Our Story

At Little Blue Penguin, children, educators, parents, whānau and leaders will collaborate to co-design an exceptional programme with the same goal in mind: children who are comfortable in their surroundings, happy in their play and confident in their learning.

As a Christchurch-based mum, passionate early childhood educator, and keen researcher I had a vision to create a truly exceptional and unique learning space for children to learn, grow, discover and develop in a natural, home away from home setting.

Because of my dedication to early childhood advocacy, supportive learning communities and continual improvement, I decided that the best option is to create my very own evidence-based preschool and nursery.

Little Blue Penguin is dedicated to quality care and meeting the needs of each child and their whānau. This is achieved through our evidence-based and holistic approach to teaching and learning, as well as our core values: calmness, closeness, consistency, curiosity and confidence.

Knowing each child, their whānau (who they are and where they come from) is crucial to the success of the programme, and in order to truly implement a holistic approach Little Blue Penguin will provide nutritious home-cooked meals for children; caring for the children’s well-being first and foremost.

Our Philosophy

Calmness

We believe that children flourish when provided with a calm, unhurried, respectful and nurturing environment.

Teachers will support children throughout their daily rhythm by respectfully responding to their cues and meeting their individual needs.

Children will have the time to make their own discoveries in an environment tailored to meet their unique needs, strengths and interests.

Little Blue Penguin values holistic development and places importance on a nurtured well-being in order for meaningful learning to take place.

Closeness

We believe in the importance of relationships for optimal learning and development.

Teachers will support relationships between people, the environment and the community and will provide primary care-giving for our infants.

Children will experience quality, respectful and responsive interactions as these are of utmost importance for all children, their whānau and teachers within our learning community.

Little Blue Penguin values working together to provide children and their whānau with a secure sense of belonging and understanding.

Consistency

We believe that in order to feel safe and secure children need to have consistency, familiarity and predictability in regards to: the people in their lives; their environment; their daily rhythm; their interactions, and; the responsive ways in which their needs are met.

Teachers will ensure fluency between home and preschool, and this is supported by the calmness and closeness established through communication and relationships.

Children will have their own key teacher for warmth, understanding, and care; however higher ratios will mean that children form a special relationship with each of their teachers.

Little Blue Penguin values a home-like approach and will mirror children’s usual routines and reflect their home environment and culture within our learning space.

Curiosity

We believe that children are natural learners. Their curiosity to explore, experiment and discover means that they are actively learning and developing through their everyday play.

Teachers will allow children’s natural wonderment and awe to unfold as they become curious about their thoughtfully designed environment, the people, the resources, and the natural world around them.

Children will have their curiosity extended through a play and project-based learning approach, meaningful excursions and utilising the knowledge of our wider community.

Little Blue Penguin values having a passionate teaching team who will support children to discover their own unique strengths and interests in order to promote a natural love of learning.

Confidence

We believe in empowering children and building them up as capable and confident creators, learners and contributors.

Teachers will provide a bi-cultural approach to curriculum design where tiriti-based practice is honored and embedded within our daily programme.

Children will be trusted, supported, respected, and their ideas valued at all times. Children’s independence, social competence and leadership skills will be promoted through the nature of our mixed-age environment.

Little Blue Penguin values a supportive community of learners, where everyone has opportunities to learn, develop and progress together.

Our Team

Gina Colvin

Co-Owner / Manager & Nursery Kaiako

I have been in ECE for over 10 years and have experience with children of all ages. I’m particularly passionate about working with infants and toddlers and developing trusting and respectful relationships with them and their whãnau, while preparing them for a lifelong love of learning.

The Little Blue Penguin early childhood curriculum is inspired by evidence and reflects the best teaching practice from around the world, such as Malguzzi, Montessori, Rudolf Steiner, Gardner, the competencies in Tataiako and Te Whariki, New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum document.

I’m passionate about evidence-based care and education and love that I get to weave this passion into our environment and programme at Little Blue Penguin.

David Melse

Co-Owner

It’s been a great opportunity to be involved as an owner of the business with my fiancé Gina and to support her and her vision for the centre.

Having been involved in the development of the branding and website from the very beginning I’ve loved seeing Little Blue Penguin grow from a construction site to a thriving preschool and nursery.

When I’m not dropping into preschool I’m working on my marketing business called alt.

I’m also passionate about business in general, running and traveling.

Featured

Sally Keo

Pedagogical Leader / Nursery Kaiako

Kia ora koutou! My name is Sally and I teach in the nursery.

I am married to Patrick and together we have a baby girl called Athena, she is enrolled at Little Blue Penguin too. She is a happy, smiley wee girl who constantly amazes us with each new thing she learns.

On the weekends we enjoy spending time together and catching up with family and friends.

I have been teaching for roughly 10 years and have had my Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) for two.

I value respectful interactions and responsive relationships as well as Treaty of Waitangi based practice. I feel lucky to be working in such a beautiful, calm and natural environment.

Kayla Bolland

Preschool Kaiako

I have been teaching for over 30 years and have taught in many countries including Hong Kong, Germany, and the UK. During this time I have witnessed many different philosophies in action and now firmly believe that every child should be valued for who they are and for the knowledge they bring with them into our preschools.

I do not believe in a one philosophy fits all children style of teaching as all children are unique and should be seen as such.

Authentic trusting relationships and creating a true sense of belonging form the foundations of all my practices, after all, if you as a parent do not know and trust us as teachers how can you trust that we will truly know your child?

