About Us

Curriculum Design

Our curriculum design is founded in intentional teaching, centered around the individual needs, interests and developmental stages of each child.
Guided by Te Whāriki, New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum, we create learning experiences that are responsive, engaging and relevant. We value and incorporate the aspirations of families, ensuring that each child’s learning journey is supported by a strong partnership between home and the learning environment.

Kai and Nutrition

We provide nutritional, delicious and homemade meals made from quality ingredients with a focus on healthy eating habits for tamariki. Many of our meals include fresh produce harvested directly from our own garden, ensuring that the food is both nourishing and full of flavour. We aim to foster a love for wholesome, balanced meals, promoting a lifelong appreciation for healthy eating and that kai (food) is to be shared and enjoyed.

If your child suffers from allergies, intolerances or religious restrictions, please get in touch so that we can discuss it further.

Our Learning Space

Our learning space at Nature’s Nest is a vibrant, nature-inspired environment that blends beauty with purpose. Surrounded by natural elements, it invites curiosity and exploration offering tamariki a rich, holistic experience. From earthy textures to open spaces filled with greenery, every corner encourages hands-on discovery and creativity.

The learning areas are thoughtfully designed to spark imagination and wonder, fostering an atmosphere where tamariki can connect with nature, ask questions and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. This enriching space nurtures the whole tamariki —mind (hinengaro), body (tinana), and spirit (wairua) while inspiring a lifelong love for learning and the natural world.

We believe that allowing children an unhurried space to explore, imagine and engage deeply in tākaro (play) fosters creativity, independence and a strong sense of self. Play provides tamariki with the opportunity to build essential skills, problem-solve and form meaningful connections with their peers, all within a supportive and nurturing environment.

Whānau Care

“At Natures Nest we recognise the importance of an emotionally secure environment with responsive adults that are in-tune with the needs and wants of each child. Therefore, we strive to maintain a peaceful and unhurried environment where daily routines and rituals are relaxed and flexible and where possible, reflect the home routines for each child. This eases the transition for both child and family from home to Nature’s Nest and creates consistency and continuity of care for the child.”

Attachment based teaching relationships fosters an authentic sense of self and self-worth for children and lays a foundation for secure relationships, enduring curiosity and lasting self-confidence.

At Nature’s Nest, we ensure that each child is assigned a dedicated whānau care kaiako (teacher) upon enrolment, who plays an essential role in fostering strong, consistent care. The whānau care kaiako is responsible for ensuring that each child’s care routines, rhythms and rituals are met with aroha, attention, and flexibility. They maintain regular communication with families, acknowledging their aspirations and providing updates on their child’s progress and well-being.

Tamariki care routines are seen as special moments for connection, providing valuable teaching and learning opportunities. Each child will have a whānau care kaiako assigned before settling visits begin and in the first month, the whānau care kaiako and buddy kaiako will ensure the tamaiti (child’s) needs are met, fostering a sense of security and connection. The whānau care kaiako becomes an expert on the tamaiti individual needs, passions and learning style, maintaining a secure attachment with both the child and whānau. As the tamaiti builds confidence, they will develop relationships with the wider team.

Sustainability

At Nature’s Nest, we are dedicated to modeling best practices in sustainability and recognise the vital role education plays in shaping sustainable behaviors. Our children are the future and we believe that every action today should be taken with tomorrow in mind—prioritising the health and well-being of both Papatūānuku (earth) and her children. By fostering an awareness of sustainability and allowing tamariki to be kaitiatikanga (guardians and protectors) in their daily lives, we empower the next generation to make mindful, positive choices that will protect and nurture the world they will inherit.

What does sustainability look like for us?

• Eco cleaning products (where possible).
• Encouraging and supporting the use of re-useable nappies.
• Spray free working fruit orchards and vegetable garden.
• Worm farm for compost.
• Chickens for their eggs and they eat some left over kai.
• Upcycling of household and natural resources to turn into art and other creative pieces.
• Op Shop for re-usable resources and other items (furniture, dress ups and role play).
• Pig buckets (to our local community) to minimise scrap wastage.

~ We recognise that every little bit makes a difference. ~