Childcare options in Hurdon

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.

NAU MAI HAERE MAI

We are a small group size, high quality, nature focused kindergarten for children aged 3 to 6 years old situated in New Plymouth.

WHY CHOOSE US?

OUR PEOPLE, OUR PLACE

The Redwoods Country Kindergarten is committed to ensuring the highest possible quality learning experiences for young children through:

• 100% fully qualified, experienced and registered early childhood teachers.
• Accreditation as a sun safe service by the Taranaki Cancer Society.
• Maintaining a small group size of 20 children.
• Provision of a beautiful, private rural environment to promote peaceful, calm learning and teaching.
• Operating during the primary school calendar year to allow children and teachers to refresh.
• A strength in authentic relationships with children and whānau of all cultures.
• A strength in relationships with outside agencies e.g schools, special education, health providers.
• A passion and strength in:
• environmental education
• an integrated nature focused curriculum
• the key curriculum areas such as the arts, science, literacy and numeracy.
• the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education.
• provision of quality resources to strengthen children’s learning dispositions.

OUR PEPEHA

Ko Taranaki te mounga

Ko Waimea te awa

Ko Tokomaru te waka

Ko Te Atiawa te iwi

Ko Ngāti Te Whiti te hapu

Ko Okoare te pā tawhito

Ko The Redwoods Country Kindergarten te kura

Ko Ngakau Mahaki te whare

Ko ngā kaitiaki o te whenua

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

OUR BUILDING

Our building is set up in a homely way to allow tamariki to feel safe and secure. Kaiako focus on creating soft spaces that encourage peaceful and engaged play as well as providing lots of open spaces for exploring with friends and kaiako. The environment is designed to inspire and delight children's interests, talents and identities.

Our teaching is  guided by the principles of Te Whāriki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum –a bicultural curriculum which acknowledges the partnership of Te Ao Māori. Tamariki learn through play-play is their work. Kaiako notice, recognise and respond to children’s interests, talents and identities. Cultural identities are acknowledged, celebrated and valued. The indoor and outdoor learning and teaching environments are inspiring and challenging to children’s thinking. Children are supported to research and explore our natural setting. Teachers are guided by the Reggio Emilia kaupapa where all children are seen as capable and confident.