Nicole Honiss | Director
Nicole’s vision for Little Sparrows is to provide a well-resourced, supportive environment where each staff member, child, and their families, feel a genuine sense of belonging. Nicole strongly believes that every child deserves the best care and education possible. She endeavours to ensure that each child is given the opportunity to reach their full potential while having fun learning in a safe and stimulating environment.
Heritage – French and Italian
Caroline Barns-Graham | Centre Manager
I am a mother of two strong girls, a keen and social hiker, walker and ocassional runner who loves to hit the gym now and then with friends. I have such a love for nature and marvel in how beautiful our country is to explore. I am also a passionate teacher with a particular interest in relational learning and leadership. As a leader I believe that relationships are the key to all improved teaching and learning outcomes for akonga.I place great value on quality experiences that support children in building their social skills and understanding. I believe the tamariki do not stand alone when they enter the centre and hold the relationships that they have within their whānau and in the community in high regard. The importance of these relationships is vital in supporting each child and their whakapapa to blossom and integral in ensuring whānau are woven into nga tamariki learning journey. As adults we have much to learn much from children; they have a lot to tell us, listening closely is the key. Integral to my philosophy is the belief that children should be respected as whole individuals, living in the now, with the mātauranga of their ancestors. Through this we build honest and trusting relationships with the children and their parents/caregivers/whānau; to provide an interesting, stimulating and challenging environment where they all feel a sense of belonging, value and security.
Heritage – Scottish
Nastasja Woodlock | Lead Teacher Ruma Tuakana
Meet Nastasja (aka Starsh) – nurturer by heart, whose loving & kind nature makes her a magnet for our pepi. Nastasja completed a Bachelor of Social Science with a double major in Psychology and Human Development in 2010. Always having been drawn to working with children, she pursued a career in ECE which led her to complete her Graduate Diploma of Teaching-ECE in 2014, and is now a fully registered teacher. Nastasja and her husband have two sons; Julian and Jasper who both attend Little Sparrows. Originally a toddler teacher, Nastasja took up the challenge of becoming an Under Twos teacher after her second child was born. Nastasja is passionate about sustainability, providing quality learning experiences and allowing children to challenge their own abilities.
Heritage – Dutch with Indonesian ancestry
Mariee Tumahai | Teacher
Kia Ora whanau, meet Mariee (aka Marge) –
Ko Maungatautari te maunga, Ko Maungatautari te marae, Ko Waikato-Tainui te iwi, Ko Ngati Koroki Kahukura te hapu, no kemureti ahau.
Marge takes great pride in being able to provide Tamariki with a bicultural environment that promotes diversity, quality care and enables them to explore the world around them as they grow into capable and competent learners. Marge is a firm believer in the sense that tamariki are our Taonga (treasures) and with that has a warm and inviting persona and will love and cherish your pepi as if they are her own. Kemureti is her home, being born and bred in a small town where her roots lie and now raising her three tamariki, Rhys, Taimana, Anahera here brings her so much pride to be apart of the vibrant and tight knit community that we are. Early childhood has always held a special place close to her heart and with her knowledge comes many years of experience working in ECE since 2009. Also embarking on a learning journey of her own as she completes her Bachelor of Teaching through Te Rito Maioha. Little Sparrows has already allowed her to step up and grow so much more as a kaiako and she intends on incorporating all that with her team and pepi to make Ruma Teina the best it could possibly be. Nga mihi ki a koutou katoa.
Maria Abbot | fully qualified kaiako, Lead Teacher Ruma Teina
My name is Maria and I am married to Steve and we have 3 daughters and 3 beautiful grandsons. – I live in Cambridge and am a local, I am of British and Maori decent; Ngati Koroki Kahukura and Maungatautari is my Marae. I have been teaching in the Early Childhood sector for more than 16 years and I regard it to be a privilege to be able to work alongside the whanau and tamariki in my community.
In my spare time I enjoy reading and spending time with my whanau, particularly fishing. I look forward to getting to know you all.
Kayla Bromwich | Teacher
Hi my name is Kayla Bromwich I am of British, Scandinavian, french and fijian heritage, I’m a local here in Leamington and have been since 2011.
I completed my bachelor of teaching in 2020 with a passion for teaching toddlers and preschoolers. My passion for teaching toddlers came about when I had my first child as I love watching their little minds explode with never ending learning and knowledge. I enjoy all things outdoors and animals and learning, In my personal time I enjoy being with my family and getting outside. My personal teaching philosophy can be seen as RIE based respecting infants in early childhood education and allowing them to learn things at their pace with freedom of movement.