Childcare options in Fairfield

About us

Tiny Nation is home-based care and education with a difference.

We believe that children have the best chance to flourish when they have secure attachments and a strong sense of belonging in their early years. This foundation is key to emotional, physical and mental growth and wellbeing. From this nourished beginning, happy, healthy and well-adjusted young adults can grow.

Enquire today

We would love to match you with the ideal educator in your area so send us an enquiry here and we’ll be in touch to provide you with all the information you need to make the best choice for your family.

How we look after our families

• High quality education and care using only trained educators and qualified teachers

Because we believe in quality, not quantity, we only work with trained educators and qualified teachers, who by completing their training have proven their commitment to nurturing and caring for children. We find the best trained teachers and educators and support them to deliver their own unique early learning programmes in their own homes. We hand-pick them for their passion, commitment, experience and qualifications. We know that qualifications are an indicator of quality when it comes to early childhood education and we’re proud to represent 100% qualified educators and teachers.

• Family and educator self-matches

When you enquire with us as a family, we support you to self-match with a Tiny Nation educator of your choice. The choice factor is huge here – you get to choose the person you leave your child with when you can’t be there. You will choose your educator based on the needs of your family and child, your values, your own early learning philosophy and, most importantly, your connection with them. This allows you to find the perfect educator for your family – someone who will become a part of your support village and who will advocate fiercely for your child when you can’t. Isn’t this what we all want as parents?

• Small ratios of no more than four children to one educator

By choosing home-based early learning, you are choosing small groups and responsive relationships. Tiny Nation educators have no more than four pre-school children in their care at any given time, with no more than two under the age of two. This allows them to engage with their care children in meaningful ways, dedicating time to support their development and getting to know them deeply. Having small ratios of children per educator enables respectful interactions and authentic connections. Your child is not just a number at Tiny Nation.

• Nurturing, natural and familiar home environments

Home environments stir up comforting memories for all of us. We make personal connections with this kind of environment because it represents our childhood. It provides a strong sense of security and safety as we are able to seek comfort through the familiar. Early childhood education in home environments provide a calm and settled foundation for learning to occur. Children have the space to explore the community around them in real and authentic ways.

Our vision

To empower a nation of children to reach their full potential

Our guiding principles

Leadership / Ārahitanga

We encourage, empower and inspire our educators and teachers to contribute to our thinking and re-define what leadership looks like in early childhood education.

Relationship / Whanaungatanga

We are founded on consistent, familiar and nurturing relationships. It’s vital to take the time to understand, relate to and acknowledge each other as relationships are the soil from which everything else grows.

Partnership / Whakahoahoatanga

We are collaborative and work in partnership with parents and whānau, educators, the community and other like-minded services so that they can participate in and contribute to our journey.

These are our values

Authenticity / Mana Pono

This means being real and accountable. We partner with people who are aligned with our principles, values and beliefs so that we can all show up for our children in meaningful ways.

Belonging / Nō Konei Hoki

We affirm the identity, culture and language of our community and ensure staff, children, families and whānau know they have a place with us. Our environments and programmes are inclusive and our transitions are thoughtfully planned.

Communication / Kōrero

Reciprocal and responsive communication allows us to express ideas and feelings. We’re as passionate about listening as we are about being heard. We model effective communication so that our children become capable and confident communicators.

Our commitment to families

“Ko te ahurei o te tamaiti aroha o tatou mahi.

Let the uniqueness of the child guide our work.”

When you enrol as a family with Tiny Nation, we make a commitment to you as we journey together to provide your child with the love and care that they need to grow and flourish. For us, early childhood starts with care and ends with education. We know that no significant learning can occur without there first being a significant relationship. Your chosen educator becomes your child’s special person – their ‘go to’ in times of triumph and trouble. Someone who loves them just like you do and an extension of your family.

Creating Lifelong Learners

Tamariki natural curiosity is the foundation for exploration and growth. They explore to make sense of the world, develop and have fun. Tamariki start their lives by exploring the world around them. They learn through everything they see, touch, hear, smell, taste and do.

Through play, nga tamariki engage in active learning and exploration. They learn more about their interests and about the world. Most importantly, they learn how to adapt to a changing world. Play helps us remain creative and provokes our imagination.

Our People

Our team at Kids at Home is a dedicated team of individuals who have been chosen for their commitment to provide quality, educational in-home childcare. Kids at Home’s management team also consists of experienced Early childhood professionals and others who have worked within other roles in ECE for many years. We are proud of our positive workplace culture which can be felt as soon as you walk through our office doors!

Playgroups

Playgroup provides your child with a rich learning setting that encourages your child to build a foundation for future learning. Our groups provide your child with the opportunity to mix and make lifelong friends with other tamariki

Music Groups

Music groups provide your child the opportunity to participate in singing, dancing and experiment with musical instruments.

Music is an important part of any child care program. Listening to music, singing, playing musical instruments, and moving to music are all activities that support tamariki development.

Outings and Excursions

Visiting Teachers plan trips to events or places of interest in the community such as fire stations, the zoo, museum, parks etc. (Whanau and friends are welcome to attend).

High Standard of Care

Our Teachers and Educators pride themselves on the quality of care and education each child receives.

We do not limit ourselves to one teaching method or philosophy because we understand that your child is unique. We believe that each child has their own learning style and personality.

