Bumblebees Whitford

Bumblebees Whitford We are an early learning centre in the heart of Whitford Village. Designed with purpose, love and richly resourced to ignite curiosity and wonder.

Bumblebees Whitford is in the heart of Whitford Village in a thoughtfully renovated villa, maintaining its beautiful character and history. Adorned with natural light, our generous indoor play spaces were created with purpose and love and richly resourced to ignite curiosity and wonder. Our beautiful Atelier, art space, in our cottage, inspires our children to share ideas and indulge in self-expression. Designed with adventure in mind, our three spacious outdoor areas include natural grass, huts, sandpits, mud, natural obstacle courses, and vegetable gardens, empowering the children to connect with nature and nourish every facet of their being. Our indoor and outdoor learning environments serve as an invitation to play, and our loving teaching team gently guides our children with respectful and caring teaching practices. With nutritionist approved and deliciously cooked meals prepared by our in-house cook, our children have full bellies and are ready for a fun filled day of learning and laughter. We offer environments filled with love curiosity and wonder for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Our centre is open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through to Friday

28/08/2025

🐝💛 Celebrating 7 Beautiful Years Together 🐝💛

Today marks 7 years since we first opened the doors of Bumblebees to our learning community and what a journey it's been!

Over 1,827 days, we've had the immense privilege of walking alongside 350 incredible children, each bringing their own spark, curiosity, and joy into our world.

Bumblebees has been, and will always be, more than just a place of learning - it’s a place of connection. A community where relationships, curiosity, and nurture sit at the very heart of everything we do.

From those first tentative steps through the door to the confident leaps out into the world, we’ve poured our hearts into creating a space that truly centres children, warmth, and wonder, always with the goal of the best possible outcomes for every child.

To the families who’ve trusted us, the children who’ve inspired us, and the dedicated team who make magic happen every day, THANK YOU. Here's to the memories we’ve made, the laughter we’ve shared, and the incredible journey still to come.

🌟 Happy 7th Anniversary to our amazing learning community. With love, pride, and deep gratitude, here’s to many more years of learning, growing, and nurturing together. 🌟

If you have a special memory of your time, or your child’s time, at Bumblebees, please share it with us by commenting on this post. We would love to hear from you. 💛


🐷🐐 Meet Chester, Boggles & Maggie-May, our food scrap heroes! 🥕💚 For the past 7 years, we’ve been feeding our leftover f...
11/08/2025

🐷🐐 Meet Chester, Boggles & Maggie-May, our food scrap heroes! 🥕💚

For the past 7 years, we’ve been feeding our leftover fruit & veggie scraps to farm animals instead of sending them to landfill, reducing waste & teaching our little ones how small actions make a BIG difference. 🌍✨

Sustainability isn’t about doing one big thing once, it’s doing little things well, over time. And that’s exactly what we’re proud to model every day. There is so much more to be done, but we do what we can! 💪🍽️🐾


🌿 It all begins with a relationship... 🌿 Relationships are at the heart of all we do throughout our three rooms at Bumbl...
06/08/2025

🌿 It all begins with a relationship... 🌿

Relationships are at the heart of all we do throughout our three rooms at Bumblebees.

In our under 2s room, we don’t just care for children — we care with them. Through Primary Caregiving, each child forms a deep, secure bond with one consistent educator. This isn’t just routine, it’s respect. It’s presence. It’s love. 💛

Inspired by elements of the RIE philosophy, we see every moment; a nappy change, a cuddle, a glance, as a chance to connect..

Because when a child feels truly seen,
they feel safe.
When they feel safe,
they feel free.
And when they feel free
they learn, they grow, and they thrive. 🕊️

For those who are new around here...At 💛🐝Bumblebees Whitford💛🐝 we love using natural and recycled materials in our learn...
06/08/2025

For those who are new around here...

At 💛🐝Bumblebees Whitford💛🐝 we love using natural and recycled materials in our learning spaces — like pinecones, cardboard rolls, and fabric scraps.

These open-ended resources spark curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving, letting children explore, build, and imagine in their own unique ways.

With no set outcome, the play becomes richer, the thinking deeper, and the learning more meaningful. 🌈💡

Who knew a box or a stick could hold so much wonder?