Sarah Mardon

Preschool - Transition Kaiako

Kia ora, I came to LBP as a student for four weeks and didn’t want to leave! I am very excited about joining the team as a transition kaiako. I work as a preschool teacher, and support our toddlers as they transition through from our nursery to our preschool. I support children of all ages in our mixed-age environment, encouraging ako (reciprocal learning) and tuakana-teina relationships. I am passionate about the LBP philosophy, and personally value honesty, reliability and kindness.

Tina-Marie Peters

Preshool Kaiako

Kia Ora, I have been teaching as an early childhood teacher for over 20 years.

I have been married for over 29 years and have two grown sons, and four lovely grandchildren.

My husband and I enjoy in the weekends, especially in summer, going out on our motorbike and catching up with family and friends.

Most of all I love having fun! I look forward to working in partnership with you and your family/whanau.

Michelle Amos

Nursery Kaiako

Kia ora! My name is Michelle and I am very excited to be a part of the Little Blue Penguin team in the nursery.

I have been teaching in early childhood for approximately 11 years and gained my Bachelor of Teaching and Learning from the University of Canterbury in 2007.

I’ve spent the majority of my career working with children 0-2, and in 2010 I gained a certificate in Infant and Toddler Mental Health. I have a huge interest in brain development and love to learn about how we can foster the most positive and desirable outcomes for our tamariki.

Kristin Standeven

Nursery Kaiako

I have been an early childhood teacher for almost 10 years now. I started as a relief teacher in Nelson when I finished high school before moving to Christchurch to study.

I am passionate about respectful interactions, strong relationships and warm, nurturing, unhurried environments where children feel secure and comfortable to explore at their own pace.

Kristie Phillips

Nursery Kaiako

Kia Ora koutou
My name is Kristie and I am very excited to join the Little Blue Penguin whanau. I will be working as a teacher-in-training in the nursery while I finish my bachelor of teaching (ECE) and becoming a qualified teacher.
I have worked with mostly preschool age children for the last two years but my heart has always been in teaching infants and toddlers. I am passionate about providing a nurturing environment for tamariki with a focus on quality of care.

Rose Williams

Kai Creator

Hello! I am excited to join the LBP community as centre kai creator! I enjoy being creative with meals and finding new and exciting ways to introduce vegetables and encourage good health and nutrition. I have lots of grandchildren who have helped me become very skilled at making vegetables look inviting and appealing. I make all the yummy food for Little Blue Penguin and use the NZ Heart Foundation for my recipe inspiration. If you have any favourite recipes please send them through to office@littlebluepenguin.co.nz and we will give them a go.

Regular Relievers

At Little Blue Penguin we employ our own relieving pool so that we can maintain consistency and continuity of care for our children.

Relieving staff are based in the preschool and if necessary a preschool teacher would move to the nursery space to cover absences or holidays; that way the babies are already familiar with the teacher.

Our relievers are very much a part of our teaching team and we are lucky to have such passionate, nurturing and flexible teachers working with us.

Our Environment

Little Blue Penguin is located at 68 Farrington Ave, Bishopdale. We are close to recreational areas such as: parks, Bishopdale shopping centre, YMCA, a community centre and a new library. There are four primary schools close by, making it a prime location for smooth transitions to school, and we are right across the road from Isleworth School.

The building is a carefully refurbished home, designed with the centre’s philosophy and vision in mind. Careful thought and planning went into transforming the house into a functional early childhood centre that offers a home away from home feel. The section provides a play-scape where children are free to explore their natural world.

The outdoor environment is designed as a natural setting that encourages children’s natural curiosity, wonderment and awe. Plants, trees and grasses provide natural shade, and the smells, sights and textures that children need for optimal development, positive sensory experiences and a nurtured well-being.

Our Programme

Our teachers aim to create a comfortable, homelike environment that offers children plenty of opportunities to freely imitate what they see and to engage in creative play.

We are a mixed age setting which encourages reciprocal relationships and a culture of teaching, learning and support. At Little Blue Penguin older children are encouraged to help younger ones learn how to master new skills. These interactions encourage social, communicative and language skills and instill values such as; kindness, humility, gratitude and generosity.

The Little Blue Penguin early childhood curriculum is inspired by evidence and reflects the best teaching practice from around the world, such as Malguzzi, Montessori, Rudolf Steiner, Gardner, the competencies in Tataiako and Te Whariki, New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum document.

The curriculum focuses on inquiry based learning; the natural curiosity of young children is stimulated as they take an active role in the education process by exploring their environment to make inquiries and discoveries. Skilled teachers then guide this process in a way that supports the children’s own ideas and extends their learning.

It's not "just play"

“Play is an essential part of early learning. It is the lifeblood of the learning process. As children play they are developing the cognitive, socio-emotional and physical skills they will need to take them into a successful adulthood.

They are developing their curiosity, problem-solving, intentionality, flexibility, and verbal and non-verbal skills.

Socio-emotionally they are developing their emotional intelligence – learning confidence, cooperation, negotiation, sharing, empathy and how to communicate appropriately.

Physically their fine motor and gross motor skills are being practiced and developed.

It’s not “just play” they are skills for life!”

– MHC Early Childhood Solutions

What's On?

FRIDAYS 10:30AM – 11AM

Babytimes / Wā pēpi

Rhymes, movement and music for under 2 year olds. Kōrero pukapuka, pūoru, korikori.

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3 SESSIONS WEEKLY

Music & Movement Group

Only $3 per session per family, everyone welcome!

Monday 9:30am (under 5)
Thursday 10:45am (under 5)
Thursday 11:30am (under 1)

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TUESDAYS 10AM

Mainly Music – St John’s

St John’s has a thriving Mainly Music session at St John’s Church Hall. For pre-school children (0-5 years) and their caregivers. Finishes with morning tea.

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