills and also to set new learning goals. Our children also take an active role in maintaining the classroom by putting materials away in their proper places, ready for the next child to use. It is important that children feel competent to be able to find materials independently in the environment. 

Our trained Montessori teachers observe each child's interest and developing skills. They plan and implement an individualised programme that allows each child to actively engage in learning and develop cognitively, socially, emotionally and physically. 

Our Montessori prepared environment

A prepared Montessori environment is a key element of the children's learning. All the furniture is tailor-made to child-size, materials are within reach and arranged in a logical sequence on low shelves to foster children's independence, self regulation, self-motivation and self-esteem. Dr. Maria Montessori observed that children learn by doing and so she prepared activities to engage the children in learning specific skills. Our Montessori classroom consists of a variety of developmentally appropriate materials organised into curriculum areas such as Exercises of Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, Cultural Studies, Art, Music and Movement. When you visit our classroom you will observe some "significant" behaviour. You will notice that our children are concentrating, working peacefully and independently at their tasks. You will see that they treat each other with respect, showing consideration, kindness and valuing each other's work and space. It is a place where they learn about responsibilities such as taking care of the environment, looking after themselves as well as the welfare of others, and establish acceptable social relationships. 

Montessori education is unique because...

The holistic Montessori programme promotes the development of self-esteem, social skills, emotional growth and physical coordination as well as cognitive preparation. The Montessori method recognises that children learn best by doing what they have been shown how to do. This hands-on approach helps children develop both their cognitive skills and physical dexterity. It also teaches them to respect each other and cultivate positive relationships with children of different ages and cultural backgrounds. 

A love of learning…

Montessori education is often described as an ‘education for life.’ The focus is on the child, and a carefully prepared environment designed to facilitate the development of children’s independence and a sense of empowerment. The Montessori environment enables the children to learn a vast array of skills but the greatest achievement is the love of learning that equips them to become independent, capable and successful learners.