Open-ended play
Child-led, imaginative play nurtures every child's urge to explore, in environments full of nature's wonder.
Wallaceville · Upper Hutt
More than an early learning centre. A village of love.
Heart-centred early learning from 6 months to 6 years, built around our uniquely designed HomePods.
01
What is a HomePod?
One home, the whole way through.
Every child belongs to a HomePod, a small, mixed-age home with the same kaiako from 6 months to 6 years. Relationships have the years and the quiet to actually grow.
The HomePod in full: ratios, spaces and time outsideInstead of moving your child to a new room every twelve months, our HomePods circle a shared whare at the heart of the village, the HeartPod, where the whole village comes together.
1
Home, the whole way through
From 6 months to 6 years, one mixed-age home and the same kaiako. No yearly room moves.
5
Kaiako per 24 tamariki
Better than Ministry ratios, more eyes, more lap-time.
8
Pēpi per home, at most
Calm, unhurried, with room for every cuddle.
HeartPod
Small mixed-age HomePods around one shared whare.
“My favourite things about Manawa are the mixed-age classroom model and the commitment to embrace and celebrate all the different cultures of our diverse whānau.”
02The village
Walk through.
A village built around how children actually grow. Light, calm, considered.
03
Why a village?
It takes a village to raise a child.
To inspire and cultivate a sanctuary of loving-kindness for the holistic development of children's hearts and minds.
We weave neuro-developmental research, heart-centred practice and ancient wisdom into a single, calm rhythm, and we hold whānau at the centre of all of it.
Manawa means heart in te reo Māori. It is the work we do with ours, and the place a child carries us once they leave.
We are not interested in being the busiest centre on the street. We are interested in being the one your tamariki remember.
kia ora, haere mai
our north-facing whare 04
How do tamariki learn here?
Heart-centred learning, grounded in Te Whāriki.
With the tamaiti at the centre, supported by kaiako and whānau, our curriculum nurtures the whole child, mind, body and heart.
The environment as the third teacher
A beautiful, well-resourced and intentional space that provokes children's curiosity and invites them in.
Secure attachment
Through the Circle of Security we put our heart and hands to work, nurturing strong attachment and co-regulation. (Ngā hononga)
Place-based learning
Connecting tamariki with their local whenua builds a deep sense of belonging, stewardship and cultural pride.
Making learning visible
Children's voices and play are made visible, inviting meaningful engagement from whānau and kaiako.
Rhythms and rituals
A consistent, meaningful daily rhythm that holds emotional wellbeing and a sense of belonging.
05
What does a day look like?
From soft mornings
to muddy afternoons.
A rhythm shaped around small bodies, not the clock.
What tamariki eat, and where it comes fromDrop-off, soft and quiet
Whānau and pēpi arrive into a calm, low-lit whare. No queues, no rush.
8:00
Greeted by your kaiako
The same face, every morning. A cuddle, a story, the day begins.
8:15
Outside, into the garden
Sand, water, climbing, and the long grasses that wave at the fence.
9:00
Morning tea
Fruit, toast, milk, at the little table, together.
10:00
Painting & making
Open-ended art on the easel and the floor. The brushes are real.
10:45
Kai together
A hot lunch, cooked here. We eat slowly. We talk about our food.
12:00
Off to the mini forest
Wallaceville Park, two-by-two. Climbing trees, naming birds, getting muddy.
14:00
Picked up, full of stories
A story for whānau, a kiss on the head, and home again, soft as the morning.
15:30
06 Whānau voices
07Our story in numbers
90 Licensed spaces
26 Kaiako in the village
23,400 Home-cooked meals a year
215 Families welcomed over five years
08
How much does it cost each week?
Weekly. All in.
No hidden levies, no surprise top-ups. Over-3s receive the full 20 Hours ECE funding.
Hours, sessions and how enrolment works| Days per week | Short day · 8:30–3:30 | Long day · 7:30–5:30 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $100per week | $150per week |
| 4 days | $140per week | $200per week |
| 5 days | $185per week | $245per week |
20 Hours ECE applied. These are the all-in weekly rates.
| Days per week | Short day · 8:30–3:30 | Long day · 7:30–5:30 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | $190per week | $240per week |
| 4 days | $235per week | $290per week |
| 5 days | $285per week | $345per week |
09
Questions whānau ask us
Before you visit, the short answers.
What is a HomePod?
A HomePod is a small, mixed-age home within the village. Your child belongs to one from 6 months to 6 years, with the same kaiako the whole way through, so relationships between tamariki, whānau and kaiako have years to grow. Each HomePod holds up to 24 tamariki with five kaiako, better than Ministry of Education ratios.
What ages do you care for?
We care for tamariki from 6 months to 6 years old. Unlike most centres, your child stays in the same mixed-age HomePod with the same kaiako the whole way through, rather than being moved to a new room every twelve months.
What are your hours?
We are open 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. You can choose a short day (8.30am to 3.30pm) or an all day (7.30am to 5.30pm), with a minimum of three days a week.
How much does it cost?
Weekly fees range from $100 to $345 depending on your child's age, the hours and the number of days. Three-to-five year olds are eligible for 20 Hours ECE funding. Full fees are listed on this page.
Where are you?
We are at 70 Ward Street, Wallaceville, Upper Hutt, serving families across Trentham, Heretaunga and Silverstream.
How do I enrol my child?
Register your interest on this site and we will be in touch to arrange a visit for you and your tamariki.
10 Come closer
Five minutes will tell you.
A website only tells you so much. Come and stand in the middle of the village.
11
How do I book a visit?
Come and walk through.
Half an hour, a cup of tea, and a wander through the pods. No pressure. Bring the pēpi.
“We were a little apprehensive about the move, but Jack has absolutely flourished. His younger brother is now reaping the same rewards.” Tracey Craig · Jett's whānau