Childcare options in Forest Lake

Te Rapa Early Learning Centre is a bright and welcoming space with large indoor and outdoor environments, purpose-designed to stimulate and develop your child's natural curiosities. We welcome all children aged 0–5 years old. Our brand new centre is conveniently located 1 minute from Forest Lake School on Te Rapa Road. 

Purpose built outdoor and indoor spaces stimulate your child’s imagination, while our qualified teachers care for their early learning, wellbeing and safety. From baby to toddler and up until your child is ready for school life, your child’s unique personality will be celebrated and nurtured. Friendships will blossom for the children, and often the parents too, lasting long into the school years and beyond.

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.

The formation of children's fundamental capacities is hugely important during the first years of life - not just academic learning but the ability to concentrate, persevere and think for themselves as well as the ability to interact well with others. Children who have been given the right kind of support during these formative years grow into adults who are self-motivated and love learning, can think flexibly and creatively and who are not only conscious of the needs of others but actively foster harmony as they go through life.

The Montessori approach provides:

• An environment that serves the particular needs of each child's stage of development 
• An adult who understands child development and acts as a guide to help children find their own natural path
• Freedom for children to engage in their own development according to their own particular developmental time line