Kids at Home’s Visiting Teachers are fully qualified and certificated ECE Teachers with a current practicing certificate from the Teaching Council; our handpicked Teachers have many years of experience and expertise between them.

Kids at Home’s Visiting Teachers support Educators with regular visits and planning for education and development of tamariki.

Gingerbread Cottage is a homebased childcare service  licensed by the Ministry of Education Regulations. We operate under our umbrella Organisation, Edubase.  Our qualified Early Childhood Education Visiting Teachers work closely  with each family to provide for the individual needs of the child placed  in our care. Our teaching team are committed and passionate about  providing quality care and education for preschool children.

Our aim is to enrich the learning of each tamariki we form strong community  connections, developing links within the home and the learning  environments of our Kaiako. Tamariki learn respect for people, places  and things, shaping Aotearoa and developing an appreciation of New  Zealand’s dual heritage. We continually strive to develop knowledge and  an understanding of the cultural heritages of both partners to Te Tiriti  o Waitangi – supporting a holistic approach to learning which is guided  by our NZ Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whāriki.

Educators offer comfortable, small group sizes, fostering respectful  and reciprocal relationships, promoting tikanga Maori within their  practice.

Fairfield Kindergartens Waikato is well-respected for providing high quality, affordable education and childcare.

We offer a warm, caring and welcoming family place where diversity is celebrated. We cater for the many different physical and academic developmental needs of young children, offering a wide range of quality learning experiences.

• Warm & welcoming staff who are passionate about teaching and learning.
• Safe, caring and stimulating environment.
• Well resourced and huge outdoor play area.
• Private online learning portfolios for parents (sharing photos, videos and stories about your child).
• An exclusive early childhood partnership with the Enviroschools Programme (eg. recycling, composting, gardening).
• In Partnership with Sports Waikato Under5 Energize to eat healthy, be active & have fun! 
• Children develop social interaction and respect.
• Learning based on the NZ Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whāriki.
• Value family/whānau and kindergarten partnership.
• Transition to school programme.

Whilst set in the grounds of Fairfield College you do not have to be affiliated with the College to have your child attend Fairfield Early Education Waikato. All families are welcome!

We have a small adult/child ratio with registered teachers, who focus on extending the children’s interests and presenting a challenging and stimulating programme appropriate to each individual child’s progress.

• Provide inclusive, high quality early education and childcare.
• Commitment to reflect our bicultural heritage.
• Value family/whānau and centre partnership.
• Warm & welcoming qualified staff who are passionate about caring and learning.
• Teachers work with infants so that routines and a strong sense of belonging is nurtured.
• Well resourced and grassed outdoor play area.
• Learning is based on the NZ Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whāriki.
• Transition to school programme.

We believe that children’s learning and development is fostered if the well-being of their family, community and culture is supported, so the teaching team are committed to working in partnership with parents and whanau. It is important that parents and whanau have  a sense of belonging in our environment. We welcome parents spending time in the centre and value their contribution in all aspects of their children’s learning journey.

Te Kōhanga Reo o Whakapiripiri Ki Te Iwi is a centre-based kōhanga reo located in Fairfield and provides for up to 23 tamariki. Book a visit today to connect with our kōhanga reo and to learn more about the options for your whanau.

Te Kōhanga Reo

The kōhanga reo movement is a unique initiative based on total immersion in Māori language and values with the aim of passing on Māori culture to future generations.

Kōhanga reo emphasise the revitalisation of the culture through te reo Māori and are dependent on the active participation of the whole whānau. The kaupapa of kōhanga reo aims to strengthen whānau capabilities in cultural, social, economic, spiritual and political matters. Education, health and wellbeing are inherent within all aspects of the kaupapa. The prime focus is the whānau – its collective development, growth, accountability and wellbeing set within a Māori cultural context.

Kōhanga reo do not regard tamariki in isolation, but as important members of the whānau. The kōhanga reo philosophy is that tamariki will benefit when whānau successfully operate according to the kaupapa. Tamariki are an integral part of whānau development.

The following key goals are the foundation of te kōhanga reo kaupapa established in 1982:

• total immersion in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga in daily operations
• whānau decision-making, management and responsibility
• accountability
• health and wellbeing of mokopuna and whānau.

The key goals of te kōhanga reo assure that there will be:

• security in te reo Māori
• a supportive, caring environment for mokopuna
• whānau (collective) sharing of responsibilities, knowledge and expertise
• greater respect and appreciation of each other.

Our Philosophy

Children have the right to learn the Skills and Habits of Mind that will prepare them for Life and for Learning in the World of the 21st Century. Respect for each person as an individual their strengths, abilities, interests, values, culture. Authentic relationships with children, families, adults and the world

Mistakes are seen as opportunities Collaboration and discussion- from working in small groups to the wider world Self Responsibility, trying hard, persistence, perseverance, adaptability and flexibility

.• Our programme allows for children to have fun, wonder, experiment and learn.

• Designed to give greatest opportunities for Brain, Physical, Creative, Cognitive and Social development.

• Real life learning experiences including cooking, gardening etc.

• Regular excursions and explorations, in centre mini-van, provide unlimited learning potential.

• Individual programme for all children with comprehensive record of learning - photos, stories and video.

• Dedicated, passionate, experienced teachers and management.