Parent Login
Play. Learn. Grow.
Play. Learn. Grow.
Play. Learn. Grow.
Children learn through play and exploration and this philosophy is reflected in the look and feel of our centre. We encourage our children to be in the outdoors as much as possible regardless of the weather and we have designed the centre to allow the children to access the outdoor areas easily. As noted in our recent ERO Report The Rumpus Room’s learning environment is attractive and welcoming.
This includes a tank-water fed river, an exciting and well loved bike path and our own invention PlayboardsTM which enable all of the outside space to be used for exciting and creative learning. We also have a key card entry system to the centre so that only caregivers have access to the centre in order to ensure the safety and security of the children. View our Parent Handbook.
At the heart of your community
The Rumpus Room is an exceptional early childhood education centre for children aged 3 months to 6 years. All age groups reap the benefits of a home like environment, experienced staff and great resources. We encourage our children to be curious, questioning and confident learners.
An extension of your family
We welcome the active involvement of parents and whanau. An integrated on-line platform allows stories and photos to be shared between teachers, parents and children. Families can access their child’s online profile and receive regular updates via email, and can submit stories as well. Events and milestones should be celebrated and we love sharing them with you. To create a stable and calm environment, strong relationships are imperative. Our three day minimum attendance ensure that our children are settled and their relationships with their teachers and peers are strong.
Time to explore
Safe but exciting play is the order of the day, and our outdoor spaces have been designed to maximize learning opportunities. We also have a vegetable garden, enabling children to get their hands dirty, learn about nature and grow produce for their meals. Western Springs, the Auckland Zoo, local shops and the public library are all a stone’s throw away, so our timetable will include lots of field trips and adventures.
Nutrition and Food
Because we know food fuels the mind and full tummies equal content children we provide plenty of healthy and delicious morning tea, hot lunch, afternoon tea and late snacks. We cater for a wide variety of dietary requirements and we are very aware of the impacts of food allergies and intolerances. Please talk to us about your needs.
We foster a calm, relaxing and peaceful environment in order to create opportunities for children to explore freely. Our resources are open ended and natural and can be used in a variety of ways as the children spend long periods of time discovering more about the world around them. The environment also allows the child the time, the space and the support to be themselves as they develop an awareness of who they are as a person. Infants and toddlers are encouraged to move freely and to discover new positions and experiment by themselves. Toddlers are encouraged to work things out for themselves with support from adults such as climbing on and off the bikes. As children all have their own individual routines, we work closely with families to establish similar and familiar routines that the child has at home. This helps to provide consistency for the child.
We also have communication books which provide a record of your child’s day. All children have one main primary caregiver to ensure quality, sensitive and responsive child and adult relationships and care routines that include nappy changing, feeding and bottles as well as sleeping. We place a lot of importance on settling visits prior to children starting here at The Rumpus Room. This is where the first relationships begins – relationships with the environment, the teaching team and the other children. These visits are done over a two to three week period. The first week involves short visits where the families stay to help their child feel comfortable and secure and the primary caregivers spend time getting to know the family better. Through these visits, the children have the time and space to build familiarity with their new space and have the chance to observe and get to know the other children better.
At around two years old, children are ready for a more challenging environment. When transitioning from the Nest we have a proven transition procedure. This includes holding small group parent evenings before our children start the transition process so parents are introduced to the area, find out about the process and can ask any questions. Fledglings continue to have a key carer or carers ensuring there is a key relationship for each child and a support person if and when required. Our Fledglings enjoy experiencing an environment where they learn with and alongside our preschoolers. We have a rolling morning tea and afternoon tea where our Fledglings practice their self help skills.
