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Welcome from our Centre Manager
Janelle Herbert
With a Bachelor of Teaching in ECE, I am dedicated to a play- based pedagogy. I believe that when children lead their own discovery, they build the resilience and curiosity needed to thrive. By creating environments where play is the primary vehicle for learning, we allow children to develop the resilience and curiosity where they become their own agency for learning.
I am deeply passionate about mentoring teachers to be the best versions of themselves. I believe that a high-quality ECE environment starts with an inspired, happy, confident team. As a leader, there is nothing more rewarding than supporting a colleague to find their "spark" and master a new teaching strategy that transforms their practice and inspires our team.
What I love most about our centre is the happy and fun vibe we bring every day. I believe that when children feel a genuine sense of connection and happiness, their potential for growth is limitless. Our open play spaces, experienced teachers, and resources allow children to feel safe, explore, and take risks to foster learning.
What gets me up and coming to Busy Bees every day is our collective passion for teaching and learning. Being part of an experienced team that is constantly growing their own knowledge and dedicated to excellence makes every day purposeful and worth it.
We celebrate whanaungatanga by connecting with our community through multicultural celebrations, and creating a sense of belonging, where everyone has a place, no matter what culture they identify with. Our curriculum reflects our philosophy for strong relationships and we absolutely love coming together with our tamariki, whānau and community to strengthen our relationships with one another.
Our Vision
Together may we give our tamariki the roots to grow and the wings to fly.
Our Philosophy
We embrace and foster the growth and development of all by creating a learning environment where tamariki, whanau and kaiako can thrive together. Our core values of Happiness, Connections and Discoveries guide us to Manaakitanga and an enriching experience for everyone.
Our Centre
Our purpose-built centre, conveniently located in Lansdowne, has been thoughtfully designed to support children’s learning and development at every stage. From the moment you walk through our doors, you are part of a welcoming environment where relationships, open communication, and genuine connection are valued.
Our centre is organised across four separate learning rooms, allowing us to provide age-appropriate environments that support each stage of development. These spaces enable our kaiako to offer meaningful, responsive learning experiences tailored to each child, supporting their growth from infancy through to their transition to school.
Outdoor play is an important part of life at our centre. Our brand-new playground connects our infants and toddlers, creating opportunities for shared exploration in a safe and nurturing space.
Older children enjoy their own dedicated playground, designed to encourage active play, independence, and confidence as they take on new challenges and extend their physical skills.
Our inhouse cook provides freshly made meals for children each day using our Nourish menus and recipes, based on the New Zealand Heart Foundation Tohu Manawa Ora | Healthy Heart Award for Early Learning Centres. We believe that through nourishing food, children are fueled to thrive physically and mentally, whilst enjoying the benefits of coming together and connecting as a group at mealtimes.
Teachers also do regular baking with the children, which provides them opportunities to engage and learn a range of food preparations skills and fine motor movements such as pouring, sifting, spooning. It is a great hands on sensory experience for children to develop independence through self-help skills, practice simple maths as they measure and count quantities.
We are committed to follow the aspirations of the New Zealand National ECE Curiculum, Te Whāriki. Te Whāriki envisages kaiako in early learning settings working in partnership with parents, whānau and community to realise this vision. The expectation is that, in their early years, children will experience a curriculum that empowers them as lifelong learners, right from their early exploration of the world around them, through to preparation for school.
Our Approach to Learning, Relationships, and Growth
Relationships are at the heart of everything we do. We build strong, trusting connections with children and whānau, creating a foundation where children feel safe, valued, and understood. Through these relationships, we support children’s social and emotional development, helping them to build confidence and a strong sense of identity.
We are passionate about empowering children as capable learners. Through positive guidance, encouragement, and opportunities for active participation, children develop independence, resilience, and a sense of ownership over their learning. Our kaiako take the time to truly know each child, allowing us to respond to their strengths, interests, and individual learning journeys.
We also place a strong focus on supporting children as they transition to school. In our older children’s space, intentional teaching helps build the skills, confidence, and independence needed for this next step. Through meaningful learning experiences and connections with local schools, we support children and whānau to feel prepared and confident as they move forward.
At Busy Bees Masterton, we celebrate everyday moments of learning, connection, and growth. Our centre is a place where children are supported to explore, build relationships, and develop the confidence to take on new challenges.
Our Programmes
Bee Curious, our Busy Bees Curriculum Framework, has been created to guide and inspire kaiako in supporting tamariki through rich, interconnected learning experiences. Built on the strong foundation of Te Whāriki, it reflects the principles of Aotearoa New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum and the aspirations we hold for our children as they grow.
Nutritious food is the foundation for healthy growth and development in our children. Our Nourish menus fuel our children and support full, healthy tummies enabling clear minds to focus on the learning and set children up to thrive at our centre.
Our MOVE programme deliberately sets out physical activities that give children the opportunity to learn, practice and master physical skills whilst developing their resilience, perseverance, patience, co-ordination, gross-motor skills, teamwork and much more, all while having loads of fun!
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