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Welcome from our Pakuranga Centre Manager
Priya Prasad
Tēnā koutou katoa, ko Priya tōku ingoa. With over 22 years of experience in early childhood education and leadership, I am honoured to lead a passionate and dedicated team at Pakuranga, working in partnership with whānau to provide the highest quality care and education for our tamariki.
I am deeply connected to the Pakuranga community and feel privileged to be part of such a vibrant and diverse area. We value Whanaungatanga (relationships) and Manaakitanga (care and respect) which makes Busy Bees Pakuranga a wonderful place for our tamariki and whānau to grow, learn and belong.
My philosophy is centred on nurturing the whole child emotionally, socially, culturally and academically. I believe every child is unique, capable and full of potential. I am passionate about creating an environment where tamariki feel safe, valued and empowered, while building meaningful partnerships with whānau and our wider community.
Through supportive and collaborative leadership, I strive to inspire and empower our educators to deliver engaging, inclusive and responsive programmes that reflect the needs, interests and aspirations of our tamariki and their whānau. I am committed to excellence in practice and to ensuring our centre remains a warm, welcoming and enriching place for all.
Come and explore
Every stage brings something new, and we'd love to show you what your child's journey could look like here. Come and explore our spaces, meet our kaiako and see what makes our centre such a special place for tamariki and whānau.
Learning that reflects our community
Our centre community is made up of many cultures, whānau and individual stories, and we believe these should be reflected in our everyday learning.
We take the time to know each child, their whānau, their culture and the things that are important to them. These connections become part of our curriculum and help tamariki develop a strong sense of belonging - knowing who they are, where they come from and that they have an important place within our centre community.
We also love celebrating the little traditions that make our centre special. One of our favourites is saying farewell to our five-year-olds as they head off to school - celebrating everything they have achieved and the exciting next chapter ahead, in our very own centre hall.
Our inhouse cook provides freshly made meals for children each day using our Nourish menus and recipes, based on the New Zealand Heart Foundation Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award for Early Learning Centres. We believe that through nourishing food, children are fueled to thrive physically and mentally, whilst enjoying the benefits of coming together and connecting as a group at mealtimes.
Teachers also do regular baking with the children, which provides them opportunities to engage and learn a range of food preparations skills and fine motor movements such as pouring, sifting, spooning. It is a great hands on sensory experience for children to develop independence through self-help skills, practice simple maths as they measure and count quantities.
Five rooms, every stage of the journey
Our five rooms are thoughtfully designed to support tamariki as they grow, with resources, experiences and learning opportunities suited to each age and stage.
Explorers | 0–2 years
Our Explorers room is a warm and nurturing beginning to your child’s early learning journey. We take the time to build trusting relationships with tamariki and whānau, working closely with families to understand each child’s individual routines, interests and needs.
The caring kaiako create opportunities for pēpi to explore, discover and develop at their own pace. From sensory experiences and open-ended play to following their emerging interests, learning happens through the everyday moments that matter.
Most importantly, Explorers is a place where your child can feel secure, known and supported as they take those first steps into their wider world.
Adventurers | 2–3 years
There is plenty to discover in our Adventurers room! At this age, curiosity is growing quickly, and our environment gives tamariki the freedom to test ideas, try new things and challenge themselves.
Indoor and outdoor experiences provide plenty of opportunities for active play, exploration and discovery. Whether they are getting stuck into an activity, investigating something new or heading outside to explore, our kaiako encourage tamariki to ask questions, take safe risks and develop confidence in their growing abilities.
Collaborators | 3–4 years
Our Collaborators room is all about learning together, becoming more independent and having plenty of fun along the way.
Tamariki are encouraged to take an active role in their learning, with experiences shaped around their interests, ideas and developing goals. From messy play and creative experiences to hands-on exploration, there are plenty of ways to get involved, make choices and learn through doing.
We place a strong focus on self-help skills and independence, helping tamariki build the confidence and capabilities they need as they move towards their next stage of learning.
Researchers | 4–6 years
The Researchers room is a place for tamariki to investigate, question and get ready for their next big adventure - school.
As tamariki become increasingly curious about the world around them, our kaiako support them to develop the skills, confidence and independence they will take with them to kura. Everyday experiences include opportunities to explore early literacy and numeracy, share stories and songs, solve problems, take responsibility and work alongside others.
Our local community is also part of the learning. Regular trips to the local library and visits to our nearby primary school help tamariki become familiar with the people and places around them, building confidence and a sense of connection as they prepare for school.
We are also fortunate to have our own mini hall, giving tamariki another space to extend their learning, movement and group experiences.
Our Programmes
Bee Curious, our Busy Bees Curriculum Framework, has been created to guide and inspire kaiako in supporting tamariki through rich, interconnected learning experiences. Built on the strong foundation of Te Whāriki, it reflects the principles of Aotearoa New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum and the aspirations we hold for our children as they grow.
Our MOVE programme deliberately sets out physical activities that give children the opportunity to learn, practice and master physical skills whilst developing their resilience, perseverance, patience, co-ordination, gross-motor skills, teamwork and much more, all while having loads of fun!
Nutritious food is the foundation for healthy growth and development in our children. Our Nourish menus fuel our children and support full, healthy tummies enabling clear minds to focus on the learning and set children up to thrive at our centre.
The Busy Bees Way is our commitment to families and guides everything we do across our centres. From nurturing your child’s wellbeing and supporting their individual learning journey, to building genuine partnerships with whānau and respecting every child’s unique identity, culture and strengths, we’re committed to providing an exceptional early learning experience where children can thrive.
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