About Us
Your Child's Home Away From Home
Welcome to Kidlywinks, a family-owned and operated early learning center located in Trentham, Upper Hutt. Since April 2009, we’ve been offering preschool education to children aged 3 months to 6 years old. At our centre, children of all ages play, learn, and grow together in the same space, just like a whānau — there are no transitions to separate rooms. This mixed-age environment fosters collaboration, communication, and the development of strong relationships. Join us at Kidlywinks, where your child can thrive in a nurturing, family-oriented setting!
Our Mission
At Kidlywinks, we are committed to nurturing the individual learning and development needs of every child in our care. We understand that each child is unique, and our approach is designed to honour their pace, interests, and developmental stages. Our goal is to provide the highest standard of education and care within a relaxed, loving, and healthy environment where children feel a true sense of acceptance and belonging. This sense of security allows tamariki to express themselves confidently, engage in meaningful learning, and develop strong emotional and social skills.
Our centre is a place where curiosity is celebrated, and children are encouraged to explore and learn in ways that suit them best. With a team of qualified and passionate teachers, both experienced and in-training, we create a supportive environment where learning is fun, engaging, and full of opportunity. Our teachers are deeply committed to fostering the growth of each child, ensuring that they feel safe, valued, and empowered to thrive.
At Kidlywinks, we believe that when children feel truly cared for and understood, they can achieve their full potential. We invite you to join our whānau and experience the difference a personalised, child-centred approach can make in your child’s early learning journey.
Our Philosophy
Ko te ahurei o te tamiaiti arahia o tatou mahi/ let the uniqueness of
the child guide our work
Whakamana/Empowerment
Kaiako will provide a learning environment in which tamariki are
encouraged and supported to discover as much as possible on their own.
We recognise that tamariki who achieve through their own experiences
acquire knowledge that is different to tamariki who are offered ready
made solutions. By providing a learning environment where tamariki
are encouraged to explore through freedom to make choices, we believe
they experience the world in their own terms with the support,
encouragement and guidance from kaiako. Tamariki and whānau will
experience a environment where play-based learning is valued.
We believe tamariki learn and grow in a holistic way. their intellectual,
social, cultural, physical, emotional and spiritual learning is interwoven
across all their experiences. We believe in the concept of ako and we acknowledge that whānau, Kaiako and tamariki can both teach and learn
from each other trough shared learning experiences. We will provide
tamariki with opportunities to engage in all curriculum areas regardless
of weather, utilising the gifts we receive from Ranginui and
Papatūānuku.
Whānau tanagata/Family and community
We will provide a korowai manaaki (cloak of welcome and care) for all
whānau and tamariki who attend our centre. We believe in creating a
safe inclusive space for all whānau. Regardless of race, gender age,
ability, social status or whānau structure. Our vision is to ensure each
child has a place and a sense of belonging here at Kidlywinks. We value
the different gifts that each child and their whānau bring to our
community and embrace the different cultures represented at
Kidlywinks.
Ngā hononga/Relationships
We will provide an environment where respectful relationships, encouragement, warmth and acceptance are the norm. Tuakana/teina relationships will be fostered within the centre and the tamariki will be encouraged to work collaboratively to help and support one another.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the foundation for a partnership that is inclusive
of all children and their families.
Partnership: we will develop authentic meaningful relationships with
whānau. We will collaborate and communicate with the whānau of the
tamariki and involve whānau within decision-making by listening to and incorporating their voices. We believe building relationships of trust
with whānau will lead to their involvement within the centre's
programmes.
Protection: We will show our commitment by protecting Māori knowledge, interests, values and other tāonga, identity, language, and culture are important expressions of what it means to be a culturally located learner. We have a commitment to "knowing, respecting and valuing where students are, where they come from and building on what they bring with them". We will weave te reo Māori knowledge me ona tikanga through our daily curriculum.
Participation: We believe by working on strong partnerships,
participation will happen organically. We all come from a place of
honesty and wanting to make a difference for all tamariki and will
demonstrate commitment, honour, faith and respect towards everyone.
Our Facilities
Welcome to Kidlywinks Childcare
Located at 20 Islington Street in Trentham, Upper Hutt, Kidlywinks Childcare is a warm and welcoming place just a 5-minute walk from both Trentham Train Station and the bus stop on Fergusson Drive. We are a boutique preschool, offering a personal and nurturing experience for up to 31 children, including 10 spaces for tamariki under two years old. Set in a lovingly converted home, Kidlywinks provides a homely, safe, and comfortable environment where your child can grow, explore, and thrive.
At Kidlywinks, we offer more than just childcare — we provide a supportive, engaging environment where every child feels valued and part of our community. The spacious, fully equipped indoor and outdoor play areas encourage children to explore, learn, and develop through play. Our centre also features a separate art studio, two sleep rooms, and audio-visual equipment, offering a variety of experiences to foster creativity, relaxation, and learning.
We are passionate about play-based learning, which is at the heart of our approach. In our relaxed, slow-paced environment, children are given the time and freedom to explore at their own pace, with minimal interruptions. We believe in the importance of freedom of movement and independence, allowing tamariki to discover and engage with the world around them in a way that is developmentally appropriate and empowering.
Outdoor play is a key part of life at Kidlywinks. Our tamariki have access to the outdoor environment all day, every day, regardless of the weather. We embrace the philosophy that "there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing." This encourages resilience, a love for nature, and the opportunity for children to develop physical skills and confidence through outdoor exploration, come rain or shine.
For our 4-year-olds, we offer a tailored Preschool Time programme, designed to help them transition to school. Through this programme, children engage in targeted learning activities that develop early literacy, numeracy, and social skills in a fun, supportive environment. Our experienced teachers provide individualised guidance to help prepare each child for the next stage of their learning journey.
At Kidlywinks, we are deeply committed to fostering a sense of belonging for both tamariki and whānau. We understand that choosing the right early childhood care and education is an important decision, and we strive to create an inclusive, nurturing space where every child feels safe, supported, and inspired to explore their world.
We invite you to join our Kidlywinks family, where your child’s development, exploration, and well-being are at the heart of everything we do.