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CENTRE PROFILE:
TOTS
LOVE
COUNTRY
Tots Love Country Early Learning Centre is located in Rotokauri, Hamilton and caters for tamariki from 6
months to 6 years. A mixed aged centre which fosters a family environment. Phillipa Carroll has been a new
manager, promoted from within the team for the past 21 months. In this time their small whānau centre
has had a change in vision and direction. Having a committed and dedicated team has helped them work on
improving administration and environment and changes to curriculum and planning. This has come from a
lot of team work, inspired kaiako and involved owners. The centre looks at tamariki interests through noticing
and planning for each individual child and weave this into centre wide goals. They provide tamariki with lots of
space, grass, animals to care for and experiences as you would do at home.
PHILLIPA CARROLL
What is special about your centre and what
is your centre’s philosophy?
We believe in the positive nurturing whānau
environment the country atmosphere can
provide. We believe that whānau, community
and embracing kaitiakitanga, caring for
and utilising our natural environment,
manaakitanga, caring for others and play
being an integral part of children’s learning.
Who is your community?
A real variety of local rural areas and
whanau coming out from surrounding
suburbs also.
What do you most love most about your
job?
The knowledge that we are providing
experiences for tamariki that many wouldn’t
get and that we retain and believe in the
whānau environment and all it offers.
What is the biggest challenge facing ECE
centres now?
Keeping up with paperwork and finding
quality staff and relievers.
What’s the best part about operating a
centre?
Happy thriving tamariki, happy whānau and
passionate kaiako.
What makes a successful quality ECE
centre?
Passionate kaiako with a dedicated leader.
What do you enjoy most being a centre
manager?
I enjoy leading a team knowing that we
are providing a quality service for tamariki
with lots of space, nature and a small home
like environment. I feel a real sense of
pride in managing such a unique centre. I
am passionate about what I do and enjoy
igniting passion in others.
As a new manager what’s been your
biggest achievement?
Achieving amazing results and getting
positive feedback in our ERO report and
having lots of positive whānau feedback.
Also having happy staff that are empowered
through being part of decision making
processes and seeing staff flourish and
become more passionate.
December 2017
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