Tiny Nation Educator - Hutt Valley - Mandy

About Me

I am a qualified home-based educator with over 20 years of experience. During this time, I’ve had the pleasure of welcoming many children and their families into my home. I believe that teaching and caring for young learners is a vital role in their development.

I prioritise communication, respect, and trust with parents and Whānau, incorporating the learning happening at home into my care.

My home is a safe, warm, and nurturing environment, where children are supported in their learning. I also share the space with my two fur babies: a Cocker Spaniel named Lily and a cat named Pippin.

My Philosophy

Respect, love, and supporting each child’s individual interests are at the core of my philosophy. I believe that every child should have the opportunity to follow their own interests with my guidance, while building strong relationships with both the children and their Whānau.

As an educator, I value each child’s uniqueness and strive to nurture their strengths, skills, and knowledge to extend their learning. I believe that children learn best through play, and I provide opportunities for them to explore, discover, create, and imagine based on their interests.

My Environment

I live in Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt, with my husband Paul in a warm and inviting four-bedroom home. I provide a variety of resources and regularly swap them out to ensure children have new and engaging activities each day. Children take turns choosing from different activity boxes, alongside the many toys and resources available daily.

To support learning, I offer a range of activities including music, blocks, books, drawing, messy play, puzzles, and outdoor fun like bubbles, water play, and ride-on trikes. We also collect natural resources for art projects.

We go on weekly outings to parks, playgroups, and shops, where the children learn about traffic safety and enjoy social experiences.

"Warm and nurturing environment"

I am thrilled to share my experience with Mandy Merwood, who has been a fantastic childcare provider for my family for 8 years. From day one, she created a warm and nurturing environment that made my children feel safe and loved and her values matched our own. Mandy is incredibly attentive, always engaged my children with creative activities that promoted learning and development.

What stands out the most is her ability to connect with each child on a personal level. She is patient, understanding, and truly listens to my child's needs and interests. I have seen my children's confidence and social skills flourish under Mandy's care.

Communication has been excellent; always provided regular updates and shared insights about my children's progress. I feel completely at ease knowing my children are were in such capable hands. Mandy has become a family friend for many years after caring for our children.