Parent Login
Play. Learn. Grow.
Play. Learn. Grow.
Play. Learn. Grow.
The best little childcare in Auckland is now in Waterview. Waterview’s revitalised parks and playgrounds provide amazing opportunities for exploration and adventure from our gorgeous purpose built learning centre, so let the Rumpus begin! Children learn through play and exploration and this philosophy has guided the design of our new centre. We encourage our children to be in the outdoors as much as possible regardless of the weather and the centre is designed to allow the children to access the outdoor areas easily with great flow from the indoor to the outdoor areas.
Our outdoor learning environment features an exciting bike path, climbing walls, a tree platform and den, veggie gardens 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. Waterview reserve, Oakley Esplanade and the Waterview shared path 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.
Our babies area is a second storey oasis with decks on both side of the centre to get all day sun and light. We wanted a space that was nurturing, safe and tucked away, nest like up in the trees, but still maintained a connection with the older children. The Nest re-uses the beautiful rimu floor boards from the old church located on the site and has a huge outdoor partially covered play space with a glass balustrade so that the children can see and learn from the older children downstairs while safe in their own area.
The nest playground features a huge sandpit and a real grass area to make sure the babies are getting all important contact with the natural environment. The separate sleep room provides a bed for each of the children to ensure that home routines can be followed and sleep times don’t need to be structured to the needs of the centre. The Nest has its own kitchen where the meals and snacks are prepared and the children can take part in baking and creating with the teachers.
The Fledglings have inside and outside play spaces which can be entirely separated off from the older children or opened up to allow all the children to come together. The Fledglings have a lounge area which can be closed off from the other play areas during sleep time and opened up fully at other times to use as additional play space.
The centre is designed to combine the look and feel of a home with great learning spaces that be changed easily to make sure the children’s interests are being reflected and the space stays fresh.
The Explorers area allows the older pre-school children to have a separate area in which to have the time and space to pursue their own interests, and some great outdoor play features, but again can be opened up to allow the two groups to work together or experience the different learning environments.
The Explorers have been working with their Kaiako to design their own tree hut around the Kanuka trees which will begin construction soon.
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.
Nest Team Leader
Kia Ora, Fal’e here! I have the pleasure and privilege of being a kaiako at TRR both at PC and WV since 2012! I have been the team leader at The Nest at Waterview since January 2019. It may sound cliché but I truly love what I do and couldn’t imagine doing anything else! I have worked alongside infants and toddlers for most of my teaching years although I have also worked with preschool and school-aged children. For me though my passion is with children under the age of two years. I am inspired by the practices of Magda Gerber and Emmi Pikler (R.I.E) and strive to uphold the principles of respectful care. I am an advocate for primary care, honouring te ao Maori and the natural world. I am passionate about creating an environment that is engaging, curious, exciting but also safe, trusting, calm and with a feeling of ‘a home away from home’. My goal is to establish, grow and support our Nest whanau firstly with the tamariki, kaiako and the whanau.
Nga mihi nui
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.
Nest Kaiako
Hi, my name is Hannah, and I am a qualified teacher in The Nest. I graduated from Otago University with a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education at the end of 2019 and am currently working towards my full registration. I started in The Nest at the beginning of 2020 but had previous relieving experience at our Point Chev centre in the over two’s room. I fell in love with this age group as soon as I started and feel passionate about respectful relationships and interactions. I am intrigued by children’s play urges and try my best to set up our environment to foster and extend on these.
Nest Kaiako
My name is Ancella. I was born in the beautiful country called India, with my mum from Mangalore and my dad from Goa. I live with my best friend who I’ve known for 11 years aka my husband Keenan, and our little man Jackson who was born in March 2019. I love spending my time with my family doing the things we love, going on adventures, creating memories and sharing our interests. I am also passionate about working alongside children and began my teaching journey right after Avondale College at Unitec, and have been teaching for 8 years and counting. I believe relationships are key to learning about the world around us. As a teacher I work towards intentionally taking on the role of a researcher alongside children to explore our environment through each child’s individual curiosities – this is what drives my love for teaching.
Nest Kaiako
Kia Ora! My name is Mariana. I have a cochlear implant, which allows me to hear and communicate with various people. I have completed two Bachelor Degrees: Business in Operations Management at UNITEC in 2016 and Education in Early Childhood at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in July 2020. Throughout the three years of studying ECE, I have gained experience and developed knowledge along with Te Whāriki during practicums (various centres in Auckland). This is my first permanent teaching role, and I’m honoured to be part of the Nest team at The Rumpus Room. Recently, I am working towards completing my full teaching registration. I am passionate about learning something while working with the team, children and whanau (families). Moreover, seeing the laughter and smiles undoubtedly lift the mood and atmosphere; this is why I tend to enjoy working at the Nest. I enjoy watching TV series and movies online, spending time with my father and friends, napping, and travelling in my free time.
Nest Kaiako
My name is Durga, I am currently doing my graduate diploma in Early Childhood Education from NZTC. I am originally from India and have settled in New Zealand for last 19 years. I live in Avondale and am mum of two teenagers, a girl and a boy. My sister is an early childhood teacher and has inspired me to become an early childhood teacher. I enjoy reading, gardening and cooking and also like to spend time in nature and love bush walking. I believe in building a respectful relationship with the children and treating them as capable individuals. I strive to provide them with a learning opportunity to explore and grow. In my teaching practice I try to provide unhurried caring experiences. I am excited to start my journey as a student teacher, eager to learn and grow as a teacher.
