A privately owned early childhood centre in Whatawhata, in the Waikato, with two learning rooms built around how young children learn. The Anuhe room takes children up to two years old, and the Puurerehua room takes them until they go to school. The centre is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm.
The Anuhe room follows the work of Magda Gerber and Emmi Pikler, with freedom of movement and a primary caregiving approach, so each child has a whānau teacher who looks after their needs. The room is set up like a home, with a large outdoor play space to explore. In the Puurerehua room, children choose their own play and learning, and a large outdoor playground gives room to run, jump, ride bikes and swing.
The centre says it runs staff-to-child ratios above the Ministry of Education's requirements. For children under two, the ratio is between 1:3 and 1:4, against the Ministry's 1:5. For children over two, it is between 1:7 and 1:8, against 1:10.
The centre is at 33 Store Road in Whatawhata. Phone 07 829 3052 or 027 518 4354. Our pick in Whatawhata for a family who wants a small, home-like room for a child under two.