Paeroa Early Learning centre

28/09/2026

📸A LITTLE BIT OF LIFE AT PELC LATELY📸

No big theme for this one! just a camera roll full of the little moments that somehow end up being some of our favourites.

Some days at PELC are planned down to the last detail.

Other days grace decides lemons, grapefruits and oranges needs squeezing to make juice..and muffins 🤣, other friends go for a run on the church field to explore, and before you know it we’re playing limbo, getting yoghurt everywhere and then there’s a calf standing in the playground 😆

That’s a pretty good snapshot of us really. 💚

A little messy, a little noisy, usually something unexpected happening! but lots of laughter, relationships and children who know they belong here.

PELC kaiako

23/09/2026

🐑🚐 CALF CLUB DAY ADVENTURES!

This week six of our tuakana tamariki headed off to Netherton School for Calf Club Day, and safe to say the excitement started well before the van even arrived 😂

We were so lucky to be invited along by the Netherton School community, and even luckier to travel in style thanks to Shannon and Brooke, our chauffeurs for the day in the school van 😆

Harper, Eden, David and Chiara came along and joined us too!! It was so lovely seeing familiar faces, including Katrina, and old PELC friends Beau and Ella! Who are now off doing their thing at big school

It was a lot of fun giving all the cute animals a pat (or a brush!). We also got to pop into the new entrant classroom for a story and a look around, which made the day even more special.

For some of our tamariki, school isn’t actually that far away now, so visits like this really matter. Being able to walk through the gates, see familiar people, explore the classroom and experience school in a relaxed way helps that next step feel a whole lot less unknown.

Those links between centre, school, whānau and community are something we really value at PELC. They help build that sense of belonging that children can carry with them into whatever comes next

Of course, after ALL of that, when we got back and Kaiako Grace asked:

“What was your favourite part?, the calf’s, maybe the sheep?!”

The answer was basically unanimous…

“NAH THE FROG DRINKING FOUNTAIN!!!”🤣

A huge thank you to Netherton School for having us, letting us use the van to get us there, and making us feel so welcome. We had such a fun day and came back absolutely buzzing.

And apparently… if your school has a frog drinking fountain, you’re already onto a winner 🐸
The Paeroa Early Learning Centre Team

10/09/2026

Our camera rolls are always FULL of little videos that never quite make it onto Facebook… so we thought it was about time they got their moment 😂💚

It’s 100 seconds of life at PELC lately! dancing, sprinkler missions, water play, lamb cuddles, plenty of outside adventures… and even a lawn mower getting itself a little bit stuck along the way 🤣

With the days getting warmer and spring finally starting to show itself, we've been making the most of every bit of sunshine we can get!

And while these might just look like random little clips from our days, they're actually some of our favourites. Friends laughing together, tamariki exploring and getting messy, helping each other, moving their bodies, building confidence and simply feeling happy and at home in their space. 💚
That's a pretty good snapshot of what learning looks like around here, lots of relationships, curiosity, freedom to explore and a healthy amount of chaos thrown in. 😂

Here's to more sunshine, more water play, more adventures and probably a LOT more changes of clothes coming home over the next few months… sorry in advance, whānau! 😉☀️

PELC kaiako

09/09/2026

Spaces available at Paeroa Early Learning Centre 💚

We'd love to welcome some new whānau into our PELC family.
Get in touch to arrange a visit. 🌿

01/09/2026

Our wonderful kaiako Trisha is in this awesome show, make sure you don’t miss it ❤️❤️

It’s almost time for the people across Hauraki and beyond to head along to the Paeroa Little Theatre’s upcoming show.
From September 9 to 13, the community will have the opportunity to witness the chaos, laughter, stories and “a little payback” in Crazy Ladies by Devon Williamson and directed by Paeroa Little Theatre director Sara Single.
“One of the reasons we chose this play was because it is by a New Zealand playwright,” the director said.
READ MORE: https://www.valleyprofile.co.nz/2026/09/01/all-sorts-of-intrigue-in-crazy-ladies-play/
And stay up to date: Download the Coromandel App FREE at coromandelapp.nz/install or go to your app store and search 'Coromandel App