Next time you're out in nature or sorting the recycling, take a moment to see the world through your child’s eyes. The learning starts with the materials, but it never ends. ✨️

Our Cherry Blossoms tamariki have been diving into the rich world of Māori pūrākau — traditional stories that pass down ...
31/07/2025

Our Cherry Blossoms tamariki have been diving into the rich world of Māori pūrākau — traditional stories that pass down knowledge, values, and cultural identity.

Pūrākau help us understand the past and remember significant events, and our kaiako have been weaving these beautiful narratives into engaging, hands-on activities for our learners. From storytelling and art to imaginative play, our tamariki are exploring Māori culture in meaningful and exciting ways.

We love seeing their curiosity grow and their understanding deepen through these powerful stories.

Rainy days = big adventures! ☔🌧️There’s nothing quite like the joy of splashing in puddles, squishing mud between little...
29/07/2025

Rainy days = big adventures! ☔🌧️

There’s nothing quite like the joy of splashing in puddles, squishing mud between little fingers, and catching raindrops on our tongues. 🌧

Today, our curious learners embraced the weather in their wet weather gear and discovered just how much fun rain can bring! 🌈🧒👣

Rainy play isn’t just messy — it’s magical, full of rich sensory experiences and endless learning.

What a wonderful day of outdoor exploration! 💦🌿💙

🌿🕊 Nature's Visitors at Bumblebees! 🐰🌳This week, our little learners have been treated to some very special visitors – b...
25/07/2025

🌿🕊 Nature's Visitors at Bumblebees! 🐰🌳

This week, our little learners have been treated to some very special visitors – both from the treetops and the garden floor!

High up in the trees surrounding our centre, beautiful kererū (New Zealand wood pigeons) have made themselves right at home. The children have loved spotting these majestic birds as they swoop gracefully between branches and settle in for a rest. We’ve had some wonderful discussions about their shimmering feathers, their important role in the forest, and the sounds they make with their wings as they fly!

And down below, another delightful friend came hopping by… 🐇✨
Hop the rabbit came to visit – and what a gentle, fluffy guest she was! The tamariki were so excited to meet her up close. They patiently took turns giving Hop soft pats and quietly observing her twitching nose, long ears, and adorable hops. It was a perfect opportunity to talk about being gentle, calm, and kind to animals.

Visits like these help bring nature right into our learning environment, sparking curiosity, empathy, and wonder in our children. 💚

Stay tuned – who knows what (or who) might visit next!

TODDLER Room Leader RoleOur wonderful Bluebells room leader has been offered an exciting opportunity to pursue a new car...
23/07/2025

TODDLER Room Leader Role

Our wonderful Bluebells room leader has been offered an exciting opportunity to pursue a new career path, and while we will miss them dearly, this opens the door for an experienced, and inspiring teacher to step into a key leadership role in our toddler room.

Why Bumblebees?
Located in the heart of Whitford Village, Bumblebees is surrounded by greenery, native birdlife, and fresh country air.
Our centre is inspired by the philosophies of Pennie Brownlee and Reggio Emilia, fostering a nurturing, respectful, and stimulating environment.

About the role:
As room leader in our Bluebells room, you’ll be responsible for leading a team of 3 other passionate kaiako with kindness and confidence. You’ll set the tone for a calm, inspiring space where curiosity is nurtured and tamariki feel safe to explore, learn, and grow.

To thrive in this role, you'll bring a strong understanding of the toddler years—a unique and important time of growth. You’ll recognise that toddler learning is rich, relationship-based and driven by exploration.

To be successful, you’ll bring:
• A Bachelor of Teaching or Graduate Diploma (ECE or Primary)
• Full NZ Teacher Registration
• Proven experience as a teacher and in a leadership role
• Confidence in programme planning and curriculum implementation
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• A calm, respectful, and loving approach to children and colleagues
• A passion for creating beautiful, engaging environments that inspire learning
• Sound understanding of early child development

What we offer:
• An on-site centre manager and owner (both qualified, experienced teachers)
• A supportive, collaborative team culture
• Ongoing guidance from an external mentor
• Opportunities for professional development and growth
• Generous staff discount for your child’s enrolment
• Extended pay parity
• Paid First Aid certification
• A paid day off for your birthday

If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, we’d love to hear from you! Please email Johanna, Centre Manager, on
whitford@bumblebeeschildcare.co.nz

https://www.bumblebeeschildcare.co.nz/job/room-leader-whitford/

Last Friday, we welcomed our whānau into the centre to explore the beautiful art displayed in our atelier. These incredi...
14/07/2025

Last Friday, we welcomed our whānau into the centre to explore the beautiful art displayed in our atelier. These incredible creations were made by our tamariki and kaiako as part of our Matariki learning journey, inspired by the pūrākau of Matariki.

