News &
advice

Why educators are choosing Barnardos

Early childhood educator Amy Philips reignited her love for teaching by becoming a Barnardos Home Based Educator. Discover how this flexible, supported career allows you to work from home, build meaningful connections with tamariki, and enjoy a sense of whānau while shaping young lives.

Celebrating Children’s Day | Te Rā o Ngā Tamariki

Children’s Day at Barnardos Early Learning was a joyful celebration of tamariki, whānau, and community, grounded in connection, identity, and belonging across Aotearoa.

Growing Kaitiaki at Hornby Pasifika Early Learning Centre

Discover how tamariki at Hornby Pasifika Early Learning Centre are becoming kaitiaki through their māra kai project. From creating a garden space to growing fresh vegetables for Matariki, this hands on learning journey supports Healthy Hearts goals, environmental responsibility, and connection to Papatūānuku.

Celebrating Chinese New Year Across Our Early Learning Centres

Tamariki across our centres celebrated Chinese New Year with festive dress-ups, red fans, dumplings, dance performances, and cultural activities. Explore how these celebrations support learning through play, creativity, teamwork, and connection to culture.

What's been happening in Porirua

See what’s been happening at Porirua Early Learning Centre, from Aroha Week and Waitangi Day to literacy and social learning.

Aroha Week: Celebrating kindness and kotahitanga

Our Early Learning Centres across the motu celebrated Valentine’s Day with Aroha Week, a special week focused on kindness, kotahitanga and whakawhanaungatanga. Tamariki and kaiako shared heartfelt messages, colourful creations and moments of manaakitanga to strengthen belonging and community.

What’s been happening in our Home Based services

From nature adventures to community visits, see how our tamariki have been learning, exploring, and thriving in our Home Based services.

What our Cromwell tamariki have been exploring

Discover what our tamariki at Barnardos Early Learning Cromwell have been exploring. From worm farm kaitiakitanga to creative play, kapa haka, and community events, see how learning comes alive through curiosity, connection, and fun.

A Christmas adventure for our Ōtautahi tamariki

Our Hornby Pasifika and Te Puna Oraka tamariki enjoyed a magical visit to The Christmas Collective, filling their day with festive wonder, learning and joy.

What's been happening at Pakuranga

Discover the exciting learning experiences at Barnardos Pakuranga Early Learning Centre. From caring for Papatūānuku to volcanic experiments, imaginative play, and sensory activities, our tamariki explore, create, and grow every day.

Celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

Auckland Home Based Educator Conference 2025

Our Auckland Home Based Educators came together in Māngere for a day of learning, culture, and celebration. From inspiring workshops to incredible milestone awards, it was a day full of connection and appreciation.

Hornby Pasifika celebrates gift of a Sound Monkey

Barnardos Early Learning Hornby Pasifika was one of 10 early childhood centres across Ōtautahi Christchurch to be gifted a Sound Monkey. The Sound Monkey helps tamariki explore sound awareness, safe listening, and self-regulation in a fun and interactive way.

Little learners enjoy cultural visit to marae

Tamariki from Barnardos Early Learning Centre in Pakuranga had a wonderful opportunity to explore Māori culture on a visit to Te Tahawai Marae. Tamariki engaged in songs, games, and learned about tikanga, gaining a hands-on understanding of te ao Māori.

Little movers, big confidence

At Barnardos Ōtara Early Learning Centre, tamariki are developing confidence, social skills, and a love of movement through the Athletics NZ ‘Get Set Go’ programme.

Ōtara tamariki gardening veggies to take home

Barnardos Early Learning Ōtara grow and harvest vegetables while learning about recycling and sustainability through a hands-on worm farm initiative. This project encourages patience, responsibility, and environmental awareness through active, play-based learning.

Central North educator conference 2025

Our Central North home based educator conference brought our dedicated home based educators together to connect, reflect, and recharge.