Fledglings Kaiako
Kia Ora, I’m Janey, I am a Waterview local and really enjoy the connections I now have between my work at TRRWV and the community. My son attends the local primary school which only further increases the links. I have over 20 years of teaching experience and have worked in both New Zealand and England. I hold both a Bachelor of Education (ECE) and a Diploma of Teaching. Being part of our children and their whanau life is the part of my work I value the most. I work school hours 8:45-3:45 five days a week. Thanks to all the whanau social events we hold here at TRR I still get to know most of our families. I love spending time with my family, travel, movies, getting out into nature, gardening and food. Please come and say hi and have a chat if I don’t get to see you during your normal drop off and pick-up times. As I said connections are very important to me
Fledglings Kaiako
Hey my name is Dylan, I am a fully registered and qualified teacher and I hold a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education.) I have worked at The Rumpus Room for my whole career from a student teacher to a full-time teacher. I have worked at both of our Pt Chev and Waterview centres, working with all age groups. This has allowed me to experience and support children of all age groups; it is awesome to observe our tamariki grow and explore alongside each other. I have worked in our Fledglings space for over 3 years now and I love this age group. I enjoy working with the younger children and older children in the same room. I am passionate about exploring science experiments with our tamariki. In my spare time, I enjoy playing football for Western Springs football and am involved throughout the club. A few more of my hobbies include traveling around the world and New Zealand. I also love music and enjoy attending concerts whenever I can.
Fledglings Kaiako
Kia Ora! My name is Tiffaney. I am a passionate teacher who loves to see children grow, discover, and explore the world around them. I have been teaching for many years, starting from when my daughter was a little girl (she is 19 years old now). I have a Bachelor of Teaching ECE. I love to share my knowledge and explore new and interesting things. A love of art experiences – I like to explore these and watch as we discover ways to be creative. To have fun, laugh and enjoy the moments. I love to walk the wonderful bush tracks around West Auckland, going to the beach, camping and spending time with family and friends. One of my favourite whakatauki that I feels is my teaching journey is: Ehara taku toa, he takitahi, he toa takitini. My success should not be bestowed onto me alone, as it was not individual success but success of a collective.
Explorers Kaiako
Hi, I’m Kylie and I’m so excited to be a part of the teaching team at The Rumpus Room. I have been teaching in ECE for the last 15yrs and have enjoyed every second of those years. I can honestly say that I learn something new every day from all of the amazing tamariki that I get to spend my time with. I live in West Auckland with my husband and our two children. I was very lucky to be able to be at the same centre while my children were enjoying their “kindy” days. It was amazing to be a part of their learning journey.
I love creating spaces that children can be themselves, feel challenged, be inspired and have fun! I strongly believe in play-based learning and enjoy being able to learn alongside our youngest learners.
Fledglings/Explorers Kaiako
Bula Vinaka
My name is Mabel, I was born and raised in Fiji. My husband and I moved here in 2006. I am of European and Fijian descent. We have four young gentlemen, the eldest is in his final year of high school and my youngest starts intermediate next year. I worked in the hospitality industry in Fiji before moving here to New Zealand. I started working as a reliever for Randstad and soon found myself working permanently at The Rumpus Room, Point Chevalier. I have now been with The Rumpus Room for four years now starting at the Point Chevalier centre then moving here to start the Waterview Nest team.
I have always loved working with children. I bring with me many years of experience as well as having my own which has helped me understand and appreciate the tamariki.
I look forward to meeting you and your tamariki on your journey through their early years in life.
Ka kite, Ni sa Moce,
Mabel.
Kai Creator
Hi I’m Amy and I’ve been working with the fabulous teaching team here at The Rumpus Room since 2018. I’m a fully qualified chef and fondly known as the Kai creator here at The Rumpus Room.
I’m passionate about nutrition and incorporating learning and knowledge into food experiences with the tamariki. I’m actively involved in our community being the Pt Chevalier brownie leader for the past 4 years which I love. I have 2 amazing daughters and a wonderful partner of 22 years.
Student Teacher/Support Kaiako
My name is Lauren. I have been babysitting for 5 years and when my mum was working for a home-based child care I would always help her with the children when I got home from school. I love children, I love teaching them new things, learning from them and watching them grow into amazing people. I have 2 sisters and 3 cats. I love listening to music, playing games and hanging with friends in my spare time. I am involved in scouting every Monday and Thursday nights, I am a Venturer on Mondays and a kea leader on Thursdays.
Support Kaiako
Malo e lelei everyone! My names Helena, and I’ve had the privilege of working with The Rumpus room since late 2020. I was fortunate to know of this role through my sister, Courtney, who was a previous kaiako at the Point Chevalier Rumpus Room a couple of years ago. I grew up in a big family, 5 brothers and 2 sisters, so the busyness and excitement of the rooms is nothing new to me. Ive always loved being around my many cousins and having the opportunity to look after the younger ones. So, naturally, this role is more than a job to me and is one that I take with much pride. One of my favourite things is to witness the amazing growth each individual child goes through, and I am very lucky and grateful to be in the position I am right now.
Student Teacher/Support Kaiako
Kia Ora Families and Whanau! I am Mike, a student of New Zealand Tertiary College completing a course in Graduate Diploma in ECE. I will be doing my field practice in Early Childhood
here in Rumpus Room – Waterview. A little something about myself – me and my family have been living in New Zealand for 12 years but I grew up in the Philippines and just recently briefly lived in Canada before moving back to Auckland. I am a father of 3 which I am privileged to be looking after as a stay at home dad during their early growing years. This experience has actually inspired and encouraged me to take the path of studying ECE. During those years my children has taught me that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating atmosphere in which they can grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically, and socially. I am interested in playing sports and I play the guitar and piano. I plan to incorporate these interests in my teaching. I am looking forward to learning alongside the supportive teaching team and the
wonderful children at The Rumpus room.