This display also honoured our Reggio Emilia-inspired approach, where we see art as one of the many ways children express their thoughts, ideas, and understanding. The process behind the artwork was just as important as the finished pieces — full of curiosity, conversation, and creativity.

Thanks to everyone who came along and helped us celebrate Matariki and the voices of our tamariki.

🌿🕊️ A Magical Moment at Bumblebees! 🕊️🌿On this day we experienced one of those wow! moments — a beautiful kererū perched...
09/07/2025

🌿🕊️ A Magical Moment at Bumblebees! 🕊️🌿

On this day we experienced one of those wow! moments — a beautiful kererū perched right above our playground, feasting on berries while our tamariki (under 2 years olds) watched in wide-eyed wonder! 😍🍇

Over the past few weeks, we've been learning all about these incredible native birds — their boisterous wings, chubby bellies, their intricate nests, and their special role in helping our forests grow. To see one so close, right here where we play and learn every day, was absolutely magical. ✨

We feel so grateful and lucky to be in a place where kererū are regular visitors — what a special connection to nature for our little explorers. 💚🌳

🐷🐹✨ Animal Adventures at Bumblebees Whitford! ✨🐾 Over the past few weeks, our tamariki made some furry special friends —...
09/07/2025

🐷🐹✨ Animal Adventures at Bumblebees Whitford! ✨🐾

Over the past few weeks, our tamariki made some furry special friends — cuddly Guinea pigs and a cheeky Kune Kune pig! 💕🐖

A big thank you to Justine for bringing in her guinea pigs, and another huge thank you to the Davison family for lending us their Kune Kune too!

Interacting with animals helps little ones:
🧠 Build empathy & curiosity
💬 Boost communication
👃 Explore through touch & senses
🌱 Connect with nature

The smiles, snuggles, and snorts said it all 😍 These moments are more than just cute — they're full of learning and love!

Thanks to our animal visitors for making it a memorable experience for all! 🐾💛

🌟 Matariki Magic in the Kitchen! 🌟During the month of June, we had a very special visitor—Pamella, one of our wonderful ...
27/06/2025

🌟 Matariki Magic in the Kitchen! 🌟

During the month of June, we had a very special visitor—Pamella, one of our wonderful parents—who came in to help us celebrate Matariki in the most delicious way possible... by making fry bread! 😋✨

With flour on our fingers and curiosity in our hearts, the tamariki rolled, shaped, and watched in awe as golden, puffy fry bread sizzled to life.

Leading up to this experience, there were discussions about fry bread; that fry bread is more than just a tasty treat—it’s a food often shared during gatherings, celebrations, and remembrance. It brought warmth and a sense of togetherness to our centre, just like Matariki itself. 🌠

Through this experience, our little bakers learned about:
🥣 The joy of preparing traditional foods
🌿 The cultural significance of sharing kai during Matariki
💛 The importance of community, storytelling, and whānau

We’re so grateful to Pamella for sharing her time, her recipe, and her heart with us. 💐 The children absolutely loved it (and so did the teachers 😉).

Ngā mihi nui, Pamella—your mahi made this Matariki extra special! 🌌🍞

Address

9 Whitford-Maraetai Road
Whitford
2571

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 6pm
Thursday 7:30am - 6pm
Friday 7:30am - 6pm

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Our Story

Bumblebees Whitford is in the heart of Whitford Village in a thoughtfully renovated villa, maintaining its beautiful character and history. Adorned with natural light, our generous indoor play spaces were created with purpose and love and richly resourced to ignite curiosity and wonder. Our beautiful Atelier, art space, in our cottage, inspires our children to share ideas and indulge in self-expression. Designed with adventure in mind, our three spacious outdoor areas include natural grass, huts, sandpits, mud, natural obstacle courses, and vegetable gardens, empowering the children to connect with nature and nourish every facet of their being. Our indoor and outdoor learning environments serve as an invitation to play, and our loving teaching team gently guides our children with respectful and caring teaching practices. With nutritionist approved and deliciously cooked meals prepared by our in-house cook, our children have full bellies and are ready for a fun filled day of learning and laughter. We offer environments filled with love curiosity and wonder for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Our centre is open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through to Friday