Akomanga Kōhungahunga o Kilbirnie
Early Childhood Education
8.30 to 2.30 Monday – Friday
Our kaiako work in partnership with whānau to support tamariki to find a sense of wellbeing and belonging at Kilbirnie Early Learners. We value whānau involvement in tamariki learning, and whānau aspirations for tamariki are incorporated into our curriculum.
TEACHER
Maddy graduated as an early childhood teacher in November 2021 and had 18 months EC teaching experience when she joined the KEL team. Prior to training as an early childhood teacher however, Maddy graduated with a Bachelor of Design; Fashion Major with Honors at Massey University, Wellington and worked as an Art Teacher for primary school age tamariki. Maddy is a very welcome addition to our KEL teaching team.
TEACHER
Riana joined the team at the beginning of 2023. This is her first job in an early childhood centre. She is now planning to enrol in an education degree programme.
Riana loves teaching KEL tamariki and learning more about how tamariki develop. She is enjoying watching them each grow as a person and being a part of their learning journey. Since she has been at KEL she has also enjoyed building relationships with all the tamariki and their whānau.
In her spare time Riana enjoys socialising with friends and family and spending time outdoors.
TEACHER
Jim joined the teaching team at KEL in January 2023. He trained as an early childhood teacher through NZ Tertiary College and graduated in 2022.
He was born in Wiltshire, England and came to NZ with his family when he was ten years old. Prior to becoming an early childhood kaiako he studied music and then trained as a music teacher at Victoria University. While studying he took up relieving in early childhood centres and fell in love with ECE. He particularly enjoys following children’s interest in science.
Jim plays in a band in his spare time and lives with his partner Paulette who is also a musician.
SENIOR TEACHER
Tenaya joined the team at KEL in February this year. She qualified with a Diploma of Teaching from Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/ECNZ in 2005. She has worked in the early childhood sector for over 30 years, all of which time has been in parent co-operative, mixed age centres. Over that time Tenaya has seen many changes in the sector, but the one thing that has remained constant for her is the wonder of development, success and the joy that tamariki bring to the world, not only for themselves but also for those around them.
Tenaya has a special interest in te ao māori and how it can be interwoven with our day to day routines and rituals.
Tenaya has three sons one of whom is also a qualified early childhood teacher.
The Committee is supported by Helen Baxter our Manager and Kathleen Reece our Financial Administrator. Whānau can support the Centre by joining the Committee, or volunteering for other jobs such as maintenance, washing and working bees etc.
Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 8.30am – 2.30pm.
Our environment encourages tamariki to explore their interests through play. Tamariki support each other in their exploration as experienced kaiako document and extend their learning.
We encourage tamariki to join us for a mat time before we sit down for kai, around 9.30 for morning kai and 11.30 for lunch.
Our covered outdoor area allows us to explore outdoors all year round.
The Centre is open during the primary school term holidays. It closes at the end of the last primary school term before Christmas and re-opens again in mid January. The Centre is closed on public holidays.
At KEL we value our settling process as a means to begin partnerships with whānau and support tamariki to build a sense of wellbeing and belonging in their new environment.
Our settling process often begins two weeks prior to a child’s start date and involves getting to know the child’s key kaiako and other Centre staff and tamariki.
As we recognise that each transition is unique to the individual, we work with each whānau to create a process that suits their particular needs.
Fees
Kilbirnie Early Learners charges $6.62 per hour ($39.72 per day), including GST, for attendance that is not covered by the Ministry of Education 20 Hours ECE funding.
20 Hours ECE for 3 and 4 year olds
Kilbirnie Early Learners is eligible for 20 Hours ECE funding from the Ministry of Education. This means that 3 and 4 year old tamariki can attend for free for up to 20 hours per week. Fees are charged however, for any hours attended over 20 hours per week, and/or for hours that whānau have not attested to Kilbirnie Early Learners – that is, whānau may be using some of their 20 hours entitlement at another early learning service.
Fundraising levy
All whānau are also charged $3.00 per day in lieu of involvement in fundraising activities.
