About Us | Tots on the Rock

Who We Are

About Tots

Tots on the Rock, Waiheke is 100% family-owned and operated with owners who have always been very involved in the day-to-day operation of the centre since it opened in 2012. We believe in providing a quality education environment for our tamariki, families and staff.

Tots is ideally located in the heart of Oneroa – close to the village and ferry. We are a small, boutique centre offering education and care for 38 tamariki (0 to 5’s) and are proud of our tuakana-teina style of learning where older children guide, mentor and act as role models for younger tamariki.

Our building was purpose built in 2012 and as such we have a modern facility offering the latest fire systems, heat pumps for comfort, and have regular safety checks and a yearly building WOF.

We strive to better ourselves; take a look at our growth reports:

People

Our Team

We have an unbelievable group of people who we are proud to call our team. They are passionate kaiako with over 50 years’ experience between them, each one bringing their own unique set of skills to our teaching team. Tots on the Rock has excellent teacher to child ratios with a high percentage of our team qualified. We participate regularly in a mentoring programme to ensure our teachers are meeting and keeping ahead of the NZ Teaching Standards and are working towards their professional goals. All teachers participate in our First Aid training biennially, which ensures that a high percentage of our team are First Aid qualified at any one time. We are passionate about education (obviously!), and as such we encourage all of our team and support them through getting a qualification in ECE. In the meantime we regularly participate in professional development which allows us to keep up with sector changes, provide time for reflection, and develop new found passions.

The Owners - a little bit about us

Danielle and Hayley Farmer

Sisters, owners, mums.

We are originally from Chester in the UK, and are now firm and thankful Waiheke residents. We moved out here in 2003 and have never looked back. Between us we have three children, two dogs and a never ending to-do list. We love having Tots on the Rock, being a part of the community, meeting all the families, and watching the tamariki go from babes in arms to Waiheke High and beyond - we always recognise them but they don’t always recognise us any more!! Most of all we value what our Tots team can bring to the lives of the Waiheke tamariki and the part we play in the early years that impacts their future.

Opening Hours

We are open from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

We ask that you please adhere to dropping off and collecting your child between our operating hours. Should you have an emergency and will be delayed collecting your child please contact the centre so staff can explain to your child and also rearrange any plans they may have. Late fees may apply for tamariki collected after closing time.

Orientation & Settling

Before enrolling your tamariki we ask that both of you come along and spend some time at our centre, allowing your tamariki to become familiar and to ensure that we are the rights centre for your tamariki’s needs.

We require three, one-hour visits and sometimes more depending on the needs of the child. Detailed discussions on the child’s development, behavior, sleeping and eating requirements are held upon enrolment.

Booked Visits are held daily between 10 am and 11am to fit with the daily routine of our centre.

Signing in and out

It is a requirement of the Ministry of Education that all tamariki are signed in and out of the centre on a daily basis. Please ensure the daily sign-in sheet is kept accurate, as it is also used should an evacuation of the building be required.

Authorised Persons

Only authorised persons, (a responsible adult) as indicated on the enrolment form will be allowed to collect tamariki from the Centre. Please notify the Manager in writing of any changes to the authorised persons. An adult other than one known to the Centre will be required to show identification (preferably photographic). Parents with custody orders must provide a copy to the Manager.

Custody

In the case of a non-custodial parent arriving to collect the child, the Manager will contact the police and provide a copy of the order for the police to enforce. A child will not be allowed to go home with a parent/guardian in contravention of a custody/court order held at the Centre. However, in the event of a non-custodial parent gaining access to a child, the Centre cannot be held liable.

Absences

Staff are always concerned about your child’s welfare, so if you are aware of any intending absence, could you please inform the staff.

Withdrawing/Changing Hours

Parents must give at least three weeks' notice before withdrawing their child and changing their hours, please contact the centre if you wish to make changes

Holidays

As we all need a break now and then, we offer two weeks holidays per year at a 50% reduction in cost provided 3 weeks notice is given to the centre

Tots & Our People