Abbey, Claudia (Maternity Leave), Grace, Holly and Jessie are excited to welcome you and your child to our Toddler room.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

  • We provide a safe, loving environment, so the children can build a strong sense of belonging when they are with us.
  • Our children learn through play and the shared experiences they have with their teachers and other children.
  • Respectful practice is very important to us, and the interests and developmental needs of our children are our priority.
  • We want our children to learn to be independent and interdependent learners, and we do this by encouraging them to try things for themselves and to take responsibility for their own learning in dressing, toileting routines and eating.
  • We are here to guide and support our children through their learning. We are here for emotional and physical support if and when our children show us they need it. We give our children the time and space to explore and limit the amount of time we spend as teachers interfering with this learning process.
  • We encourage our children to use their words when expressing themselves and for those children who are still developing their verbal communication skills, ’baby sign’ is continued on from our Infant room.
  • The care and safety of our children underpins everything that we do in the Toddler room.
  • We value strong partnerships with parents.

Meet the Teachers

ABBEY 

Team Leader & Qualified Kaiako

Abbey has her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education from The University of Waikato and has been teaching since 2017. She is passionate about ensuring tamariki are seen, heard, and respected. Abbey enjoys following each tamaiti on their own learning pathway and providing support and encouragement where needed. She finds it most rewarding when tamariki reach their own goals and feel a sense of mana (pride) within themselves.

GRACE 

Qualified Kaiako

Grace has a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. She is passionate about working with young tamariki and being able to extend and encourage their exciting learning journey. She believes in supporting the continual growth in each tamaiti in the Centre.
Grace’s favourite part about being in the Toddler room, is being able to facilitate
and support the learning and development of the tamariki at this fun age.

JESSIE 

Qualified Kaiako

Jessie has a Bachelor of Teaching in ECE. She is passionate about working with young tamariki and providing them with a safe, comforting environment where they can learn and develop at their own pace. Jessie enjoys being a Toddler teacher for the excitement and enthusiasm that toddlers bring to their learning and play.

HOLLY 

Qualified Kaiako

Holly finished studying in 2023, receiving her Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education from Te Rito Maioha. She is passionate about inclusive education with a strong focus on honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Ao Maaori. Holly is excited to work alongside the Toddler team and learn from their expertise. Toddlers are in a wonderful world of their own and Holly is delighted to be included in their learning and development.

CLAUDIA 

Qualified Kaiako

Claudia has a bachelor in Social Science where she majored in Psychology and minored in Human Development, as well as a Graduate Diploma of Teaching in Early Childhood. Claudia loves working with children, but her favourite part about teaching is watching them develop and grow. Working alongside them while their language, gross and fine motor skills, and personalities develop and flourish is fascinating and to be a part of it is even greater.