Childcare options in Hamilton East

Educare Peachgrove is in the heart of Hamilton surrounded by local families and schools, Parks and the mighty Waikato river. We are forward to helping your tamariki grow.

RELATIONSHIPS: We believe in the importance of developing and strengthening relationships with tamariki, whānau and the Community through collaboration and partnership.

DIVERSITY: We acknowledge the diversity of our Community. We endeavour to foster and we awhi (support) our whānau and tamariki in a caring and homely learning environment.

RESPECT: We value respectful practices. Where each Kaiako promotes the importance of respectful interactions, relationships and daily practices. Respect is role modelled and promoted throughout the Centre at all times.

KAIAKO: We value our experienced kaiako who continue to up-skill their knowledge and skills, providing up to date practice and a culture supportive of professional learning and development.

ENVIRONMENT: We create and foster age appropriate environments that focus on children’s individual needs, interests and abilities so their full potential can be met.

SCHOOL READINESS: We promote school readiness through a fun and interactive curriculum that combines Te Whariki & The NZ Curriculum documents to inspire tamariki to become lifelong learners.

We are small, privately owned centres. We pride ourselves on that. We value small numbers, good ratios and this shows through how well the teachers know each child and their family's needs.

• A stimulating warm and caring environment filled with learning opportunities
• A Learning Portfolio which captures your child’s learning journey in centre and on Storypark (online learning tool)
• Spacious outdoor environment with natural elements
• A consistent teaching team who value children as learners
• Nappies provided

Our philosophy

We create an environment where our community is valued, we provide many opportunities where you and your whanau can be involved in centre life.At Lambs Preschool Hamilton East we are committed to developing respectful relationships and value open communication with our tamariki, whanau and kaiako.  We understand that family and whanau are a significant part of learning success and we encourage a partnership to support the best development possible.  We appreciate that every child is unique and strive to provide the best quality care in an engaging and inclusive environment, allowing our tamariki to thrive.

Kaiako work and learn alongside the children, ensuring Lambs is a home away from home for our tamariki. Warmth, trust and aroha are woven into the fabric of our philosophy, empowering our tamariki to become confident and capable learners.

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.

Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Kohao o Te Ngira is a centre-based kōhanga reo located in Hamilton East and provides for up to 30 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.

Jubilee offers quality care and education in a nurturing, faith filled environment for children aged 3 - 5 years. We are licensed for 30 children maximum daily.  Our teachers are all fully qualified and certified with over fifty years of combined Early Childhood experience. We aspire to provide a warm, welcoming and homely environment where children have fun!

Jubilee is a community based service operating under the auspices of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton. We have close links to Marian Catholic School, Sacred Heart Girls College and the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We warmly welcome your family to become part of our extended whánau. 

Our philosophy

• Our role is to support children’s faith development in partnership with whánau, community and parish.
• Each child is unique with God given potential. It is our task to nurture and strengthen these individual gifts.
• We will model and support children’s development of Christian Attitudes: including Love; Care/Compassion; Respect; Acting with kindness; Strength/Courage; Speaking with gentleness; Self-control; Patience; Perseverance; Justice/Being fair.
  
• Children learn best through their play. We will provide an environment that supports children’s holistic development through the provision of ‘open-ended’ resources.
  
• Learning and teaching is most successful when children feel safe, loved, valued and their achievements are acknowledged.
  
• Relationships are fundamental in ensuring children and their whánau feel a sense of ‘belonging’ at Jubilee. Through these relationships parental aspirations and expectations for their child can be supported.
  
• Te Wháriki and The NZ Catholic Curriculum statement are our guiding documents and these are supported by current theory and teaching practice.
  
• Maori hold a special place in Aotearoa/NZ as tangata whenua therefore we celebrate and share our bi-cultural Aotearoa and the multicultural community of our centre.
  

We support our children to become confident, competent, curious and creative self-directed learners by engaging their interests through play. 

We provide a broad and adaptable range of opportunities for children to explore in a fun, safe learning environment. Our beautiful outdoor area features many established trees and provides a wonderful landscape for learning opportunities.

Our building has plenty of windows for natural light. We are a well-resourced and established centre with both new and retro equipment and play materials.

The play opportunities that we provide include sand, water, messy play, physical play, carpentry, painting, collage, junk construction, family play, puzzles, books, blocks, clay, playdough, science and exploratory play and music. We place a special focus on Te reo and tikanga Maori while honouring the diverse backgrounds of our whanau.

The Park Early Education Waikato is a spacious purpose built childcare centre in Hamilton East. It has four areas Babies, Toddlers, Kindergarten and Transition to School.

Separate Learning Areas (approx ages)

Koru Room: 3 months - 16 months

Tawa Room: 16 months - 2.5 years

Rimu Room: 2.5 years - 3.5 years

Kauri Room: 3.5 years - School

The educational programme focuses on your child’s strengths and interests, this encourages an enthusiasm for learning, independently and collaboratively. We incorporate literacy, maths, science, the arts and te reo within the planned and spontaneous learning opportunities. We encourage respect for the environment and each other. The Baby Room uses a ‘Primary Care’, RIE Pikler philosophy this helps your baby form very important secure attachments and encourages exploration and persistence.

• Provide inclusive, high quality early education & care.
• Warm & welcoming qualified staff who are passionate about caring and learning.
• Teachers work with babies so that routines and a strong sense of belonging is nurtured.
• Well resourced and large grassed outdoor play area with climbing equipment and swings.
• Backs on to Galloway Park which children use for supervised sports, walks and exploration.
• Cook prepares quality nutritious Healthy Heart Award meals
• Children develop social interaction and respect.
• 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! 
• Learning is based on the NZ Early Childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki.
• Value family/whānau and centre partnership.
• Opportunies are provided for children to explore and learn according to their individual needs and interests.
• Commitment to reflect our bicultural heritage.
• Transition to school programme.