Paeroa Early Learning centre

Who are we at PELC?💙

PELC has been growing and changing over the last few years. Our team has grown, changed and developed, new families have been welcomed into our whānau, we have learnt from each other and worked together to develop a really strong identity.

This year, as Matariki was upon us, kaiako reflected on our space, our role, our beliefs and our aspirations, recognising a shift in our thinking and what we value here at PELC.

Who we are and what we are all about is so important to our centre's identity. A philosophy is a document that encompasses all of this, and PELC has blossomed into a truly significant place for tamariki, whānau and kaiako.

Our reflections have seen a shift away from the "flash ECE words" that could be found in philosophies everywhere, towards a personally tailored philosophy that is specific to what we offer in this space.
We noticed that one of the most important links in our practice wasn't included in our previous philosophy. We have grown and changed, and it was time for our philosophy to grow and change with us.

Now you will see that relationships are at the heart of what we do and who we are.
Not just tamariki with each other, tamariki with kaiako, or kaiako with whānau. Together, we all play a significant part in creating a safe and secure space where children feel confident to explore, whānau feel valued and heard, and kaiako feel supported and connected. Together, we create a sense of belonging.

We provide something unique within our community: a mixed-age environment where the true essence of tuakana–teina relationships is evident at every turn.
Our young pēpi learn from those around them, discovering just how strong and capable they truly are, while our older tamariki are challenged to slow down, develop manaakitanga, kindness and compassion as they support and encourage those around them.

All of this is present in the homely, welcoming atmosphere we provide, the experiences we offer, and the family you didn't know was missing.

This is who we are.

This is what we are all about.

This is Paeroa Early Learning Centre. 💚

🚲💨 PELC BIKE DAY!💨🚲

"how many more sleeps until Bike Day?"

I reckon we answered that question about 847 times that week! and when Friday FINALLY rolled around, the excitement was through the roof! 😂

The tamariki arrived with bikes, scooters, helmets and the biggest grins, all ready to show their friends what they'd brought. There was a lot of "Come look at MY bike!" and "Watch how fast I can go!" before we'd even made it to the church carpark!

After a few helmet checks (and a few excited wiggles while we were trying to do them 😅), we headed over, tunes blasting, and OFF THEY WENT!

The church carpark might be huge... but somehow our tamariki still managed to find the one other bike in the entire space to crash into. 🤣 Honestly, you'd think they had magnets attached to them! Luckily there were plenty of laughs, a few "Oops, sorry!" moments, and then they were straight back to zooming off again.

One of our favourite things to watch was the amount of sharing happening throughout the day. Bikes were swapped, scooters were traded, friends were teaching friends new tricks, and everyone wanted a turn on something different. It was such a lovely reminder that the fun wasn't just about the wheels, it was about sharing the experience together.

And yes! before anyone asks..
Kaiako Mai, Kirsty and Grace may have been spotted absolutely hooning around on the scooters too. Someone had to do the speed patrol... purely for health and safety reasons of course.

We spent most of the day outside making the most of it, and even a little drizzle couldn't stop us. If anything, it just made the adventure even better!

At PELC we love days like these because they naturally bring together so many of the things we value, children building confidence, taking manageable risks, encouraging one another, solving problems, developing their physical skills, and most importantly, having an absolute blast together. That's what childhood is all about.

A huge thank you to all of our amazing whānau for bringing along the bikes and scooters, popping names on everything.

And the best review of the day?

As soon as I walked in this morning, one of the tamariki asked...

“When's the next Bike Day? Is it this week?"🤣💚

Ngā mihi,
The Paeroa Early Learning Centre Team

❤️JUST A LITTLE PHOTO DUMP FROM PELC.💚

Not every day needs a big event.

Sometimes the best days are simply made up of muddy gumboots, paint-covered hands, belly laughs, big cuddles, deep conversations about dinosaurs (or tractors 😅), and those little moments that somehow become the biggest memories.

Our camera roll has been filling up lately with all the everyday magic!

We see confidence growing.

We see friendships forming.

We see curious minds asking questions, children solving problems together, looking after one another, taking risks, sharing ideas, and finding joy in the little things. That's the heart of learning in early childhood, and it's something we never take for granted.

