The Ole Schoolhouse

Name:
ID:
Setting:
Takes Infants:

Community Ownership: Parents likely have a strong say in how the service operates and what happens to children, all money earnt stays within it, and teachers may be paid better and childcare charges may be lower compared to most (but not necessarily all) private and corporate owned services. (Ask: Is it an Incorporated Society? Does it also have charitable status?)

Community Ownership:

Small Boutique Centre: Centres with 50 or fewer children make it easier for staff to provide a warm and nurturing environment, for children to have their individual needs met and skills, knowledge, and competencies extended. (Ask: For continuity of care and relationships, do children stay with the same group of children and teachers throughout their time at the service?)

Small Boutique Centre:

100% Qualified Teacher Funded: All staff counted toward meeting the minimum adult-child ratio requirement must hold a practising certificate as a teacher if the service receives this level of Ministry of Education funding. (Ask: Does the service count teachers trained in the ECE of children birth to 5 years and not primary or secondary school trained teachers?)

100% Qualified Teacher Funded:

Men Included on Teaching Staff (as at last year): There are strong benefits of having both men and women on the teaching team for the quality of care and education a service provides to children. Additionally, gender bias in staff recruitment and employment is not generally acceptable in society today. (Ask: How many teaching staff are employed and what proportion are men?)

Men Included on Teaching Staff
(as at last year):

Clean Licence Record (last year and the year before): To be licensed a service must comply with regulations that help ensure children’s safety, care, and a suitable standard of education. When requirements are breached the Ministry of Education may downgrade a service’s licence to provisional or issue a suspension. (Check the lists of services placed on a provisional or suspended licence https://oece.nz/public/information/standards/ published each year)

Clean Licence Record Record
(last year and year before):

Recommended Highly by 80% or More Families: At least 80% of families recommend the service and rate it as being very good to excellent on a range of aspects of quality. (Note that a response rate of at least 51% families on the OECE parent survey https://oece.nz/public/information/resources/parent-survey/ research instrument within the last three years is necessary here)

Recommended Highly by 80% or More Families:

Contact Info

32 Reviews on “The Ole Schoolhouse”

Excellent
5
32 reviews
The Teachers/Carers/Staff
4.8
Parent/Family Support
4.8
Health, Hygiene, & Safety
4.8
Teaching & Learning Activities
4.8
  • Nica

    I highly recommend The Ole School House as a great childcare centre. The owner and teachers are all very friendly and helpful, and they really care about the children and the parents. My oldest child started going there when he was only 6 months old, and he was later diagnosed with ASD. Eric and Julie, the owners, were very supportive throughout the whole process until he transitioned to the big school. Now my youngest child also goes to the same centre and he seems to really enjoy it. The staff are always accommodating and make sure that the children are safe at all times. They have a big outdoor area where the children can play and have fun, which is really important to me when choosing a childcare centre. Overall, I’m very happy with The Ole School House and I’m sure you will be too!

  • Millie

    Our 11 month old son started this week and is loving it! The staff are absolutely amazing and have made us feel right at home. We love the whānau feel, the food is top notch and the staff have made us feel at ease settling him in. We receive updates about how he’s doing during the day and the staff make such an effort with learning about our family and our home routines. One very happy family ❤️

  • Rainbow

    My son has been going to Ole Schoolhouse since he was 8 months old which wasn’t the initial plan as I though he was still too young. So anxiety did kick in. But the staff and the owners have made me feel secure and there are no regrets at all. I know my son is well taken cared of. He loves being there, interacting with the other kids and the staff. The centre is very culturally diverse and I definitely appreciate the efforts that they put in to make everyone feel included. They have a great range of activities and resources for the little ones. I highly recommend The Ole Schoolhouse .

