Childcare options in Wainuiomata

At Pencarrow Kindergarten our sessions are open to both 3 and 4 year olds. This allows family groups to come to Kindergarten at the same time. Our sessions give the younger children the chance to learn from the older ones - and the older ones have the opportunity to develop a sense of responsibility.   

You’ll find us in a quiet location off Wise Street, at the top of Ruthven Rd on the corner of Antrim Crescent.

Wainuiomata Early Learning Centre is a safe, diverse and welcoming environment where quality early learning and our tamariki are at the heart of what we do.  

• Your child will be inspired and stimulated by our rich array of play-based experiences. 
• Our spacious outdoor area has lovely big trees that create lots of shade for our tamariki; we love to build castles, rivers and exploding volcanoes in the sandpit and play make-believe in the playhouse. 
• We are proud to hold a Healthy Heart award for our commitment to early learning, health and wellbeing.

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.

Thinking about Home Based childcare with Home Grown Kids?

All of our Educators are carefully selected and screened including Police Vetting, identity checks, an interview that assess their attitudes and values toward children and an overall assessment of risk.

Enquire today and we’ll be in touch with you soon to provide the perfect option for your family.

Choosing the Best Educator for Your Child

We stand strong alongside our Educators. We care about them and we’re committed to the work they do, supporting and communicating with them every step of the way. We understand that engaged, fulfilled Educators make for happy families and even happier tamariki who thrive in these small group settings.

Small Group Setting

Our Home Based childcare groups are capped at a maximum of four children under the age of six, including Educators’ own children. This means we can offer each child the individual attention they need to flourish.

The best fit for your whānau values

Our Educators offer a range of different programmes based around their beliefs, values, culture, background and philosophies. Over 90% of our Educators hold a recognised ECE qualification. Some of our Educators are mothers and grandmothers with fantastic life skills, experience and knowledge. We’ll listen to your needs and then offer, where possible, a range of Educators. You will get to choose an Educator that you and your whānau connect with and trust.

Exceeding educational standards

An education programme that reflects New Zealand ECE curriculum - Te Whāriki. We are a Ministry of Education approved and licensed Early Childhood Education provider. Regularly reviewed by the

Education Review Office to ensure all our Home Based environments not only meet, but exceed the Ministry of Education’s Licensing Criteria for Home-based Services (2008).

Subsidies available

We’re an approved Work and Income provider and can support you to access a childcare subsidy if you are eligible.

20 hours ECE scheme

The Government subsidises all children aged 3-5 years (or 6 if not enrolled in school) who attend an ECE facility, making access more affordable for all.

Leaders in development practices for each child

All our Educators are supported and guided by our Visiting Teachers who are Qualified certificated ECE teachers with many years’ experience and expertise in early childhood education. Our Visiting Teachers regularly attend professional development to keep up-to-date with current research and theory for best practice for Education and care for under fives.

Our philosophy, vision and mission

• Our Vision– The why – The reason we exist:

To provide a family friendly wrap around support service that enables all tamariki/whanau to learn, grow and thrive in a home-based setting. Investing in cultivating kindness, strong and professional relationships, in all our people to continue growing as lifelong learners

• Mission Statement – The How -How are we going to achieve the Vision?

We will achieve our Vision through ensuring that every team member is emotionally invested in the well-being of our people including tamariki, whanau, Educators, communities and our Edubase family. We value successes and that these are not ours alone, the greatest success comes from the strengths of many. Our passion, knowledge and commitment will be the catalyst that enables everyone to learn, thrive and achieve.

• Philosophy Statement

Edubase is a Home Based Early Childhood Education service that is committed to providing nurturing learning environments where tamariki thrive as individuals through an authentic play-based, natural learning education and care programme, in a home setting.

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

As an Organisation, we pride ourselves on cultivating strong, professional relationships, strengthening capability in all our people to continue growing as lifelong learners.

Edubase celebrates the diversity and uniqueness of each tamaiti, whanau and Kaiako and the gifts they bring. They are taonga, a treasure or gift. All things cultural are affirmed and celebrated, aiming to support children in gaining a positive awareness of their own and other cultures.

