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At Busy Bees Te Rapa, we value every child and see them as unique and a special taonga. Our Teachers are passionate about encouraging children's creativity, supporting their emerging social interactions, and celebrating their individual successes. Our centre caters for tamariki up to six and we are open from 7.30am-5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Conveniently located in the heart of Hamilton City, we're easy to find and within a short traveling distance to Te Rapa Racecourse. We're the natural choice for busy parents and local families in the community.
Our centre welcomes tamariki and their whānau, supporting children to develop into capable learners with a strong cultural identity. Qualified teachers bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, providing quality education in a stimulating environment. We welcome your child to our community and look forward to helping them start their education journey. We would love to see you.
Our Rooms
Kaakano: In Kaakano (Under 2’s), we take pride in our teaching practice influenced by the RIE Philosophy, where we genuinely respect and understand and encourage reciprocal relationships with our parents, whānau and community. This helps tamariki to develop and strengthen their trust in those around them and in the environment; to feel secured and gain a sense of belonging. We also aspire to provide our tamariki with consistent routines and uninterrupted play giving them the freedom to explore, learn and grow together with their peers and pepi.
Puawai: Our room supports tamariki between the ages 2 to 3.5 years. In Puawai Room we express love and affection to your little one while fostering close relationships with families via whanaugatanga and acknowledging cultural diversity through pedagogy that is attentive to cultural differences. To prepare the toddlers for preschool, we also strive to encourage independence and intentional teaching.
Kowhai: Ages 3.5 to 6 years, Our centre has a large outdoor space where children can create, explore, be imaginative and expressive. There’s plenty of room to safely run about, being imaginative and physically active. We support social and emotional skills by encouraging tamariki to learn independence through looking after their belongings, serving their own kai and helping to clean and care for resources. We support ongoing discussions throughout the day around being a kind friend to all and we support problem-solving in peer relationships through individual and group discussions at mat-times.
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.
Our local curriculum incorporates learning dispositions, the principles and goals of our ECE curriculum Te Whāriki, and competencies derived from Tataiako. Our innovative learning environments are abundantly resourced with stimulating educational resources which complements the delivery of our local curriculum and educational programme. Our teachers are passionate about encouraging children's creativity, supporting their emerging social interactions, and celebrating their individual successes.