At PELC, we believe the strongest learning often happens in those everyday moments. The ones that aren't planned. The ones that happen because a friend has an idea, a puddle appears after the rain, or someone says, "Come and play with me."

And if you've been following along from afar and wondering what our little centre is all about... these photos probably say it better than we ever could. 🏡💚

Ngā mihi,
The Paeroa Early Learning Centre Team🌿

Franeks brother Jackson ! ❤️❤️

Just before Jackson Green reeled in “the biggest fish of my life”, there were tuna jumping out of the water left, right and centre.
“I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins,” the 12-year-old angler said.
He recalled the smell of sea salt, the sound of the “reel screaming” and the splashes from the fish behind the lures.
“I’ve caught lots of yellow fin tuna and some other little species, but those little fights were too easy, I was after something bigger.
READ MORE: https://www.valleyprofile.co.nz/2026/07/21/colossal-catch-clinches-club-record/

✨A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, MĀTARIKI!❤️

We were so incredibly grateful to see so many of our PELC whānau come together. There is something pretty special about seeing children, parents, grandparents, siblings, kaiako and friends all gathered in one place, sharing food, laughs and making memories together.

The fire pit kept us warm while we stood underneath one of the clearest night skies we've had in a while. It felt pretty magical talking about the nine stars of Matariki while standing right beneath them. There were lots of curious little voices asking questions, pointing to the sky and helping each other work out which stars might be which. We loved that the learning wasn't just happening for the tamariki... us adults were learning right alongside them too.

We also saw the most amazing face painting done by our whānau! Grace and Carly, we think you might have accidentally started a second career. We may just have to book you for every PELC event from now on! 😆

And then there was the kai🍲❤️
Three delicious homemade soups, fresh bread, fry bread, pizza, slices, sweet treats, and enough sugar to keep everyone buzzing all the way home! (Sorry whānau 🤣)

One of the most special moments of the evening was watching our tamariki perform Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star beneath the glowing fairy lights, proudly holding their star wands with their wishes written for Hiwa-i-te-Rangi. It was a simple moment, but one that captured exactly what Matariki is about.

At PELC, evenings like this are about so much more than putting on an event. They reflect what we value every day! strong relationships, genuine partnerships with our whānau, and creating a place where everyone feels they belong.

To every whānau member who came along, brought a plate, shared a cuddle, had a dance, laughed around the fire, or simply spent time with us, thank you.

You are what makes our little centre feel like home. 💚

Ngā mihi nui, PELC

🧸 GUESS WHO CAME TO PELC?! 🚦

This week we had a VERY exciting visitor pull into PELC , and let's just say there were a few very excited faces waiting at the door! 💜

Ruben the Road Safety Bear came to spend the morning with us, teaching us all about how to stay safe when we're out and about in our community.

We danced along to Ruben's famous “Stop, Look, Listen and Link" song (which may or may not still be stuck in our kaiako's heads 🥲). We crossed the road together, learnt what all the different pedestrian lights and traffic lights mean, and talked about why helmets, car seats, and seatbelts are so important.

The kids really liked the part about sneaky driveways, It sparked some fantastic conversations, lots of questions, and plenty of "I know that one!" moments from the tamariki, By the end they became little road safety experts!

At PELC we love bringing learning to life through real experiences. It's these hands-on opportunities that help children build confidence, develop practical life skills, and make sense of the world around them.

Of course we can't forget the funniest part of the day 🤣 When Ruben said goodbye and went into our sleep room to "go back to his cave in Hamilton," the children suddenly realised...

“Oh no how will he go home! there's no door out in there”

After lots of wondering, we realised Ruben must have climbed out the window because he'd forgotten his bike was still outside and needed to ride it home! 🚲🤣

(We're still not 100% sure that's what happened, but we're sticking with that story!)

A huge thank you to Ruben the Road Safety Bear for making such an important topic so much fun, and for helping our tamariki learn skills they'll use every single day!

