Our Centre
We have three learning spaces that cater for children from birth to school ages - Rūma Tui, Rūma Kiwi and Rūma Pukeko. All of our learning spaces have large indoor areas and plenty of space for outdoor play.
Rūma Tui
Our purpose built Rūma Tui has been designed with infants and toddlers in mind. Here our youngest children experience care as a curriculum as they develop bonds with their key kaiako.
The calm atmosphere creates a home away from home for our youngest tamariki where they feel safe to play and explore.
We follow each child’s individual routine from home ensuring the transition between home and our centre is as smooth as possible.
Our infants and toddler are allowed to unfold naturally at their own pace. We believe that a child meets their ‘milestones’ best when left to do this on their on. With this in mind, we do not put children on their stomach or sit them up until they have learnt these skills on their own.
Rūma Kiwi
Rūma Kiwi is one of our rooms for children aged two and over.
The focus in this room is fun while each child is extended to reach their full potential in the spacious indoor and outdoor areas.
Children spend the majority of their day in free play, exploring the large indoor and outdoor areas that are setup to allow them to develop their skills while having fun.
A Day in Rūma Kiwi
While the below has ‘Play Time’ listed, tamariki are free to play all day apart from when they choose to eat or if they are sleeping.
7.30 - 8am
Settling Time
Children arrive at the centre and are greeted by the teachers. They then choose what they want to do - maybe build block towers, play on the swings or in the sandpit or do one of the settling activities that have been set up by the teachers. At this time, the tamariki from Rūma Pukeko are in Rūma Kiwi as well.
8am - 9am
Play Time
Tamariki continue to arrive while those already here are free to play as they wish, both inside the rooms and in the outdoor space. Now and throughout the day, kaiako set up activites, such as waterplay, for the tamariki to participate in, if they wish.
9am - 10am
Rolling Kai - Morning Tea
During this time children we have rolling kai, where tamariki are invited to come inside and eat. Some tamariki are eagerly awaiting the kai table to ‘open’ and others prefer to wait till later on. All tamariki are invited to eat at this time, but some choose not to (particulay tamariki who arrive closer to nine and may have had breakfast recently.
10am - 11am
Play Time
Tamatiki are again free to play as they wish. Throuhgout the day you might find a kaiako reading to a small group of tamariki, or tamariki gathering around a kaiako with a guitar.
11am to 12pm
Rolling Kai - Lunch Time
During this time children we have rolling kai, where tamariki are invited to come inside and eat. All children are required to eat during this time.
12.15 - 2.15pm
Free Play/Sleep Time
Tamariki who have a sleep are readied for bed and put this sleep at this time. Other tamariki are free to play as they wish.
2pm - 3pm
Rolling Kai - Afternoon Tea
Once again, tamariki are invited to come and have afternoon tea.
Once they have finished their kai, tamariki go back to their play. At is around this time that our tamariki start getting picked up for the day.
3pm - 3.45/4pm
Play Time
3.45/4pm
Free Play
As our numbers have now reduced, we end the day by combing with Rūma Pukeko. On Rāhina (Mondays) and Rātū (Tuesday) Rūma Kiwi tamariki go across to Rūma Pukeko and get to explore their learning space. On Rāapa (Wednesday), Rāpare (Thursday) and Rāmere (Friday) Rūma Pukeko tamariki join our space.
4pm
Late Afternoon Snack
Tamariki are given another opportunity to eat (after all, all this play is hard work!).
4pm - 5pm
Free Play
Tamriki finish off their day by keeping busy with the many play options.
Rūma Pukeko
Rūma Pukeko has been set up for young children and preschoolers. We believe that routines benefit children and so every day runs along a similar format. Whanau times are a time where children enjoy songs, dancing, and stories.
We believe that helping children to prepare for the next challenge of school is important. Children are encouraged to become independent by getting themselves dressed and look after their belongings. Children are also supported with social competences, where they learn skills to support their interactions with others.
Our programme is designed to incorporate early literacy and numeracy skills into our everyday practice. This way they learn in a fun way, which enables them to be responsible for their own learning. Therefore they become confident and competent learners. Supporting each child’s interests and urges is one of the many ways in which we encourage learning.
The majority of the children’s day is spent learning through play, and the large outdoor and indoor environments are setup every day, to ensure children are challenged and supported while having fun.
Rūma Pukeko Routine
7.30am - 8.15am
Free Play
Children arrive at the centre and are greeted by the teachers. Children spend this part of the morning in the Rūma Kiwi. This is a great way for them to develop skills such as compassion as they interact with younger children.
8.15am - 9.40am
Pukeko Room Opens
At 8.15 the Rūma Pukeko opens for the day. The tamariki now are able to choose to play in their own room or in the adjacent outdoor space.
9.40am
Whanau Time
We gather together to start our day, enjoy music and stories.
10.00am
Kai Time
Children wash their hands then sit outside at tables (weather permitting) and eat. As children finish eating, they are free to go and play (after they have put their lunchbox away).
10.20am - 12.15pm
Free Play
As above, children are free to play in their own way.
12.15pm
WhanauTime
A different teacher runs this whanau time, which is similar to the one earlier in the day.
12.30pm
Lunch Time
Again, children wash their hands then sit at tables to eat. When children have finished eating, they go and play.
1.00pm - 2.30pm
Free Play
Children are free to play as they wish. If your child still has an afternoon sleep, they are taken to the Rūma Kiwi for this.
2.30pm
End of Day Tidy up and Story Time
Children take responsibility for the day’s activities and tidy up their play areas before a chance to wind down and enjoy a few stories.
2.45m
Kai Time
After washing their hands, children sit outside (weather permitting) on the deck and have their afternoon tea. When they have finished their afternoon tea children pack their bags ready to move to the Rūma Kiwi.
3.30pm
Rūma Pukeko Closes/Free Play in the Rūma Kiwi
Rūma Pukeko now closes and any children still here head back over to the Kiwi Room to finish their afternoon. Again, they get to interact with the younger children and possibly play with the friends they had when they were in the Rūma Kiwi.
4.00pm
Late Afternoon Snack
Children are given another opportunity to eat (all this play is hard work!). Some parents opt to send their child’s dinner for them to eat at this time.
4.00pm - 5.15pm
Free Play
Children finish off their day by keeping busy with many play options.