Fledglings enjoy a dedicated group time to themselves just before lunch where they have the opportunity to come together with their carers if they choose to. Lunchtime is a smaller more social engagement where they learn about serving themselves and enjoying the kai time as a wonderful social and learning opportunity, we find this is a great way to grow friendships and relationships. Lunch is 30-45 mins earlier than the Explorers so they are not rushed. Once they have finished they transition into the lounge for a sleep. On waking our Fledglings enjoy getting back into the project based play with their friends and teachers. We head out and about in the community at least once a fortnight to either the library, park or the Zoo.
Our older children are the leaders in the centre. At this stage we are recognising and responding to the learning cues from the children. The Explorers head out of the centre for adventures at the Zoo, the library, MOTAT, the local playgrounds, Western Springs, or anywhere else they or the teachers can think of, at least once a week.
One of the most popular nights of the year is our annual four year old sleep-over which is a hotly anticipated rite of passage for the older children. The Explorers are involved in their own learning – setting their own goals, making plans and researching. Our teachers support The Explorers with their interests and goals. Our Explorers are often found involved in child initiated projects around the centre.
Centre Manager
Hi, my name is Carolyn and I am the Centre Manager of The Rumpus Room. I have been in ECE for 19 years, and have been managing Centres for the past 13 years. I am lucky enough to have been with TRR since the very beginning, before we opened in October 2012 and have loved being a part of the setup and growth of both TRRPC and TRRWV. The journey over the past almost 9 years has been filled with loads of fun along the way and I am incredibly proud of the team, who work hard every day making the centres a home away from home for all our tamariki and whanau, and space we have created at both our centres. I am passionate about working alongside such a talented team of teachers, working hard together to make the vison for our centres come to life.
I live locally in Westmere with my husband Matt, and our son Freddie, daughter Charlotte who both attend our Point Chev Centre and our curious cat Bomber! We love spending our spare time together as a family at the beach, the local playgrounds, hanging with friends, or relaxing in our backyard on a nice summer’s day in the paddling pool or playing cricket, football, croquet or listening to music!
Centre Mentor
Hi, I’m Heidi and I have been lucky to be a part of The Rumpus Room whanau since our Pt Chev centre opened in 2012. I have been working in ECE now for 16 years so I can truly say that it is a passion for me and not just a ‘job!’. My husband and I met at high school (quite a while ago now) so it feels like in some ways we have been together forever. We also have a wee little guy called Quinn who was born in 2017 and it has been incredible watching him see, learn and explore his new world. I definitely have a whole different level of empathy and understanding for what it is like to be a parent know I have my own child. Creating a place where children feel comfortable to be themselves, are treated with kindness and respect and feel safe to freely explore alongside people that really know them is what is really important to me and underpins my teaching and learning philosophy. I feel honoured to be here at The Rumpus Room working alongside a passionate team of children, families and teachers.
Team Leader – Nest
Kia ora whānau,
My name is Kalpana – the Team leader in The Nest. I studied Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) and have been working at The Rumpus Room since Jan 2013. It’s been an honour to be a part of a highly inspiring, committed and passionate team of teachers here at TRR. I live in Sandringham with my husband, Pankaj and daughter, Shreya. I come from a big family in India and have been living in New Zealand since 2006 and love everything that this beautiful country has on offer. I strongly believe that early childhood education is all about ‘recognizing and trusting a child to be an initiator, explorer and a self-learner’. As a teacher, I strive to provide an environment where the children and their families can feel loved, cared for, and respected for who they are and where they come from. I look forward to building some more amazing relationships and make your experience at The Rumpus Room a memorable one!!
Fledglings and Explorers Team Leader
My name is Jessica and I am a qualified and fully registered teacher. I completed my studies through Unitec and I really loved the practical side of learning. By beginning this course, it meant that I needed to find a home centre to complete my hours in, I was lucky enough to find The Rumpus Room, I have been working here since 2014 and have absolutely loved every moment of it! I grew up in west Auckland and still currently live in Massey with My husband, Richard and my Son Niko. I have always had a great passion in working with children and it gives me a sense of accomplishment when they thrive and enjoy their early years with us! Being a Mum has been such a rewarding experience and I am glad that I have had a few years of experience under my belt! I look forward to continuing to extend my passion in teaching and I am always looking to learn more and experience more!
