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

At Bumblebees Whitford, learning happens through hands-on experiences and meaningful conversations. 💛🐝Recently, the chil...
09/01/2026

At Bumblebees Whitford, learning happens through hands-on experiences and meaningful conversations. 💛🐝

Recently, the children explored our woodworking resources by hammering small pieces of wood onto a larger base. What began as a simple learning experience quickly turned into a collaborative project when the children decided they were building “a house for the bugs.” 🐛

Through discussion, problem-solving, and creativity, the children agreed the bug house should live in our garden so it could be explored and enjoyed by nature. ☘️

Yesterday, excitement continued when we discovered a ladybug resting on a leaf. The children carefully placed it into the bug house, hoping more of its friends might come to visit. 🐞

Moments like these show how our resources, tools, natural materials, and outdoor spaces, support curiosity, imagination, and a deeper connection to the environment every day. We are fortunate to have wonderful teachers who are flexible with their thinking and who passionately support children in their learning. 👩‍🏫👨‍🏫




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08/01/2026

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Our learning at Bumblebees has always been inspired by nature. On this morning inspiration came from a story about the i...
08/01/2026

Our learning at Bumblebees has always been inspired by nature. On this morning inspiration came from a story about the important role of bees and bumblebees, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers brought in by Tash. As we read together, children shared ideas, asked questions, and explored how bees help flowers grow and support our natural environment.

The flowers became a hands-on provocation, inspiring children to closely observe and draw the different textures, shapes, and colours they noticed. Through mark making and drawing, children represented their ideas using lines, patterns, and symbols.

In line with the Reggio Emilia philosophy, this is seen as a powerful language of children and a meaningful way to express thinking, creativity, and emotions.

Through these experiences, children were investigating, making connections, and deepening their understanding of the natural world. Nature became the classroom, and children’s curiosity guided the learning, nurturing self-expression and wonder.

Just another wonderful day of learning, collaboration and fun at Bumblebees Whitford 🥰💛🐝





As we welcome the start of a brand new year, our centre is buzzing with excitement, possibility, and promise. Just like ...
08/01/2026

As we welcome the start of a brand new year, our centre is buzzing with excitement, possibility, and promise. Just like the beautiful fruit trees in our Centre gardens, now bursting with ripe, colourful fruit, this season is all about growth, nourishment, and new beginnings 🍎🍊🌳

Each child is like a young tree, rooted in care and nurtured with love, curiosity, and learning. Over time, with patience and guidance, they blossom, developing new skills, confidence, and friendships. This year brings fresh opportunities to explore, discover, and grow together.

We can’t wait to see the fruits of learning that this year will bring as we journey alongside our children, families, and educators. Here’s to a year filled with wonder, learning, and plenty of joyful moments.

Happy New Year from all of us! 🎉



From all of us at Bumblebees Whitford, we wish our children, families, and wonderful followers a joyful and festive Chri...
24/12/2025

From all of us at Bumblebees Whitford, we wish our children, families, and wonderful followers a joyful and festive Christmas season. 🎄💛

To our families and friends, thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful gifts for our amazing teaching team. They are truly appreciated.

May your Christmas be safe, happy, and filled with love, laughter, and magical moments. 🎁✨

This Christmas season, Bumblebees families came together to share kindness, generosity, and a little bit of magic by sup...
23/12/2025

This Christmas season, Bumblebees families came together to share kindness, generosity, and a little bit of magic by supporting the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, proudly run in partnership with The Salvation Army.

Each thoughtfully chosen gift represents more than just a present. It carries hope, love, and joy, helping to brighten Christmas morning for families who need it most. 💛

Thank you to every family who contributed and helped make this beautiful act of giving possible. The gifts have now been delivered, and word has it that Santa has already begun loading them onto his sleigh, getting ready for a very special Christmas delivery! 🎅

What a wonderful reminder that when we come together, we can make the season truly magical. 💫🎁





We had an exciting visit at Bumblebees recently from our local Community Constable, and the children absolutely loved it...
23/12/2025

We had an exciting visit at Bumblebees recently from our local Community Constable, and the children absolutely loved it!