  • Cassandra Elder

    Having worked in the tertiary ECE space, I had a wee bit of “inside knowledge” about which was considered the best ECE centre in Rotorua, so when I had my son I didn’t hesitate to put him on the waiting list for the Ole Schoolhouse, to start when he was around 1 year. In the almost six months since then, I have been thankful for that decision every day. The staff, including the owners, at the Ole Schoolhouse treat the tamariki there with love, care and respect – and their communication with and support of us as (new) parents has been amazing and truly appreciated. My son loves going there every day – I can tell because he drags his daycare backpack to our front door in the morning, and eagerly helps me to open the door handle when we arrive there! The environment is beautiful, interesting for children and always clean, the food is healthy, the range of activities available for the little ones is impressive, and the outdoor space is huge and full of possibilities for adventure. The staff are also fantastic with supporting our wish for our son to be bilingual in Spanish and English, which we appreciate more than we can say. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Ole Schoolhouse to anyone who is looking for an amazing place for their children to learn and grow, in a multi-cultural and inclusive space.

  • Antonine Angelica Gorre

    I highly recommend the Ole schoolhouse. Sukad ngsugod akong anak sa ila school mas n develop niya iya skills sa pag interact sa uban bata ug teachers. I love how they follow the lead of each child. They are very friendly and accommodating. Naa program pag celebrat ang Matariki, nindot to nga experience para namu nga 1st-time parents na involve mi. Mkhappy nga nagkanta2 ug ng ukulele pa ako bana while ng kanta ang tanan. It was great positive experience not only for my daughter and other kids but also to parents like us. It goes to show the great positive values they teach our children. Great job The Ole Schoolhouse. Keep up the great work! Enrol na inyo mga anak dir..dili jud mo magbasol (Enrol your children here.. you won’t regret it).😊

  • Karina Binoy

    Мы присоединились к The Ole Schoolhouse, когда нашему сыну было 10 месяцев. Он был расстроен и взволнован в начале, потому что он не видел много людей раньше и всегда был с мамой. Эрик и Джули нашли подход и мой сын чувствует себя комфортно и весело проводит свое время. Он любит своих учителей, всегда идет к ним в объятия, что показывает, что он получает всю любовь и заботу! Также я вижу, что у него много друзей, и он многому научился в общении. Я очень рада, что у нас есть возможность воспитывать нашего ребенка в лучшем детском саду!
    Большое спасибо The Ole Schoolehouse!!

  • Greeshma Nair

    Highly recommend this place. My son has been attending the Ole Schoolhouse for the last 1 year. He enjoys playing with other kids. He loves his teachers- they are very caring, friendly and approachable. My son has picked up on his language. Very satisfied.

  • Sharmane

    The teachers are great, energetic and caring.. My boys are doing well in the daycare. They are looked after and the staff communicate well with us. My son enjoyed doing experiments and going for outdoor activities. Keep up the good work.

  • Sommer Savell

    Our family has been attending The Ole Schoolhouse for more than 9 years (3 kids). No hesitation in recommending them.
    Fantastic, caring, engaged teachers. Wide variety of activities, learning, adventures and fun.
    Great meals provided. The preparation for children starting school is so helpful. Outdoor play area has been renovated in last few years and is really lovely.

  • Jagan George

    Thank you so much. You guys are awesome.
    God Bless

  • Surakchha Timilsena

    A big thanks to the Oleschool house. My daughter was just 10 months when she joined the school, since that day it has been the most happiest place for her. She feels the school as home and the everyone as her family. Thank you for the all teachers and owner too. They are very welcoming, sweet, helpful, caring and supportive. Whenever I send my daughter to the school i feel very safe for her. Im very grateful to them whatever they are doing for her. Fully satisfied with their efforts.
    Thank you so much for everything

  • Kayla

    I have had two children attend The Ole School house and could not recommend them more highly. My children were / are more than comfortable at the Ole School house, cared for emotionally & physically and they create beautiful bonds with their teachers, they experience all kids of activities and interactive play that i simply could not provide them at home. Socially they develop such wonderful skills which with my oldest daughter who is now at school you can see how well this has set her up for a great start to her schooling life. It says a lot about a organization when you have a one year old screeching with excitement as you walk to the door 🙂 Keep being the amazing second home to our kiddies Eric, Julie and the team at the Ole School house – well done!

  • Melissa Matthews

    Our daughter is 2.5yrs and been attending full-time since she turned 1. We love The Ole School House. The staff are all amazing and look after the kids so well, like they are their own. We are kept up to date with how she is going, and the teachers/owners are always approachable and so friendly.
    We have work colleagues and friends whose kids also attend & never hear any negative feedback, it’s always positive.
    Our daughter doesn’t want to leave most days I pick her up & during the holidays she said she wanted to go to daycare to see her friends, so I know she is having fun. The food is also healthy, and we know she will never go hungry.
    Thank you all so much for the amazing care and love you give our kids.