Teacher
Tena Koutou Katoa
Ko Caroline Scalabrini (nee Wihongi) ahau
I have been working in Early Childhood Education for 28 years. I am passionate about working with the older age group tamariki.
I am currently working with the Explorers age group. I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to be part of our multicultural team here at The Rumpus Room in Point Chevalier. I have been employed here since it opened in 2012. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge in Tikanga Maori. I am fluent in Te Reo and love using it in my daily practice with our tamariki, kaiako and whanau. I believe this to be a taonga which was taught to me by my mama and I firmly believe that this taonga should be shared.
My interests include travel, learning about different cultures and I love listening to a range of music. I am passionate about the Native American culture and love learning about the similarities they have with my Maori culture. I also love playing the guitar and piano which I used to play since I was 9. I love spending time with my whanau and going on adventures.
I am married to Lance Scalabrini and we have two tamariki who live at home with us here in Point Chevalier.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa
Fledglings Teacher
My name is Holly and I am a qualified teacher here at The Rumpus Room. I have currently got my provisional license and am working towards my full registration. I’m originally from the UK and have lived here for 7.5 years now. I am very passionate about children’s learning and development. The early years is what makes their personalities unique, and I see every child to be unique and powerful. I believe in being at one with the children, allowing them to have that important time to make those decisions of when they need support. I believe in having fun and being present is the fundamental aspect for reciprocal relationships to be made. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, reading, spending time with friends and family and exploring nature.
Nest Teacher
Kia ora my name is Kimberly, I live in Titirangi with my partner John. I gained a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) from The University of Auckland in 2019. I thoroughly enjoy working in Early childhood education and have most of my experience in teaching with infants and toddlers. I love seeing young children reach their goals in their development as they try to make sense of their environment and the world around them. Here in The Nest children are able to express themselves and explore their environment freely with support from their peers and Kaiako. I look forward to welcoming and getting to know new whānau to The Rumpus Room.
Nest Teacher
My name is Lanka and I come from a beautiful country called Sri Lanka. I grew up with 2 brothers and 2 sisters in the countryside. 14 years ago, I found my amazing husband and got married. We now have 2 beautiful children. I moved to New Zealand in 2008 with my husband and daughter. She is now 15 years old and I also have a son who is 9 years old. After I moved to New Zealand, I studied a Diploma in Early Childhood and graduated in 2016. I now work at The Rumpus Room, spending time with children and watching them grow. I enjoy my job as it brings me happiness. I love to observe children and see their growth while getting to know their different, vibrant personalities. It is a pleasure to be here, working with your tamariki.
Fledglings Team Leader
Kia Ora whanau!
Ko Te Rina tōku ingoa, Nō Pipiwai ahau, Ko Ngatokimatawhaoroa tōku waka, Ko Te Karae tōku, Ko Hokianga tōku moana, E noho ana ahau ki Tāmaki Makaurau.
Kia Ora whanau, my name is Te Rina and I am the team leader in our Fledglings space. I am a fully registered teacher and graduated with a Bachelor of Education from the UoA. I am currently engaged and looking forward to getting married to my amazing partner. I believe my large whanau and growing up within my whanau as a community is where my passion for caring for others stems from, and influences my passion to care for our future generations. From such a young age my whanau always told me I loved caring for the pēpi and young children in our whanau. I have worked with toddlers for my whole career and it is what truly fulfills my heart. I find the greatest joy in learning about each child, their whanau, their needs, and where they are from whilst watching them grow and flourish each day. I used to work with our lovely TRR Pt Chev whanau where I supported the Fledglings in the Over 2’s space. I absolutely love the Fledglings age group and being able to support young tamariki on their unique learning journey as they explore their interests, identity, emotions, and find wonder in each day.
