Smiley Faces Educare

Welcome to Smiley Faces Educare, located at Upper Hutt, Fraser Crescent, 1. As an establishment, point of interest, and school, we are dedicated to providing a nurturing and inclusive environment for children.

At Smiley Faces, we believe in the importance of whānau (family) and culture in the lives of our tamariki (children). We embrace and celebrate the diverse backgrounds and cultures of our families, including those from Africa, South America, Asia, Europe, and the Pacific. We strive to create a welcoming cultural environment for Māori and Pakeha (non-Māori) tamariki, incorporating te reo Māori, tikanga, waiata, and karakia into our daily practice.

Our philosophy revolves around building on the kete of knowledge each child brings from their home culture. We provide an environment, resources, and experiences that foster children's natural love of learning and support their social, emotional, physical, and mental development.

One of our key focuses is on promoting healthy eating habits. Our on-site cook prepares a Heart Foundation approved menu, ensuring that your child receives a nutritious and delicious morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea, all served with water. Children staying for a full day also receive a late snack around 4.45pm. We encourage tamariki to practice tikanga/manners and good eating habits during our beautifully prepared shared kai times.

In preparation for school, we offer a daily class for children from around 4 years of age during term time. This class is designed to be fun and engaging, equipping children with basic skills such as working in a group, holding a pencil, phonetic awareness for reading readiness, basic numeracy skills, and project work. Additionally, our oldest tamariki regularly visit local school new entrant classes to experience the school environment.

As part of our commitment to sustainability, we actively involve tamariki in composting, recycling, and growing vegetables. We also make an effort to visit local natural environments as much as possible, encouraging learning about sustainability.

At Smiley Faces, we pride ourselves on our warm and nurturing relationships with both children and their families. Our caring and passionate Kaiako (teachers) make everyone feel like part of the Smiley Faces family. We provide regular updates on your child's progress, ensuring that you are always informed and involved.

Don't just take our word for it, here's what some of our parents have to say: "Both my child and I are always greeted with a Hello when we arrive. There is always a variety of activities at preschool. Food menu is always healthy and delicious. All Kaiako make us feel like we're a part of the Smiley Faces family. I always receive regular updates on how my child is progressing." "Warm and nurturing relationships, carers evidently highly engaged and easily share anecdotes about child at the end of the day. No doubt as to their passion and care for our baby, and we really like the menu/healthy food approach." "We love that they keep us updated about everything my child is doing and how he is. I love the relationship that my child has with his teacher."

Come and join us at Smiley Faces Educare, where we provide an environment, resources, and experiences that foster children's natural love of learning and support their social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.