  • Katie

    The owners and staff are very welcoming and take great interest in the growth, development and care of each child. They are happy to work with the family for baby/childrens needs and routines.
    Have lots of varied activities for all ages.
    Our children enjoy all the meals supplied. Nice community feel and Great communication.

  • Sunarika Arora

    This is one of the best Childcare Centres. All the teachers are very nice, friendly and educated. I loved the environment instantly when i visited it for the first time. The owners themselves look after each and every kid very carefully. As first-time parent, i was extremely nervous how my son will react. But he loved it. He turned 1 year old when he started here. I really appreciate the efforts all the teachers and owners put in every child to inculcate good values. Thank you so much for everything. 😍🙏

  • Katrina and Michael Koppin

    Our son was with the Ole Schoolhouse since he was 14 months old. He graduated last year and now his sister is with them. The owners and teachers treat the kids as if they’re their own. So we are so happy with the care they provide through the years. We’re so glad we chose The Ole Schoolhouse as our children’s daycare centre.

  • Kathryn Ross

    I am so grateful that a colleague recommended the Ole Schoolhouse to me when I was pregnant with our first child who started at the Ole Schoolhouse when he was 6 months. We have been attending for almost 3 years now and my second son just started. The teachers at OSH go above and beyond in every way and have supported us immensely in our journey as parents. As our family are all overseas, they have been like family to us. Our eldest son has thrived in the environment they create, which is loving and enriching. He learns so much and enjoys his time at the centre. As parents, we have also learned a lot of strategies and tips, and the teachers are so generous with their time whenever we want to discuss anything. Being a part of the OSH whanau has enriched our lives immensely. The children experience such a range of cool activities in a multicultural setting. The centre is beautiful and so well looked after. The food provided is healthy and delicious. The hygiene practices are impressive, and even with the additional demands on staff that the pandemic brought, things always seem to run smoothly and efficiently, and the children are so well cared for. Recommend wholeheartedly!

  • Alka Thomas

    We have had our two kids go to Ole Schoolhouse and we have nothing but impressed with the care my kids have received from them. They have been like a second family to us and have always gone above and beyond for our family. We highly recommend them.

  • Daphne Papuni

    When talking with a friend about early childhood centres in our rohe, she mentioned the caring staff of The Ole Schoolhouse and said “if I had mokopuna, I would send them to The Ole Schoolhouse” and that for me, was recommendation enough. So, I asked the parents to visit and enquire about enrolment. They were greeted warmly and made to feel welcome, by the centre Manager and both parents were hugely impressed with the kura. I visited a short time after with Māmā and moko in tow. I was greeted by staff and the Manager, who is also a proficient speaker of te reo Māori, he asked about my mokopuna’s name (its a real long Māori name),the origin and pronunciation – and in that instant I knew this whanau would take great care of my mokopuna. The kaiako have made every effort to ensure they say his name correctly, even though its a mouthful. Nothing gives me more joy than to hear his full name being called out when Nan picks him up 🙂 – tenei te mihi maioha ki a koutou katoa e te hunga kaiako xx
    Kura (be it ece or school) is the place where they will spend the most time, and its important that they have a place where they feel welcomed, safe and cared for – The Ole Schoolhouse and the staff provide this kind of place for the mokopuna in Rotorua. I am grateful that my mokopuna, who is 18 months now, continues to be cared for, nurtured, educated and thrive in this place.
    Thank you e te whānau o Te Kura Tawhito 🙂

  • Matt Styles

    As a father of two small children, knowing they are well looked after while i’m at work is incredibly important to me. The Ole schoolhouse covers all my needs and more. Firstly when sending my children, 1-3years and 1-11 months, I know through what I have observed, that they are in the best hands possible. The staff go above and beyond to ensure the children are safe and happy. There are always enough staff or caregivers present in all areas to keep an eye on the children. They ensure any needs or requirements that the children might need are met. When working with the children, the staff are kind and caring. My children definitely feel loved when they are there.

