About Us
Rockabye is a privately owned, purpose-built childcare centre in Highland Park, Auckland. It is within easy access of the Howick, Bucklands Beach, Pakuranga and Botany areas.
This modern facility is run by its owner Caryn Mawkes (Dip Teaching ECE) and Supervisor Louise Sladen (Dip Teaching ECE) for the past 13 years.
Their professional and nurturing staff each bring their own unique skills and teaching styles to the centre.
At Rockabye, all children are provided with an environment where their individual learning is supported where children are provided with the opportunity to:
- Build on their language and communication skills
- Foster and develop relationships
- Create their own learning experiences
- Play independently and co-operatively
- Learn through both structured and free play
We have four core values that we aim to reflect in every aspect of our centre: trust, quality, integrity and relationships. Here’s what they mean to us.
Trust
We work hard to have strong relationships with all of our families, and we want them to feel comfortable and secure leaving their child in our care. We want families to see Rockabye as a home away from home. So it is important to us that families can talk to us comfortably about their needs and aspirations for their child.
Quality
We have high expectations of our team, and all of our staff members are qualified or in training. Parents regularly comment on the stability that our dedicated and long-standing staff provide for their child and their family.
Our centre is very well resourced and we have extensive outside play areas. We aim to keep our centre clean and tidy both inside and out to provide a safe environment for your child.
Integrity
Integrity to us means that we will deliver on what we promise; this means that we want to do the best that we can for our children. It also means that we expect our staff to treat parents as they would wish to be treated themselves.
Relationships
We believe that relationships form the key to the education that occurs in our centre.
We work collaboratively with our parents, and parent’s participation is valued and warmly encouraged. We ask parents to share their ideas and any concerns or questions with us. We invite parents to participate in our centre through adding to their child’s portfolio and attending family events.
In order to celebrate cultural and social diversity, we acknowledge many important dates and events and we love parents to be involved in these celebrations.
We use various forms of communication including daily emails, child portfolios, notice boards and parent interviews to keep families regularly informed about their child and the centre’s activities. We have an open door policy and our parents are always free to phone or come in and see us.
Physical environment
Our centre is light, welcoming and cheerful, where every consideration has been taken to create a clean, safe and stimulating environment. We have two classrooms and two large outdoor areas that are well resourced with toys and equipment providing many opportunities for children to explore learn and enjoy.
Atmosphere
Our aim is to work alongside parents to enable their child to grow as a strong, independent and confident learner.
We do this by encouraging all children to:
- Develop a love of learning
- Seek information
- Apply their knowledge
- Be active, independent learners
- Confidently express themselves
- Safely explore their environment
Come and see for yourself!
We welcome parents to come along and visit us or call us on 09 533 0218. We are always here to discuss any of your childcare options. You and your child will be guaranteed a warm welcome.
You can also find out more about our centre online at http://rockabye.school.nz/ or visit us on Facebook to view photos and videos of our quality centre.
Services
- Specialising in care for children from 0–5 years
- Open from 7.30am – 5.30pm
- 20 hours ECE subsidy and WINZ subsidy
- Over 80% qualified staff
- Nutritious morning & afternoon tea’s provided
- Long term, committed & friendly teaching team
- Children’s portfolio’s online
- Transition to school programme
Services
- Specialising in care for children from 0–5 years
- Open from 7.30am – 5.30pm
- 20 hours ECE subsidy and WINZ subsidy
- Over 80% qualified staff
- Nutritious morning & afternoon tea’s provided
- Long term, committed & friendly teaching team
- Children’s portfolio’s online
- Transition to school programme
“As a full time working parent, I know I can drop my daughter off in the morning and be completely confident in the care she will receive. I love the way all the teachers encourage her interests and provide her opportunities to expand on this through creative play, which has seen her develop some very impressive skills during her time with Rockabye. The centre has an amazing family orientated feeling and I love the way they involve the families in so many activities throughout the year as well as the portfolios and stories that are shared to show us what she has been doing, this will be a keepsake for years to come. Great teachers, great values and a great decision for the development of my daughter.”
“On more than one occasion I’ve been able to bounce ideas off them, at drop off or pick up, on little matters like what to do for fireworks night to the bigger worries of parenting such as developmental progress. Many of the staff are also parents who listen without judgement and with experience in the “real life!”
“I’m so impressed with the transition to school programme that is offered at Rockabye. My son’s new entrant teacher specifically mentioned how well prepared he was for school, and put him straight into the top reading group in his class.”
“All of you do such an amazing job, and manage to create a very friendly and family-like atmosphere that really results in thinking of your entire team not as staff or teachers but as friends who simply do an amazing job of educating the kids.”
