Karori early learning centre

Kia ora, my name is Sarah and I am the Kaiwhakahaere/Centre Manager at Childspace Karori.

I studied at Victoria University of Wellington and graduated in 2015 with a conjoint degree of a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education. I’ve recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Infant and Toddler Learning and Development through Te Rito Maioha New Zealand. I believe that respectful care and education for our infants and toddlers should be at the centre of everything that we do and I’m passionate about building trusting, reciprocal relationships with our tamariki and their whānau.

I grew up living throughout New Zealand and also spent time living overseas as a child; but I’m a Wellington girl at heart. I love to travel, and am always on the lookout for new places to jet off to. In my spare time I enjoy catching up with friends and family, exploring coffee spots around Wellington and walking the many hills.

I am a qualified kaiako with a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood Education). I have spent time teaching in New Zealand, Australia and China, spanning over the last ten years. I have had an exciting career in ECE and I continue to approach the sector with a genuine warmth and curiosity. Providing quality education and care is essential to me, as an advocate to the sector. Creating beautiful spaces where children can explore, create, connect and thrive is central to my philosophy. Designing a curriculum rich in diverse learning opportunities, that allows for authentic emerging interests to be honoured and documented. It brings me great joy to be a leader and facilitator at Childspace Karori. Supporting every child’s unique journey to reach their full potential.

Kia ora, I am Jaya Sapna. I joined the ranks of fully registered teachers after finishing my degree in Early Childhood Education from Victoria University of Wellington in 2018. I firmly believe in the pedagogy of Ako - a Maori concept which means reciprocal learning and acknowledging the way that new knowledge and understanding can grow out of shared learning experiences. Therefore, I quite enjoy working alongside kaiako (teachers) and tamariki (children) to facilitate a shared learning environment.

My strengths come from whanaugatanga (a sense of family connections and kinship) - learning from children and adults alike, and from teachings on the lines of the Theorist Vygotsky, who believed in learning from a more knowledgeable other.

I have been working in the ECE teaching space for over six years now and bring with myself a wealth of exposure from over two dozen day care centres across the Wellington region. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking, doing mantra meditation and going on spiritual retreats with my husband, Mukesh and our two boys, Hrshikesh and DeepKrsna.

Kia Ora, I'm from the USA and when I was 16, I moved here where my little brothers were born, and I realised I loved working with tamariki! I graduated with my Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) in 2021. During my study I worked around Wellington gaining hands on experience with tamariki. For the past year I’ve worked at Daisies Early Childhood Centre as a maternity cover, and I’m excited now to find a place for myself! I believe early childhood education is where tamariki will create foundations for the rest of their lives, so it's the job of kaiako to create warm respectful environments to support them. I hold great care in my heart for Papatūānuku and am always striving to show care and love for the world around us, and I love sharing that with tamariki.

Kia ora e te whānau, ko Erin Shanley tōku ingoa. I’m so excited to be joining the Childspace whānau after relocating from Hamilton. I’ve been working alongside tamariki for 12 years, starting off as a nanny both in Hamilton and London before coming home to do my Bachelor in teaching, ECE, through WINTEC. Whanaungatanga (fostering relationships) and manaakitanga (nurture and care) are values I hold close to my heart both as a kaiako and in my personal life, with relationships, respect and care holding the foundation to support whānau and community to thrive. It’s such a privilege to be welcomed into the lives of tamariki as they unfold who they are and step into the potential with which they were born. I am Hamilton born and bred, and was lucky enough to spend a lot of my childhood on my aunt and uncle’s farm in Wharepuhunga. I love to be outdoors, hiking and getting out to see our beautiful country. I’m also a self-proclaimed nerd with never ending curiosity, another passion I love to spark in the lives of the tamariki I learn alongside, embracing the beautiful chaos of being human in an ever changing world.

Kia ora, I’m Rhian. I have recently completed my Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) through Te Rito Maioha. I have loved working with tamariki for most of my life. I decided I wanted to teach as a career during intermediate school. I love supporting tamariki to learn new things and encouraging them through their interests. I am interested in arts and crafts and exploring the outdoors. During my studies, I had the opportunity to work part time at Childspace Wilton with children aged 2-5 years. On completion of my studies, I was offered a fulltime role here at Childspace Karori teaching alongside infants and toddlers, and I am looking forward to building my skills as a kaiako and getting to know all the whānau.

My name is Nosheen Arshad. I am originally from Pakistan, where I completed a degree in Statistics. I then completed a Masters in English language and literature from Pakistan AJK university; this gave me the chance to teach primary school students. My journey started in New Zealand in 2016 when my husband was selected as a skill migrant (electrical engineer). At the same time I started my teaching experience as a home based educator with young kids (0-2) in Auckland with Atamai Childcare. In 2017 my husband got another good opportunity as a designer in Dunedin. I started working as a reliever teacher through a teaching agency and I taught across 4 centres around Dunedin. Cooking was my passion and hobby at the same time, and I was lucky enough to be offered a relieving cooking role in an ECE centre, which lead on to a fulltime cook position. To me cooking is an art; I used to cook nutritious healthy meals suggested by Healthy hearts foundation. I hold a Food health and safety certificate along with my first aid certificate. My family and I moved to Wellington in mid-2022, and I was given the opportunity to join Childspace Karori as a kai creator; I look forward to getting to know you and your whānau.

Tēnā koutou katoa, Ki te taha o tōku pāpā, nō Ingarangi ōku tūpuna, Ki te taha o tōku māmā, nō Kānata ōku tūpuna, I tupu ōko mātua ki Rotorua, I whānau ahau ki Heretaunga, Ko Ōhāriu tōku kainga, Ko Adam tōku hoa rangatira, Ko Caitlin tōku tamāhine, Ko Lauren Ryan tōku ingoa, Ko ahau te Tumuaki o Childspace.

Kia ora! I am Lauren, previously the centre manager of our Karori centre I took on the role of Principal at Childspace Early Learning Centres in 2019 as I returned from maternity leave with my little girl who attends Childspace Ngaio.

I was first captured by early childhood education in 2006, when I was a volunteer at a Nursery in England, and it has been my passion ever since. I returned to New Zealand to gain my qualification and completed my Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Early Childhood in 2009, and my Master of Education in 2015, both through Victoria University of Wellington. I have always had a love for learning, and joy that can found through learning no matter what age you are. Since becoming a parent myself I also have a strong dedication to ensuring our communities can enhance the mana of whānau surrounding children. I have always had a particular enthusiasm for teaching infants and toddlers due to the important and fascinating learning that takes place for this age group. I am inspired by Emmi Pikler's approach and Magda Gerber's parent philosophy which include (as many of you know) principles of respect, trusting relationships, free movement and unhurried care and play moments. Reggio Emilia is another key inspiration for my teaching. Along with strong relationships, the features of this educational approach include promoting a positive image of the child, investigating 'big ideas', listening to a child's hundred languages and creating pleasing environments for children to learn in.

I am originally from Hawke's Bay but have lived in Wellington since 2007. My husband and I live in Johnsonville with our daughter, cat and dog.

My role as Tumuaki (Principal) is to oversee our four Childspace centres supporting the kaiwhakahaere and all kaiako in their curriculum implementation, professional development and management of the centres. I am based at our home office but am often found at one of our centres and I thoroughly enjoy getting to know each kaiako and tamaiti in our Childspace whānau. I also facilitate a variety of educational workshops and mentor teachers and leaders throughout New Zealand. I have a strong interest in the concept of ako - teachers and children learning from each other, inquiry based teaching and learning, and pedagogical leadership.

You’re welcome to contact me on [email protected]