Two Auckland locations
Point Chevalier
Established & community-rooted
Waterview
Purpose-built for exploration & adventure
Why families choose us
Great ratios
Our teaching team is well above the regulated minimums, every day, in every room. It's the difference you feel the moment you walk in.
A strong, stable teaching team
Most of our teachers have been with us for years, and our leadership has been in place since we opened. Your child's attachment is to a person, not a building.
A calm, settled centre
Two purpose-built centres, with open-plan rooms and outdoor spaces made for adventure. One belief: children learn best when they lead. A three-day minimum keeps faces familiar, so our centres feel calm, not busy.
Everything provided
Your child's whole day is taken care of here, meals included. Just bring nappies and formula if they're needed.
Part of the neighbourhood since 2012.
More than 100 families across our two centres call The Rumpus Room their second home.
9/10
Point Chevalier
9/10
Waterview
Annual Whānau Survey
Likelihood to recommend
"Every teacher is an absolute gem. The love and care shown for our kids is exceptional."
Whānau feedback
Warm relationships create confident learners.
We believe children learn best when they feel safe, respected and connected.
That belief shapes everything from the way our teachers interact with children, to the design of our environments, to the partnerships we build with families.
"The centre's philosophy is underpinned by partnerships with parents, kindness and respect, and a calm and nurturing environment where children can learn and explore at their own pace."
ERO, 2026
Exceptional early childhood education
A conversation during morning tea. A muddy gumboot adventure. Learning to sort out a disagreement. Planting herbs in the garden. Climbing higher than last week. Making a friend.
At The Rumpus Room, we don't rush any of it. Learning unfolds naturally through play, relationships, creativity and exploration. At a pace that's right for each child.
Our programme is shaped by Te Whāriki, New Zealand's early childhood curriculum, and guided by teachers who've spent years understanding how children learn.
Happy children start with feeling well cared for.
Nutritious meals, rest, movement and emotional wellbeing all play an important role in early learning.
We provide healthy meals and snacks throughout the day and cater for a wide range of dietary requirements.
We follow the Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award programme from the Heart Foundation to ensure our menu is the best it can be.
Just as importantly, we create environments where children feel emotionally supported, secure and able to be themselves.
Growing confident learners for the next stage.
The best preparation for school doesn't look like school. It looks like our shared lunches on the mat: opening your own lunchbox, sitting with a group, chatting with friends, tidying up after. Small things that make the first weeks of school feel familiar.
We also work closely with local schools and new entrant teachers to help children transition comfortably.
Their last day ends in our korowai.
Experienced teachers who genuinely care.
Our teaching teams are experienced, stable and deeply committed to early childhood education.
Many of our teachers have been with us for years, helping create the calm and trusting relationships families value so highly.
We invest heavily in professional development and collaborative learning so our teachers continue to grow alongside the children they support.
Centre events
Our events are as much for the parents as the children. From the annual fish and chip night to Matariki celebrations and the Christmas party, they're a chance to share kai, meet other families and feel part of the neighbourhood.
Many of the friendships formed here — between children and parents alike — last well beyond a child's time at the centre.
Our Story
Cameron Greig and Beth McKay started The Rumpus Room the way most good things start: out of necessity. As Point Chev parents, they couldn't find the kind of childcare they wanted for their own kids, so they built it themselves.
The Point Chevalier centre opened in 2012, and Waterview followed in 2016. Both are still here, still full, and still theirs. If you need proof, look down on your way in: Cam, Beth and their children pressed their handprints into the concrete carpark at each centre.
Cam and Beth are passionate central Westies, committed to both centres being a genuine part of the community.
Since opening day, Centre Manager Carolyn and Centre Mentor Heidi have been at the heart of the centre. Many of our teachers have been with us almost as long. Carolyn and Heidi are highly selective about who joins the team, and year after year our Whānau Survey shows we're getting it right.