20 ECE Hours
Daily cost
Donations
Although Kilbirnie Early Learners receives subsidies from the Ministry of Education for each child, this is not adequate to cover all our operating costs. Whānau that do not pay fees are therefore welcome to make donations to the Centre to assist with the Centre’s operating costs.
Our suggested donation is $2.70 per enrolled hour ($16.20 per day).
Payment of donations is voluntary, and this amount is a recommendation only. Whānau may decide to pay more or less.
Please refer to the Information Brochure for more information.
We encourage visits to Kilbirnie Early Learners. If you are interested in enrolling your tamariki please pop in for a visit, or alternatively you can email us at kilbirnieearlylearners@xtra.co.nz for more information.
Completed forms can be emailed to us or brought in when you visit.
Happy to go to the Centre, usually settles quickly at drop off, talks about the teachers and his friends fondly, teachers were my son’s best friends, now comfortable and confident with them all. Loves the Centre, misses it when he is not there, knows the teachers well.
Teachers always provide feedback whenever asked, or sometimes without prompt. Always plenty of debrief time to see how the day went. Most of the time I find it best talking to the teachers while they are at the table with the children.
Thank you for all the kindness and care you’ve shown my daughter. It’s been the most wonderful first experience of care-outside-the-home she could have had and has built her confidence and social skills immensely.
Wonderful community based childcare centre; caring,
supportive and nurturing teachers; wide range of stimulating
and fun activities which are always changing; great outdoor
space which can be used in all seasons. Overall a terrific
community based centre. We love it.
Established in 1992, Kilbirnie Early Learners is a non-profit, community based and purpose-built early childhood education service in Wellington. We provide a friendly, nurturing and vibrant environment which strongly reflects our multicultural community.
Our local curriculum is supported by Te Whāriki, our national early childhood curriculum, and is informed by our local area, whānau and community. This forms the foundation of our day-to-day practice and is designed to support and challenge tamariki during their important early years.
We provide a warm, welcoming environment where tamariki are supported to explore their interests, find their strengths and form responsive relationships with those around them. They are given time and space to express themselves in a variety of ways, including creatively, physically, emotionally, culturally and spiritually. Group play and cooperation are encouraged.
Each day tamariki have access to a wide range of fun and challenging activities, materials and equipment to extend their interests and learning. Their learning journey is recorded by our kaiako in profile books which are available to whānau to read and contribute to.
At Kilbirnie Early Learners we support tamariki to develop a love of learning and become lifelong learners and we support them as they take their first steps into the school environment, as well as for the rest of their life.
Poipoia te kakano, kia puawai
Nurture the seed and it will blossom
Our Core Values
Manaakitanga: We provide a homely, inclusive environment welcoming for all
Kotahitanga: Through reciprocal relationships we foster a community of learners Ūkaipōtanga: We empower our multicultural community to hold strengths in their uniqueness and to have a place to stand
Whanaungatanga: We foster a sense of togetherness by the way we value contributions from all
Our Philosophy
- We value the learning tamariki achieve through child initiated play and exploration. Our mixed age centre allows collaborative learning/ako through tuakana teina relationships.
- Our curriculum reflects the values of Te Whāriki and is inspired by the tamariki
cultures. Whānau aspirations are also an essential contribution to our curriculum.- We are informed by tikanga Māori and the kaupapa of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in our daily practice.
- We acknowledge that a sense of well-being and belonging are essential for learning. We develop this through partnership with whānau and tamariki.
- We support tamariki to work through conflict with positive guidance, role modelling strategies and by providing time and space.
- We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and we nurture their cultural identity. Our community is rich in diversity and we value the learning opportunities this brings.
Our latest Education Review Office report (2020 ) are available at the Centre or on the ERO website
https://ero.govt.nz/institution/60328/kilbirnie-early-learners
The Centre is grateful to Apex Digital for their support in the development of this website and the ongoing support of Voltz for maintaining it.
0800 242 005
Kilbirnie Early Learners is located in the heart of Kilbirnie. Feel free to email us – kilbirnieearlylearners@xtra.co.nz – or call us during session times:
Monday to Friday 8.30am – 2.30pm.
We welcome visitors and new families. Drop-off and pick-up parking is available at the rear of the community centre.
