Little Blue Penguin Prestons
Kaiako at Little Blue Penguin are caring professionals who are there to offer gentle, respectful guidance for children through quality, responsive interactions and a collaborative ‘community’ approach to teaching and learning.
Little Blue Penguin Prestons boasts an exceptional team of educators, each bringing their unique skills and expertise to provide the best care and education for tamariki. From fostering a love for sustainability to embracing cultural diversity, our team is dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where every child can thrive and grow.
Rachel Phillips
Centre Manager
Rachel has a strong passion for inclusive education, creating environments where every child feels seen, supported, and valued. Rachel leads and teaches with heart and prioritises a supportive teaching and learning community.
Kristie Hack
Owner / Kai Creator / Kaiako
Kristie is our centre owner and business manager working with and alongside Rachel to create a quality programme. Kristie ensures that our kaiako, tamariki and their whānau have a strong sense of belonging.
Aleisha Pascoe
Nursery Kaiako
Aleisha values relationships and tamariki and their whānau and ensures she gets to know the individuals needs of the tamariki in her care. She is very warm, unhurried and offers a calm approach.
Ella Stewart-Marnoch
Nursery Kaiako
Ella brings a calm, caring presence to the environment, building strong relationships with tamariki. She nurtures each child’s wellbeing by respectfully meeting individual needs and routines, creating a secure, responsive learning environment where tamariki thrive.
Khiara Naven
Nursery Kaiako
Khiara prioritises responsive relationships and primary caregiving. Warm and attentive, she supports emotional security, individual routines, and responsive care, fostering trust and a calm, nurturing environment where each child feels valued and safe.
Pat Duffin
Preschool Kaiako
Pat is dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships with tamariki and whānau. Through a nature-based and child-led approach, Pat creates a supportive community where every child feels valued and empowered to explore and learn.
Amanda Calvert
Preschool Kaiako
Amanda’s wealth of experience and unwavering dedication fosters responsive and meaningful interactions with every child in our care, ensuring a supportive environment for tamariki to flourish.
Stéphane Zhang
Preschool Kaiako
Stephan designs rich, group-based learning experiences that spark curiosity. Soft-spoken and calm, he engages tamariki with thoughtful questions, encouraging exploration, investigation, and discovery about their wider world while fostering collaborative inquiry and critical thinking.