Hornby Pasifika ELC is fundraising for a indoor water system

Our Wainuiomata Early Learning Centre was kindly gifted a Kete of Paku tools

Oamaru Early Learning Centre helped raise funds to support Tongan communities

Media Release: Barnardos Early Learning

Important COVID-19 Notice

Media Release - Pay Parity

New Service Awhi Tairāwhiti

Growing kai for the community

Soso’o le fau ma le fau – Connect the fibre with another fibre

New equipment for Barnardos

Awhi Tairāwhiti Shines Bright

Barnardos Early Learning building in Turua

A shared passion for inspiring tamariki

Turua's new early learning centre building has arrived

Tanvi Singh's inspiring learning journey

From banking to early childhood education - meet Paridhi!

Inspiring tamariki in Whānganui for over 50 years

Jamie's Journey: Nurturing young minds

An honour to be a part of their early life

Support and growth in home based learning

How our tamariki celebrated Father's Day

Wrapping up the year with Christmas cheer

Celebrate the end of 2025 with Barnardos Early Learning as tamariki, whānau, kaiako, and Home Based Educators come together across Aotearoa for Christmas celebrations, shared kai, community events, and meaningful moments of connection.

Twelve Days of Christmas: Festive activities for tamariki

Discover fun Christmas and kiwi summer activities for children ages two to six that support learning through play. Enjoy festive ideas inspired by Te Whāriki including outdoor exploration, creative crafts, kindness moments, nature play, music and movement.

Make your own playdough

Children learn through play, and what better way to introduce them to new textures, consistencies and even smells, than through creating playdough!

Musical line

Music making is a wonderful thing, and the good news is that you already have loads of musical instruments in your kitchen cupboard!

Heuristic baskets

In Heuristic play, your baby uses all of their senses to explore a selection of objects from around the house and garden.

Baby massage

Massage is a lovely way to bond with and care for your baby.

Ice rings

This is a magical and fun activity for children that wraps up physics, climate, and teamwork. Plus it’s a wonderful patience building exercise!

Pine cone bird feeder

This is an easy project to put together at home, and it is great fun for everyone.

Golden oat cookies

Baking with children is great fun and creates memories they’ll have all their lives.

Colouring in activity sheet

Children learn through play, and what better way to introuduce them to new textures, consistencies and even smells, than through creating playdough!

Exploring through treasure baskets

How Home Based Educators support learning, not just care

Choosing a quality early learning service

Discover how to choose a quality early learning service for your tamariki. Learn what to look for in kaiako, environments, play-based learning, whānau engagement and more.

Springtime adventures with your tamariki

Benefits of outdoor play

There are lots of benefits for young children when they can spend as much time as possible playing outside in interesting outdoor environments. Young children learn through the type of place or environment they are in.

The First Day Drop-off

You are raising a child who will choose to communicate with the world – right from their living room. You are raising a child who will choose to get to know people from all religions, cultures and walks of life. You are raising a child who will choose to take care of their world. You are raising a global citizen.

The importance of security and attachment

Whether you choose to use a home educator or send your child to an early learning centre, one of the key things to notice is the way that adult responds to children.This partnership that you build up with your child's key person will be important to your child's security and attachment.

You’re Raising a Global Citizen

You are raising a child who will choose to communicate with the world – right from their living room. You are raising a child who will choose to get to know people from all religions, cultures and walks of life. You are raising a child who will choose to take care of their world. You are raising a global citizen.

Facing Uncertainty

There are lots of benefits for young children when they can spend as much time as possible playing outside in interesting outdoor environments. Young children learn through the type of place or environment they are in.

Getting outdoors in winter

Winter can feel dark and gloomy, but it doesn’t have to be! Make the most of the opportunities to get outside when you can and explore the outdoors with your tamariki.

Meet Marisa Bruan, Cromwell kaiako

Meet Marisa Bruan, a dedicated ECE teacher with over 40 years’ experience in early childhood education. From the Philippines to Cromwell, Marisa’s passion for teaching tamariki, supporting whānau, and fostering joyful, spontaneous learning at Barnardos Early Learning shines through every day.

Meet Megan Beerworth, Petone teacher

Meet Wendy Allen

Meet Dona Pathirana, Pakuranga kaiako

Meet Tasmina Kazi, Home Based Educator

Discover Tasmina’s journey from caring for cousins in Bangladesh to becoming a Barnardos Home Based Educator in New Zealand, creating a warm, play-based learning space for tamariki aged 0–6.