Testimonials

We have been coming to Open Spaces since January 2010.  To us it has been an extension of our home and we wouldn't choose anywhere else to send our children.  The concept of free play in the environment Open Spaces provides let our boys be boys,  and,  lets kids be kids for as long as they can, before the routine of school starts.  The outdoor area is huge and awesome.   The Wild Woods are always a great adventure and you know it's been a  great day when you pick them up covered in mud with big smiling faces and always lots of stories.  There has been a lot of hard work put in in recent months and it is testament to the staff and their commitment to our children.  We travel out to Open Spaces from Kamo.  Its the opposite way we need to go but we do it because the fun, confidence and memories our children have gained make it worth it. Thank you to all of the team at Open Spaces for the care and grounding you have given Bailey and Rory. 

 

"I could not have asked for a more appropriate environment for my children to learn and grow in and how lucky I was to have the centre so close to home.  Ella's personality and confidence grew along with the new life skills.  the centres encouragement to learn with play in a natural setting is something I hope to see more of not just in childcare situations but throughout all stages of life.  I am so grateful to all the teachers that were involved in Ellas play and learning, you have certainly taught her skills that she will continue to develop and use throughout her life that typical centres could not offer.  The centre has been a place of great friends, fun and adventures. "

Thank you all so much, 

Ella, Jesse and Candace.




"Open Spaces is the most wonderful place for children. Our older son Hawk attended for only four months before he started at school. We saw such an incredible change in him during that short time. He was more imaginative, creative and also willing to eat many new healthy foods from the garden (he's a very fussy eater). His favorite thing to do was check the chicken house for eggs every morning to give to Whaea Lizzy in the kitchen.

Our potiki ( youngest child), Tigerlily is still attending Open Spaces and the gratitude we feel for this incredible rich learning environment she is in is really difficult to fully express in words. She is turning five in a couple of weeks and I can't bare the thought of her leaving. We have decided to keep her at Open Spaces for the rest of the year and possibly until she is six. She is a very keen gardener and seed collector thanks to her time with Lucia in the mara kai. The four year old group with Louise is a special and favorite time for her, making art, wandering through the woods and learning so much along the way. She begs to go to OP every Saturday and Sunday and it's a challenge to get her out the door to go home. She is by far the best eater in our house and will happily eat edible flowers, peas, radishes, lettuce etc fresh from the garden. One of the other really amazing things is the way the teachers all share their own special skills and interests. Tiger loves tea parties with Maya
(making their own special tea with lemon balm and other herbs from the garden). I could go on and on. We are just to happy that our kids have had this very special time at Open Spaces. I just wish that there was a primary school attached so they could stay much longer! Our oldest daughter always lets us know how she wishes she could have gone there.

Nga mihi nui kia koe, Whaea Cherry for the rich wairua and aroha you give and have created with your center."

Kara Edwards