    The staff are amazing when it comes to the children learning. They engage with them and provided challenges for them to overcome as they learn what the world is all about. My daughter loves to sing and dance and has learnt many new songs from being here. The staff involve the children in all sorts of activities to help with confidence building, social skills, sharing, etc. I have seen first hand how well my daughter has developed from attending here.

    My kids love the food that is provided and I always know they never go hungry or thirsty. The food is always fresh and healthy. Any dietary requirements are well taken care of.

    The staff that look after the smaller children take the best possible care of all the new baby’s. My son is alway relaxed around them as he feels safe and cared for.

    Parents are kept well informed of any problems our children may have or of any achievements that they make.

    The Ole Schoolhouse ticks all the items I have when it comes to my children. Eric and Julie with the help of their amazing staff, provide a place I couldn’t recommend high enough. If you are lucky enough to have your children attend The Ole Schoolhouse you will definitely not regret it.

  • Melanie Nicholls

    As first time parents our nerves of finding the right daycare for our daughter were put at ease when we visited The Ole Schoolhouse. Such a welcoming and caring family environment. Our daughter is extremely well looked after and they have such fun activities for the kids with dress up days and lots of learning activities. Our daughter is just so excited to go to daycare to see her friends, this is so wonderful and reassuring to see as a mum.
    Everyone is just so lovely here and the The Ole Schoolhouse doesn’t fall anything short of being amazing! Couldn’t recommend The Ole Schoolhouse team more highly!

  • serene

    My family and I moved to Rotorua about 2 years ago so I didn’t know where to go about finding the right daycare for my two boys so we went on the hunt we went to a few centres all over Rotorua but our kids weren’t very keen. We stumbled upon the Ole School Hiouse and my kids walked in like it was there own house and i knew we were in the right place! They were quite full however they made it work so we could go to work. They go beyond for all the families here it’s pretty much like a big family. Best daycare ever!

  • Rebecca palmer

    As new parents the thought of leaving our 6month old at daycare was pretty daunting. I can honestly say that the ole school house staff already feel like family. Watching our little one grow in such a nurturing environment is a comfort to both mum and dad. Meals are nutritious and the staff are supportive of cloth nappys which is awesome. Thank you team we appreciate you all

  • Kylee Christie

    I have two children who attend the Ole Schoolhouse and I couldn’t have asked for a better centre. I have never had to worry about the care and always feel reassured when my children are there that they will be having a fun and educational day and that their needs are being met. The owners of the centre, Eric and Julie pour their heart and soul into the centre and go well above and beyond what is expected of centre owners. They also value and look after their staff. You won’t get better than this centre in terms of excellent child to teacher ratios and the kaiako are quality and caring. The cook makes the best food which is really nutritious and substantial. You would be very lucky to have your child attend this centre.

  • Rubina

    We really like and enjoying your service, everything is right on top. Best service!

  • Jody H

    Our now 8-month-old daughter started at The Ole Schoolhouse when she was 5 months and is full-time. I could not be happier with how well she has settled in thanks to the caring nature of the teachers and owners. They facilitated a great settling-in period and spent time getting to know us and our daughter’s routine which has really helped her (and us) adjust. I love the homey feeling and always feel welcome when I visit.
    The food is nutritious, and they were super encouraging for me to continue to express and drop off milk each day and/or drop in to breastfeed.
    We have also continued using our reusable nappies. Our daughter enjoys attending and we love seeing her develop so beautifully in such an enriching environment.

  • Toni

    Everything is fantastic. Nothing to be complained. I like the teachers and environment.

  • Kennedy Robinson

    As soon as you walk through the door you are just greeted with the friendliest loving staff who make you feel warm and welcome from day one! My child is always so full of joy and happy at every pickup, and what more could you ask for as a parent? The owners of this centre have the biggest hearts and you can just tell that there is so much passion and love in everything that they do!
    I couldn’t be happier with the centre my child is in and couldn’t recommend it more! ❤️

  • April

    I am so pleased that I enrolled my little one in this centre. All staff are awesome, friendly and easy to deal with. They are very passionate with children and their service has exceeded my expectation. The owners are very kind and supportive. I am so grateful to have found a second home for my child. I highly recommend this childhood centre.