Ngā mihi nui,

The Paeroa Early Learning Centre Team💚

✨MATARIKI AT PELC ✨

One of our favourite times of the year has begun and for the last few weeks we've been hearing... “How many more sleeps until Matariki?"
And “When's our Matariki party?!" 🤣

So we kicked things off with Ururangi (the star connected to the winds) and Waipuna-ā-rangi (the star connected to the rain)... and Mother Nature certainly helped us out! 🌦️😂

At PELC Matariki is so much more than learning the stars, it’s about slowing down, taking notice, sharing stories and celebrating the people around us. It’s for remembering those who came before us, caring for and enjoying the world we live in, and looking ahead with hope and excitement for the year to come.❤️

Those are values that sit at the heart of who we are here at PELC.

A huge thank you to our wonderful families for embracing this special time of year with us. We love seeing the conversations continue at home and then come back into the centre the next day. That's what makes our learning so meaningful.

Stay tuned... we can't wait to take you along with us. 💚🌟

Ngā mihi nui,
The Paeroa Early Learning Centre Team

💚 IT'S THE LITTLE MOMENTS.💚

Sometimes the best days at Paeroa Early Learning Centre aren't the ones with a big event planned!

Sometimes they're the random moments that make us stop, smile, and think. Yep...this is why we love what we do.🥹

Over the last couple of weeks our camera roll has been filling up with all the little things that make PELC... well... PELC.

As we begin celebrating Matariki, it's also a lovely time to pause and reflect on how much our tamariki have grown already this year. Matariki reminds us to celebrate where we've come from, appreciate the people around us, and look forward to all the exciting learning still to come. Those values are something we try to live every day here at PELC.

A huge thank you to our incredible whānau for trusting us to be part of your children's learning journey. We honestly couldn't do what we do without such an amazing community behind us.

And if you've been quietly following along and wondering what makes Paeroa Early Learning Centre a little different... these photos are probably the best answer we can give!

Ngā mihi,
The Paeroa Early Learning Centre Team 💚

🚒🔥 SOUND THE ALARM… THE FIRE TRUCK CAME TO PELC! 🔥🚒

As part of our emergency services learning, we had another VERY exciting visitor pull into Paeroa Early Learning Centre this week… and this one was hard to miss! 🚒

The Paeroa Volunteer Fire Brigade came to visit us, and safe to say there were some VERY excited tamariki (and kaiako!) waiting to see the big red truck arrive

The firefighters were absolutely amazing and brought a whole crew along to share their knowledge with us. They talked to us about what firefighters do, how they help keep our community safe, and why fire safety is so important both at home and here at the centre.

The crew opened up all the compartments for us to explore, and there was SO much to see. We checked out the hoses, nozzles, connections, foam tank, uniforms, tools, buttons, gauges, and all sorts of equipment that helps firefighters do their jobs.

One of our tamariki, Franek, was especially excited as he had brought along his favourite firefighter book from home, written in Polish! ❤️ He loved comparing the pictures in his book to the real-life fire truck and equipment in front of him. It was such a special moment to see his interests and home experiences connecting with his learning at PELC.

The firefighters also sent us home with stickers and fire safety books, which the children were absolutely thrilled about. In fact, the excitement continued long after the truck had driven away! The visit became a hot topic at mat time, and we have loved revisiting the big fire safety book they kindly gifted us and hearing all the children's thoughts, questions, and stories.

At PELC, experiences like this are about so much more than just seeing a cool truck, they help children build confidence, understanding, and trust in the people who help keep us safe. By meeting firefighters face-to-face, asking questions, and exploring their equipment, children learn that these are friendly people who are here to help when we need them.

We especially loved seeing Marley's dad Matt there with the crew and making those connections between home, centre, and our wider community. Moments like these remind us just how lucky we are to live in a community where people are willing to give up their time to support and inspire our tamariki 💚

A HUGE thank you to the incredible Paeroa Volunteer Fire Brigade for taking time out of your day to visit us. The children absolutely loved every minute of it, and it sparked conversations, learning, and imaginative play.

We think there might be a few future firefighters walking around PELC now. 👨‍🚒👩‍🚒🚒❤️

Ngā mihi nui,
The Paeroa Early Learning Centre Team 💚