He talked with the children about what police officers do including how they talk to people and help keep everyone safe. The children learned the emergency number to call if they ever need help, and we also chatted about bike safety, especially the importance of wearing a helmet 🚲🪖.

One of the biggest highlights was exploring the constable’s police vest! He showed the children the different pockets and explained the tools inside and what they’re used for. Lots of curious questions and wide eyes all around! Exploring the inside of the police car was another highlight!

A big thank you to our community constable for taking the time to visit and help our children learn about safety in such a fun and engaging way 💙👮‍♂️

Bumblebees is full of festive joy as our tamariki embrace all things Christmas! 🎄✨ They’ve been creating beautiful Chris...
09/12/2025

Bumblebees is full of festive joy as our tamariki embrace all things Christmas! 🎄✨

They’ve been creating beautiful Christmas-themed artwork, including bright pōhutukawa blossom drawings, exploring magical seasonal set-ups, and writing the sweetest letters to Santa. 💌

These activities spark creativity, grow confidence, and fill our space with excitement and wonder. Christmas spirit is truly alive here at the centre! ❤️✨

✨ People matter. Children matter. And every child deserves a gift. ✨Every year, we’re honoured to support a beautiful lo...
09/12/2025

✨ People matter. Children matter. And every child deserves a gift. ✨

Every year, we’re honoured to support a beautiful local initiative called Boxes of Love. This Christmas, we lovingly put together four school packs to help four amazing children start their learning journey with confidence and joy. 🎒💛

If you’d like to spread a little magic and make a real difference in the life of a child, we’d love for you to join the initiative for next year!

Simply visit the Boxes of Love page to find out how you can get involved.

Together, let’s make sure every child feels seen, supported, and celebrated. 🎁✨

The pōhutukawa, known as the “New Zealand Christmas tree,” inspired our latest art experience. Tamariki used paint, colo...
08/12/2025

The pōhutukawa, known as the “New Zealand Christmas tree,” inspired our latest art experience. Tamariki used paint, coloured pencils and pastels to create detailed observational drawings, carefully capturing the colours and shapes of this special native flower.

☀️ Summer is here and we are LOVING it! ☀️The warm, sunny days have brought the most beautiful sparkle to our outdoor pl...
20/11/2025

☀️ Summer is here and we are LOVING it! ☀️

The warm, sunny days have brought the most beautiful sparkle to our outdoor play, especially during water play time! The children have been busy splashing, tipping, and pouring, exploring the cool, glittery water as it dances in the sunshine.

This week, we added a refreshing twist with lemon slices creating a wonderful sensory experience. Not only did the children enjoy the bright colours, zesty scents, and magical mixing, they were also encouraged to share, cooperate, and take turns. It was wonderful to see them negotiating, waiting patiently, and working together to create their sparkly summer potions.

It’s been pure joy watching the children cool down, connect, and create through play. Here’s to many more warm summer days filled with sunshine, laughter, and sparkly water adventures! 🌞💛💧

💛 TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY 💛Today we celebrate our fantastic teachers. Our incredible team of educators, leaders, suppor...
29/10/2025

💛 TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY 💛

Today we celebrate our fantastic teachers. Our incredible team of educators, leaders, support staff who go above and beyond every single day for the children, their families, and for one another. Your dedication, compassion, and teamwork shine through in everything you do.

You don’t just teach lessons, you inspire curiosity, nurture confidence, and create a sense of belonging that makes every child feel valued and every family feel supported. The way you lift each other up and work together with such warmth and respect is what makes our Bumblebees team truly exceptional.

On this Teacher Appreciation Day, I want to say thank you! Thank you for your patience, creativity, and the countless unseen moments that make such a difference in so many lives. You are the heart of our community, and your impact reaches far beyond your room and Bumblebees.

With deepest gratitude,
Anna

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