  • Sommer Savell

    The Ole Schoolhouse in Toko St is AMAZING. My kids both went there at around 6mth and #3 will be going too. It’s like a brilliant little extended family away from your home 😊 The bonus of a centre over home based it that there are multiple staff on hand at all times, so baby is always supervised. The bubs are in an area near, but separated from, the toddlers so they can interact, but bub will feel safe. The food is great, and the activities are varied all the time. Cannot recommend them enough!

  • Jasmine Baker

    I had heard such great things about this centre from friends and work colleagues that I didn’t bother looking at any others and I have never regretted it. My daughter started at 11mnths and my son at 8mnths. The staff are fantastic, friendly, enthusiastic and caring. They obviously love the children and treat them like family which I am grateful for. There are always yummy smells coming from the kitchen and my children absolutely LOVE daycare. I have never had any concerns or issues with regards to my children’s care. Nothing but nice things to say about them.

  • Nicole Alemann

    The first time my son and I spontaneously visited The Ole School House we were greeted in the driveway by the owner himself. The second time we randomly inspected the centre (weeks later) we were greeted by another staff member enthusiastically by name! The genuine passion and love all the staff have for their jobs shows daily in the way they welcome my child with a hugs and setup activities they know my child is interested in. As first-time parents my partner and I were nervous about finding the perfect daycare for our son. We visited a lot of daycares in Rotorua and decided to visit The Ole School house on high recommendation from a friend. We now know he is at the best centre when has to say goodbye to all his teachers before we go to the car.

Leave a Review.

Select a rating
Overall
Select a rating
The Teachers/Carers/Staff
Select a rating
Parent/Family Support
Select a rating
Health, Hygiene, & Safety
Select a rating
Teaching & Learning Activities

Loading...

A Message for Parents:

Rate and review this service - go to the Reviews and Ratings tab at the top of this page.

A Message for Services:

You can promote your service here. We can add more details such as hours, what you provide, and even add images. There is only a small charge to add additional details, unless your service is with the Office of ECE in which case we are able to do this for you for free. Contact us and ask to advertise.

Key

Community Ownership:
Parents likely have a strong say in how the service operates and what happens to children, all money earnt stays within it, and teachers may be paid better and childcare charges may be lower compared to most (but not necessarily all) private and corporate owned services. (Ask: Is it an Incorporated Society?  Does it also have charitable status?)

Small Boutique Centre:
Centres with 50 or fewer children make it easier for staff to provide a warm and nurturing environment, for children to have their individual needs met and skills, knowledge, and competencies extended.  (Ask: For continuity of care and relationships, do children stay with the same group of children and teachers throughout their time at the service?)

100% Qualified Teacher Funded:
All staff counted toward meeting the minimum adult-child ratio requirement must hold a practising certificate as a teacher if the service receives this level of Ministry of Education funding. (Ask: Does the service count teachers trained in the ECE of children birth to 5 years and not primary or secondary school trained teachers?)

Men Included on Teaching Staff (as at last year):
There are strong benefits of having both men and women on the teaching team for the quality of care and education a service provides to children. Additionally, gender bias in staff recruitment and employment is not generally acceptable in society today. (Ask: How many teaching staff are employed and what proportion are men?).

Clean Licence Record (last year and the year before):
To be licensed a service must comply with regulations that help ensure children’s safety, care, and a suitable standard of education. When requirements are breached the Ministry of Education may downgrade a service’s licence to provisional or issue a suspension.  (Check the lists of services placed on a provisional or suspended licence https://oece.nz/public/information/standards/ published each year) 

Recommended Highly by 80% or More Families:
At least 80% of families recommend the service and rate it as being very good to excellent on a range of aspects of quality. (Note that a response rate of at least 51% families on the OECE parent survey https://oece.nz/public/information/resources/parent-survey/  research instrument within the last three years is necessary here)

myECE white logo blue back

Join the Parents Council

Are you are parent, grandparent, or caregiver of a child under 6 years?    

Join the ECE Parents Council.   You will receive:

  • A monthly newsletter (free)
  • Survey invitations and notifications of important changes in ECE

We promise not to spam you with rubbish, just useful information.