28/08/2026

☀️🌿 SPRING IS SNEAKING IN!🌿☀️

Just a little collection of the everyday moments filling up our camera roll lately 💚

The days are getting warmer, the sunshine is hanging around a little longer!
Which, of course, means more time outside, more water play, more messy play, bare feet appearing to PELC again, and plenty of opportunities to get absolutely filthy before home time… sorry whānau 🤣💦

Nothing particularly fancy to report here, just friends playing together, curious little minds keeping us on our toes 🤣lots of laughter (from the kaiako too) exploring, creating, climbing, splashing and enjoying being together.

Sometimes these random photos end up being our favourites. They're the little in-between moments that show what an ordinary day at PELC really looks like children comfortable in their space, friendships growing, ideas being shared💚

Bring on spring… we are READY! ☀️🌸
Have a lovely weekend, whānau.
The PELC team

25/08/2026

🐑WE HAD SOME VERY SPECIAL VISITORS AT PELC!🐑

There was a whole lot of BAAAAAA-ing happening at Paeroa Early Learning Centre last Friday and for once, it wasn’t the children! 😂🐑

Kaiako Shannon organised a very special visit from her family Fiona, Harlee and Blake who brought along two of the cutest little guests we’ve had through our gates… Chops & Spud!

Safe to say, the excitement was IMMEDIATE.

With so many of our tamariki growing up around farms and animals, we quickly started hearing…

“I’VE GOT THOSE AT MY HOUSE!”😂

And suddenly everyone was an expert!

We heard all about who has lambs at home, what they drink, where they live, how they grow and plenty of stories from life on the farm. For some of our tamariki though, this was their very first chance to see a lamb properly up close so there was a mixture of VERY excited little farmers and some careful, curious first pats.

Chops and Spud were incredibly friendly and very happy to soak up all the attention. We got to pat them, cuddle them and feel their wool before letting them loose for a run around our playground…

And that was when the real entertainment began!!

The tamariki absolutely loved running alongside them, watching them spring and bounce around, jump off things and explore our playground while loudly BAAA-ing their way through PELC. 🐑💨

We also had Gracie’s cat (basically PELC whānau 🤣) Minx pop over the fence and was very curious too! He gave them a little peck on the nose and joined in on all the fun with us until they left!.

We also had time to sit together and ask Fiona some questions about the lambs.

Well… “questions”* might be generous. 😂

“I love your lambs.”
“They're soooo cute.”
“I really love lambs.”

We DID eventually get a few actual questions in and learnt lots along the way! We noticed that Spud still had his tail while Chops didn't, which led to a great conversation about lambs' tails and why farmers dock them. We talked about what Chops and Spud drink, where they sleep, and how they're cared for at home for calf club.

These are the experiences we absolutely love at PELC. When something from a child's world at home suddenly walks (or bounces!) through our centre gates, there is an instant connection. Children get to share what they already know, listen to each other's experiences, ask questions and build new ideas together.

And for the tamariki who hadn't experienced lambs before, they got to learn from their friends who had. That's pretty special.

The conversations have carried on well after Chops and Spud went home too which is always how we know an experience has really stuck. Our tamariki are still talking about the lambs, sharing farm stories and asking questions...

And apparently a few children have now decided they need their own lamb at home.
So… you're welcome, parents. 😉

A HUGE thank you to Fiona, Harlee and Blake for bringing Chops and Spud in to spend time with us, and to Kaiako Shannon for helping make it happen. We are so lucky to have whānau who share their lives, knowledge and experiences with us.

Those connections between home, PELC and our wider community are such a big part of creating a place where our tamariki know that their lives, their whānau and the things that matter to them belong here too.

We absolutely loved having you, Chops & Spud come back anytime!

Ngā mihi nui,
The Paeroa Early Learning Centre Team💚

11/08/2026

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. 💚

03/08/2026

🚲💨 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

23/07/2026

❤️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🌿