Testimonials
Samantha Smith
I wholeheartedly recommend Sparrows Early Learning Centre (SELC) as a whanau-centred environment that clearly has the children’s development, sense of belonging and safety at the heart of all that they do.
We moved back from Australia after 10 years, where our 4 year old daughter had attended two other centres. In Australia drop offs had always been a stressful and teary goodbye for her (and us) each day. We wanted and needed to take the time to find a better way.
Once in New Zealand we visited multiple centers in the area, seeking something different and were quickly losing hope of finding somewhere she might finally be happy to go. The child to kaiako ratios were disappointing, loud chaotic industrial looking spaces and the engagement between staff and children was visibly lacking. Then we found Sparrows Early Learning Centre (SELC)…
From first contact Becs and the team’s communication flowed and has always been available, welcoming and prompt with any responses. The converted home environment stretching out to a green, open play area with multiple zones for different play types made sense. With excellent ratios to ensure not only supervision but space and time for kaiako to just be and enjoy the kids.
The calm, patient and intuitive kaiako’s quickly got to know our little one and were compassionate and empathetic in supporting her through big emotions following the big move. The awareness the kaiako have for supporting socio-emotional development in children is clearly a strong value that is expressed in every interaction.
Being an only child, exposure to the mixed ages of children on a daily basis has helped development of patience and understanding. Encouragement and support of open play such as building forts under the enormous feijoa trees over and over again epitomises the kiwi childhood in New Zealand I remember.
Other experiences included learning about the world – Olympic games events, the Māori King’s tangi, season changes as well as holiday celebrations such as Christmas, Matariki and Halloween.
Our not so little one will be 5 soon and the conversations for the move to school started early and often to support her (and us) through this exciting and challenging transition – they just know what is needed and make it happen.
Goodbye will be hard when it comes but we will forever be grateful for the team at Sparrows for putting their hearts, minds and souls into guiding our little one on her journey.
Olivia Heta
“Marlee’s home away from home. We love Little Sparrows and we wouldn’t want our girl going anywhere else! The love and nurture they give to all the kids doesn’t go un noticed. The mixed ages make it like one big Whanau, which Marlee is able to learn and grow with her friends from all ages. They are constantly doing fun activities with the kids like Bike day, Pajama day, crazy hair day.. I can see why they have a wait list!”
Summer Campbell
“We have been a part of the Little Sparrows family now for about a year now and we love the centre and the special teachers. My son is happy to be dropped off there in the mornings and is so happy playing he often doesn’t want to come home in the afternoon – which says it all! The teachers work well together and are kind and engaged with the children. We would be happy to recommend them to other families looking for a caring centre for their children.”
Ashleigh Aitkins
“We love the team at Little Sparrows. All three of my kids have attended there over the last 6 years. From the day we first walked in the doors to now has been fantastic. My 2 and a half year old still attends and loves it. My kids have loved that they get to be together throughout the day. We love that it is a small tight knit mixed age centre, the teachers are amazing and I am so grateful to have found such a wonderful place for my kids to go!”
Emma Fairweather
“We were recommended to check out Little Sparrows by a couple of work colleagues and we’re so so happy we did! Our 3yr old was 6months when he started here and we’ve received the most amazing care every single day as part of their family. We love that it’s a small centre so there’s no separations, room transitions and new teachers and relationships to navigate. The team are so friendly, and you always know what’s going on. You can tell they love all their wee Sparrows and our little man absolutely loves going each day.”
Lucy Peacocke
“I can’t speak more highly of the team at little sparrows! My son has been there for a year now and he has really come into his own. The teachers are so incredible! So nurturing and kind, he runs into the door each day so happy to see his friends and teachers. They do such a variety of activities its incredible, I also love all the updates they give you to see what the kids are up to. It really is a little family.”