Welcome To Lilliput Preschool Tauranga

 A home away from home for your tamariki

WHAT WE OFFER

Excellent Kaiako-to-Tamaiti Ratio

As any quality childcare centre should, our centre takes pride in having one of the best kaiako-to-tamaiti ratios. This helps us to provide one of Tauranga’s highest standards of early learning for your tamariki in an environment that is nurturing and caring.

Your tamaiti will receive plenty of individualised care and early childcare education, quality interactions, and conversations, meaningful learning moments, and plenty of opportunities for one-to-one attention from our dedicated early childhood educators.

Think of us as a ‘home, away from home’ at our Tauranga early childhood education centre.

We are one of the few centres that aim to uphold this high-quality approach to childcare. One of our goals is to make use of our well-kept surroundings to provide a relaxed learning environment for all of our tamariki.

Within this environment, our tamariki are provided with a carefully considered and well-resourced programme that encourages complex, fun play opportunities, and a love of learning.

The growing minds of our tamariki can flourish as they have the freedom to be creative thinkers, be resourceful, explore, investigate, imagine, persevere, develop resilience, and grow their physical and social skills.

A girl is bending over to look at a flower garden.

Our Philosophy and Programmes in Our Centre

Our Philosophy

Lilliput believes in responsive and reciprocal relationships with all our tamariki, whānau, and amazing kaiako, where they feel valued, safe, and secure as any community should be.

We believe in kindness and respecting everyone as well as everything around us. We take pride in providing programmes that strengthen cultural identity of each tamaiti so they grow up as confident life-long learners and highly competent individuals.

a child being offered a pine cone from a teacher
A teacher is kneeling down beside a child playing in the sandpit.

Infants and Toddlers

The pēpi area in our centre is a calm and inviting environment, where relationships are at the heart of our practices. Through key teachers, tamariki form close and trusting relationships based on love, acceptance, and kindness. We follow the natural rhythms of each tamaiti, where unrushed experiences are individualised to their needs, strengths, and interests. This is done at a core level of everything we do and is best for early learning.

Preschool

Our preschool area is an environment that provides for unique interests, strengths, and needs of all tamariki. Here kids learn as they imagine, invent, experiment, ask questions, and make sense of the world around them. All learners experience a well-equipped environment with a variety of resources, a number of inviting areas, and uninterrupted creative play. This provides an endless opportunity for exploration, creativity, curiosity, and social engagement for all children.

A few kids are sitting beside each other reading some books.
Matt Dol, the owner of Lilliput.

Meet the Owner

Dolly

Hi, I’m Matt “Dolly” Dol, and I am the Owner and Operations Manager of Lilliput.

I am privileged to be highly involved in Lilliput’s operation and to work with such an amazing, dedicated, caring team. Every member of the Lilliput whānau ensures the highest quality of care and education for each and every tamaiti.

It is crucial to me, as an owner who also manages the centre, that I have business principles that align with Lilliput’s philosophy. For me, it is very simple; if the tamariki always come first, and the kaiako who care for them are truly valued, everything else will take care of itself.

Kua takoto te mānuka
By maintaining high kaiako-to-tamaiti ratios, Lilliput can provide a learning environment where the entire Lilliput whānau can thrive. From the Kaiako laying down the leaves of the manuka tree to the next generation picking those leaves up.

Read more about the staff

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

FAQ

What are the ages you care for?

We provide care and education for children between 3 months and 6 years old.

Do you offer subsidised hours?

Yes, we provide up to 20 ECE hours per week for kids over 3 years old.
Some families may be eligible for a WINZ subsidy. Please ask us for more information with regards to applying for a WINZ subsidy.

How do I enrol my tamaiti?

We encourage you and your whānau to visit our centre. We want to make sure that we are the right fit for your whānau.
Once you decide to enrol with us, a form will have to be filled out that confirms the hours and days you will be needing care for your children.

Are your staff qualified?

We have a high ratio of qualified kaiako (average 96%), well above the Ministry of Education recommendation of 80%.
We are proud of our low kaiako turnover rates and we all enjoy a wonderful and supportive work environment.

Can I get a WINZ subsidy?

Work and Income New Zealand may be able to provide assistance for your childcare costs. WINZ subsidy is income tested, and there are certain terms and conditions that apply in order to qualify.
Please speak to WINZ to see if you qualify for the childcare subsidy.
Phone: 0800 559 009
It is recommended to get the application form into WINZ as soon as possible.
Lilliput has the application form available for you, or you can fill in the application form online by visiting:
Work and Income – Childcare Subsidy

Are you open during the school holidays?

Yes, we are open all year round; We are only closed for statuary holidays and weekends.

What happens if we are away over the Christmas and New Year period?

During the weeks over the Christmas and New Year period, you will not be charged any childcare fees, if your tamaiti doesn’t attend and you have informed us that they will be absent.
If your tamaiti does attend during this period, normal fees apply.

How can I find out more information about Lilliput?

The best way to find out more about us is to visit.
You are most welcome to visit our centre at any time that is convenient for you. No booking is necessary, we welcome all visitors and inquiries. We recommend visiting a centre a number of times and at different times of the day, so you can get a feeling about the centre and whether it will meet the requirements or your tamaiti and whānau.
During your visits please feel free to ask as many questions as you like, so you can feel comfortable with your decision.
You can also ring or email us to ask further questions.

Do I still have to pay chidcare fees when my tamaiti is sick?

Yes, you still have to pay childcare fees when your tamaiti is sick, to cover our operating costs. We will try and arrange a make-up day, if possible. However, conditions apply and make-up days are not always guaranteed.

PREPARATION

What You Need to Provide

Essentials

Please bring along nappies, bottles, and formula if necessary.

Comfort Items

Any comfort items your children are attached to.

Clothing

Two or more changes of clothes, we recommend labeling the clothing.

Food for Preschoolers

Water bottle, lunch, and afternoon tea. We provide morning tea for the children.

Food for Infants and Toddlers

Water bottle, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea.

If Your Tamaiti Has Certain Dietary Requirements or Allergies

​We go the extra mile to ensure dietary needs are met.

Please discuss any dietary-related requirements with us.

Some Helpful Suggestions On How to Help Your Tamaiti Settle In

In the Pēpi area, it is beneficial to visit at different times of the day. You can take this opportunity to provide some caregiving routines. It’s best to do this in the company of the key teacher in order for the teacher to gain knowledge about the individual needs and preferences of your children.

We recommend you and your tamaiti visit together before starting attendance. The number of visits will depend on individual needs and personality.

LEARNING MORE ABOUT US

What You Can Expect at Lilliput Tauranga

  • A small and personal centre, a home away from home environment (We are licensed for 35 tamariki, made up of usually 9 children in the Pēpi area, and 26 children in the preschool area).
  • Family-owned and operated childcare. Management work collaboratively with children, kaiako and whānau to ensure everyone receives that extra level of care, support, and attention they deserve.
  • Stable and dedicated teaching team – our kaiako turnover rates are very low.
  • More trained kaiako – we average 96% trained teachers, well above the 80% that the Ministry of Education sets.
  • Excellent kaiako-to-tamaiti ratios. Our ratios are one of the best you will receive for your children.

For more information please read our ERO review, where we received the highest possible rating, “very well placed”.