At Happy Hive we believe that every child is unique and possesses an incredible ability to develop and learn.
Our centre philosophy is inspired by RIE and Reggio Emilia which focuses on child centered, self directed and experiential learning.
We use imaginative and inspiring environments to ignite each child’s sense of wonder and curiosity to make new discoveries, gain new knowledge, grow in confidence and develop an ongoing love of learning. We emphasise really listening to our children and giving them time and space to truly express themselves.
We use many natural, reflective, open ended resources in our learning activity setups, providing limitless possibilities for exploration to enhance children's sensory development and imagination.
Our teachers develop kind and respectful relationships with our children through gentle nurture, laughter, and learning.
We believe nutrition of the body, and nurturing the mind and emotional being is essential for a child to thrive and be prepared for the next steps in their learning journey.
We respect the vital role our children’s families and whanau play and strive to create an environment that encompasses their cultures, values and beliefs.
Our Uenuku room is focused on developing a loving, safe and trusting relationship between your infant and our teachers. We work closely with you to understand your infant’s rhythms and the routines required to structure the day according to their individual needs.
We encourage free movement and play in a calm, interactive environment which includes music and movement, outdoor exploration and sensory development to support your infant to reach milestones at their own pace.
Our Moana room is an open airy room with lots of choices of play both inside and out. The room is set up with an array of resources to foster and support curiosity, discovery and the challenge that your inquisitive child requires.
Children join the bigger kids in the outdoor playground, fostering confidence and developing communication skills. This is a busy age where children are starting to grow into their personalities, challenge boundaries and develop their understanding of others.
Our Whenua room is where children become aware of their upcoming transition to school and our resources reflect the structure and materials they will use at primary school. While literacy and numeracy is available to explore, the pre-school curriculum is discovery based, with teachers observing and conversing with children to develop projects based on their interests.
Here we work to develop your child’s confidence, independence, self-esteem, focus, listening and communication skills along with numeracy, literacy, physical and emotional self-awareness.
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Textured natural surfaces, inspiring high ceilings, a dedicated art ‘atelier’ space, terraced outdoor play areas, wonderfully designed fittings and a large central kitchen are just a few of the amazing features which make our centre a special place for children and families to enjoy.
Happy Hive is located centrally in Greenhithe opposite the beautiful Wainoni Park. The Centre was carefully designed to create separate age-related areas, each offering a warm, inviting, homely and private atmosphere. Our beautiful indoor areas all open out to private, landscaped, sheltered and sunny outdoor play areas.
We believe that nutritious food is essential for children to thrive physically and mentally. Mealtimes are calm, fun, and social, where children are encouraged to develop table manners and engage in conversation. Our in-house chef provides freshly made meals for our children each day using dietician- developed menus and recipes. Our menu has a four-week rotation and uses a wide range of balanced food groups to encourage children to try new foods, textures and tastes. Where possible all food is made from scratch, with no added sugar, salt or preservatives.
We document your child’s ongoing exploration and development journey with Storypark, an online tool capturing photos, videos, stories and magical moments. The Story park portfolio can be shared with friends and family at home and overseas - a treasure for you all now and in years to come.
At Happy Hive we love to celebrate our diversity and community. We have many celebrations in our annual calendar including Chinese New Year, Matariki, Diwali, many language weeks and local holidays. We love bringing our Happy Hive parent-and-children community together to strengthen relationships with each other.
For more information please give us a call or send an email. We can answer any questions you have, let you know about availability for your child’s age group, and send you our parent handbook, enrolment form and fee schedule.
The best way to find out if Happy Hive is the right centre for your child is by visiting us and exploring for yourself. Please contact us to arrange a visit and meet the team.
