Care of children deserves to be the thing we don’t compromise, no matter what.

 At Home Childcare is a small, specialized option for parents and families who prioritise the quality of relationships and want care in a home based setting.

We rest our programme of education and care on the following points of difference:

The ‘At Home’ vision

We offer a Steiner based approach to education and child development. We feel passionate that all children, even the very young, deserve to be respected and honoured as being full of mana and greatness. Rather than being occupied and entertained with contrived, so-called educational activities, preschool children need space and time to explore and discover their world.

We believe a child’s wairua/spirit needs to be protected from too much exposure to the busyness of our modern lives. Children thrive best in a safe yet interesting natural environment. The imagination of young children is most effectively fostered with open-ended play materials from nature (eg: wood, stones, sand) where the child creates the play from within, rather than having a button to push that does only one thing.

In an ideal world, children would be cared for by a network of loving family. Our vision is to create a mutually supportive and enlivening community of families and educators that can provide the love and safety net of an extended family that so many families lack. Our role is to complement the primary parent-child bond, while offering the child new relationships.

‘What I love about Amy is that we can talk about what is happening with my daughter and the other children. It’s fantastic, I love Amy and my daughter loves her too’ NP. Parent

A relationship-based framework:

Children need warm loving relationships to thrive. Neuroscience is showing us that the huge amount of brain development in the very young is dependent on a positive loving relationship with a consistent carer.

When a child feels seen, loved and safe, learning happens naturally through his/her exploration of the world. We offer children the freedom to be, express themselves and become who they are.

To quote another parent:   ‘The best thing about At Home is Aria’s relationship with Kate – she loves Kate – it’s like her going to her Auntie’s. Aria potters around the garden, bakes bread, and is very happy’. TL.

 We are committed to create respectful relationships and collaborative partnerships in all aspects of the service.

 Reflective, responsive educators:

The educator’s role is to create a safe inviting space and be emotionally available, so the child has the opportunity and time to

• play,
• develop in their own time – like a naturally unfolding flower,
• learn alongside an attuned adult doing everyday purposeful tasks, such as making lunch together.
• explore the world around them, especially out in nature, and
• return to the comfort of familiar loving arms when necessary

‘You are doing an awesome job and I love the way you are so nurturing and respectful of the children, and so child-focused in everything you offer.’ KC, Parent

Jacquie Sokolov Pearson, Director of At Home  says: “Through my years working with children and families, I have learnt an immense amount about the essential qualities an educator needs in order to care for a child respectfully alongside the primary relationship of the parent.

I personally select and support each educator.  Working as an At Home educator isn’t for everyone – it requires a deep commitment to creativity, integrity, self-awareness, spiritual development and the nurturing care of children. It is nonetheless very rewarding work.”

Ongoing professional development:

We are striving to ensure that the theory is put into practice in the relationships between educators and children (and their families/whanau) and each other.  We apply the theory of attachment to the day-to-day realities of relationships with children, moving beyond a behavioural model into a real ‘seeing’ of the child’s needs – physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual. We are in regular dialogue with the parents we care for.

At Home educators receive ongoing training and reflective support from Jacquie and Lauren Porter, Co-Director of the Centre for Attachment.  To our knowledge, no other early childhood service (home or centre based) is undergoing this depth of training and support of educators.

At Home Childcare can provide the vital consistency and nurturing relationship that your child needs.

At Home Childcare will provide your child with:

* loving home setting with nurturing consistent care

* continuous care between under 2 and over 2

* a safe warm environment where your child will develop at their own pace

* lots of time out  in nature

* play materials which encourage imagination and creative problem solving

* simple purposeful activities like bread making and gardening

* seasonal festivals, songs and stories

* opportunities to learn respect for themselves and each other

Finding the right child care is as important for you as a parent, as it is for your child.

Listen to your heart.

We look forward to being of service to you and your family.