Tiaki nga tamariki – take care of the children

Wainuiomata Playcentre is an early childhood education centre with tamariki aged 0-6.    We are a strongly connected whanau community that comes together to support each other and the needs of our tamariki.  Our tamariki attend with their siblings, which allows them to learn lifelong skills of nurturing and empathy  

Our tamariki have a strong sense of belonging in our centre which enables them to explore and direct their own learning, confidently and freely.  They enjoy a wide variety of learning experiences supported by member parents and supervisors, with whom they have a strong relationship.    

Our Tuesday session is a bilingual session, and whanau enjoy waiata and a growing understanding of Te Reo Maori with the support of kaiako.  

We welcome new members and any visitors who would like to come and see what Playcentre is all about.

.WHAT IS WOOD HATTON PLAYCENTRE?

* We are a parent-lead early childhood education centre situated in Wainuiomata for all tamariki up to age 6.

* Playcentre believes that tamariki learn through play and that parents and whanau are the best people to provide for the growing needs of their children.

* ‘whānau tupu ngātahi , families growing together’ – along with friendships, community and whanaungatanga you will have access to free adult education, the Playcentre Early Childhood Education Certificate.

* Playcentre is actively managed, operated and supervised by parents, mothers, fathers, grandparents, caregivers and other whānau (family) members.

* We offer a self-selected play programme where children choose the area they wish to work at; there are sixteen areas of play.

At Jack and Jill Early Learning Centre, we value learning through play in a natural setting. Children is at the heart of everything we do. Our localised curriculum and programme are initiated and led by children’s interest, designed in partnership with whanau’s aspiration, to support them to be the future leaders of selves.

Jack and Jill's philosophy is based on our motto ‘loving to learn, learning through love’. Everything Kaiako do comes from a place of aroha. Out philosophy is based on 5 key priorities which are outlined below. These key priorities are the foundations for our tamariki, kaiako, whanau and wider community. Kaiako intentionally changed our philosophy over the past few years as we feel this now reflects a more genuine representation of our community and whanau that attend our service. We continue to revisit and make changes to our philosophy in consultation with whanau when required. 

Free play provides our tamariki with unhurried, unstructured and undisguised moments to move at their own pace and in their own time. Children are enabled with the freedom of choice and making own decisions to explore and experience the world around them, in the most natural, fluid and authentic way.  And this leads on to many different interests and paths as they grow and develop. Children use their own imagination, curiosity and  discovery nature, to take lead of own learning, to self-regulate and become confident in achieving personal goals. 

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.

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.

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.

Early childhood development kohanga in Wainuiomata with fully qualified Early Childhood Development teachers. For children from all cultures, not only Maori. 

Open from 7.30am to 5pm every week day. 

Parents may be eligible for the Government subsidy - this is income tested and staff will help with applications.

At Pukeatua Childcare Centre we strive to provide a beautiful, warm and welcoming environment that encourages independence and creativity. We believe that each child should be treated as a whole person, mind body and spirit.

Our home away from home has three separate areas that are designed to cater for the unique needs of infants, toddlers and young children. We exceed the Ministry requirements for teacher - child ratio, and our high number of qualified teachers allows for quality teaching and learning in a calm and peaceful environment.

Whanau Tree House: Bi-lingual Learning

Nature Play

We emphasize learning outside of the whare. Connecting with nature builds a sense of relationship and relatedness to te taiao.

Bi-lingual Learning

If our tamariki are immersed and nourished in the Māori language, they will ensure its survival.

Relationships

We value our relationships with our community and enjoy taking part in local events and going on outings.

Our Vision

E tipu e rea mō ngā rā o tō ao

Ko tō ringa ki ngā rākau a te Pākehā

Hei ora mō te tinana

Ko tō ngākau ki ngā taonga a ō tipuna Māori

Hei tikitiki mō tō māhunga.

Plant and nurture the seed in our tamariki in their early years, so they can grow to become confident contributors to society and embrace their cultural identity and whakapapa.

Our Mission

Our Mission - Whanau Tree House

Our mission is to provide a bilingual environment where our tamariki and staff feel inspired, confident, and empowered in who they are.

An environment that is culturally enriched, empowering, and safe where we strive to work in partnership with whānau, kaiako, and our community to develop a sense of belonging for our tamariki.