Since taking over Ako Rolleston it has been important to us to have names for our classrooms that are authentic and meaningful to us as a learning community. With the help of one of our parents and her good friend we now have names that are unique to our classrooms and have been carefully chosen with regard to Whānau and kaiako consultation, which finds that our small group sizes and attention to each ākonga are at the front of everything we do.
Wāhi Ako Kākano – seeds to be nurtured and cared for attentively.
Wāhi Ako Pihinga – shoots or young plants that still need nurturing and care but also need air to breathe and extend their shoots into the wide world.
What is helpful to know when choosing an ECE service for your family. Click below to view helpful information to ensure you are choosing the right Early Childhood Education service for your whānau.
We have 3 learning spaces, that cater for all children at their various developmental stages. Our classrooms are well resourced with a wide range of educational experiences to extend your child’s learning and enrich their passion for the world around them.
We value a child led education where tamariki are listened and responded to in a nurturing and encouraging way, and they are trusted to make decisions regarding their learning journey along the way.
Flexible booking times perfect for all families. We offer 20 Hours ECE subsidy for children who are 3 and 4 years old. We also offer 30 free hours for children aged 3 and over who are enrolled 9-3 Mon-Fri.
We started our Journey with Ako Rolleston at the beginning of this year (2024). Ako has a warm vibe and home like feel with smaller numbers which was appealing as we transitioned from home base.
My son Kaius has settled in well and developing stronger relationships with Shannon and Anna alongside the other staff members that flow in and out of the space. This is a space where I feel content to leave my son knowing he is cared for and needs are met above and beyond. I can confidently recommend Ako Rolleston of a wholesome place to bring their children.
Abi
What an awesome journey with Ako! Since joining the Ako family, our son developed into a curious, fun loving boy! Thank you for taking such good care of him always; making sure he feels safe and loved. It was the best decision we had made for him to join the Ako-Team!
Juanita
As a first time mumma and having to go back to work faster than I would have liked, the staff in the nursery made me feel at ease and took great care of my child
Tracey
I would like to express my utmost gratitude and thanks to all the staff at “Ako” for your ongoing care, collaboration and support you all so gracefully provide to my daughters and I. Among many delightful learnings my children bring home, I love listening to my daughters reciting waiata and kupu Māori they learn from Ako. As a working parent, I have all confidence knowing my children are safe and cared for at Ako.
A big thank you for being so lovely, understanding and significant figures in my children’s lives.
Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa,
Shaun
A year and a half ago I made the choice to put Dakota into Ako preschool, it was the best decision and I have never looked back. The confidence, knowledge growth, language and communication skills that Ako has helped Dakota develop has been incredible. All the teachers are so friendly, engaging and helpful . You truly feel like the teachers care for the kids and treat them as their own. Ako communication is outstanding and you never feel scared to ask a question or check up on your child when it is their first days.
Rebecca
We are thrilled to share our wonderful experience with Ako childcare. From the very beginning, Shannon and the entire team have been exceptional in looking after our son, Archer. The nurturing and attentive care provided in the nursery has significantly contributed to his growth and development.
Archer has thrived in this warm, welcoming environment, and we have noticed remarkable progress in his social and cognitive skills. The dedication and passion of the Ako team are evident in everything they do, and we are incredibly grateful for the positive impact they have had on our child’s early years.
Thank you, Shannon and the Ako team, for creating such a supportive and loving atmosphere. We couldn’t be happier with the care Archer receives, and we highly recommend Ako to any parents looking for an outstanding childcare experience.
Robyn and Callum
Zayde is, and always has been, a fast learning and a big talker. We are constantly blown away by the things he knows and the things he can do, and we are so SOOO proud! I know that Zayde loves his time at daycare and we would really like to thank you all for that. We really appreciate the way you know him, care for him and do all that you can to provide awesome learning experiences catered to his interests. Also thanks for posting so many photos and even a video! I love seeing these so much.
- Renee Dunsey
The growth we have seen in Poppy and Hudson is fantastic, so for us so far we are happy with what they are learning and being taught. We are so happy with where we have chosen to put Poppy and Hudson. They get so excited on AKo days. Their talking and confidence has grown so much in a short time. The staff are all so friendly, warm and welcoming and you can see they really do care about the children. Another important factor for us is teaching the kids good behavior as far as ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and sitting to eat. And I love how these are continued at Ako.
-Jala Clarke
The beauty of having such a small nursery ratio paired with a fully qualified teaching team allows for such personalised and exciting programme for our tiny tamariki! Sensory activities allow for rich engagement and the use of paint in toddlers can help them develop their senses of sight, sound, smell, and touch while having fun ...
We are incredibly lucky to have the most creative and innovative qualified teachers in Pihinga Rua! Not only do our kaiako have a deep pool of knowledge and ideas, they are so in tune to our tamariki and regularly are thinking outside the box on how to expand their learning in a fun and exciting ...
Face painting is more than just fun for our tamariki; it’s a fantastic way for them to express themselves! Through choosing their favourite designs, they share a bit of who they are, boosting confidence and creativity. What an awesome and creative way to express individuality among our tamariki
The wet weather last week sure didn’t deter us from having ample amounts of fun with and alongside our friends! Our kaiako created our very own spiderweb we had to navigate our way through using a range of our gross motor skills we often demonstrate in our outdoor playground
Check out our littlest members at Ako enjoying the sunshine this week! We were all so excited to see the sun after a very wet week and absolutely made the most of the beautiful weather! Our new one year olds have all reached their walking milestone very recently and were thrilled to enjoy our outdoor ...
Our Rua tamariki have been thrilled with the addition to our curriculum, welcoming a new science programme run by the Little Scientists who have travelled to Christchurch for the duration of Term 3! Our excited and intrigued little minds participate in a series of dynamic and fun experiments, exploring the likes of fossils, forensics, chemistry ...
