Our story

People who care deeply about little people.

Tiny Legends is a close-knit, privately owned centre where tamariki come first, whānau feel connected and kaiako are supported to do what they do best.

A small group of tamariki learning together with their kaiako at Tiny Legends
Our owners

Tiny Legends is proud to be privately owned—created from a dream.

Cerys had spent many years working in Early Childhood Education before fulfilling a long-held dream of owning her own centre in July 2022. For Cerys, Tiny Legends was an opportunity to create the kind of early learning environment she truly believed in—one where tamariki are known and valued as individuals, whānau feel a genuine sense of belonging, and kaiako are supported to provide meaningful, high-quality care and education.

Cerys and her husband Jarrod live in Feilding with their three daughters, Dixie, Paisley and Darci.

As a parent, Cerys understands just how important it is to know your child is somewhere they are safe, happy, understood and genuinely cared for.

For Cerys, Tiny Legends is much more than a business—it is a community they are incredibly proud to be part of.

The Tiny Legends Early Learning Centre in Kelvin Grove
Cerys and Kelsey together at Tiny Legends
Meet the duo behind Tiny Legends

Two roles, one shared vision.

Tiny Legends is led by Cerys, our Centre Owner, and Kelsey, our Centre Manager. They work closely together to bring the heart and vision of the centre to life.

They share a strong commitment to creating a centre where tamariki come first, whānau feel connected and supported, and kaiako feel valued and empowered to do what they do best. Their close working relationship means there is a shared vision across all areas of Tiny Legends—from the quality of care and learning provided to tamariki, through to supporting the teaching team and building strong relationships with whānau.

Together, they oversee the day-to-day running and ongoing direction of Tiny Legends, combining their individual strengths, knowledge and experience. Most importantly, they want Tiny Legends to feel like more than an early learning centre: a welcoming community where people know one another, children genuinely belong and every Legend has the opportunity to grow.

Growing Legends, Big & Small.

Meet the whole team
Our philosophy

Every child is a capable and confident learner.

Our kaiako are committed to providing a rich, engaging curriculum where tamariki are supported to learn, explore and grow physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually. Strong, responsive relationships are at the heart of our practice.

By working in partnership with tamariki, whānau and the wider community, we recognise each child’s strengths, interests, culture and individual learning journey. We value a holistic approach to wellbeing, recognising the importance of whānau, tinana, hinengaro and wairua in supporting each child to thrive.

Learning that lasts

Strong foundations for lifelong learning.

Our curriculum is guided by Te Whāriki and shaped by six priorities that come to life naturally through play, relationships, routines and meaningful experiences.

Swipe to explore our learning priorities

01

Independence

Rangatiratanga

Supporting tamariki to develop confidence, independence, self-help skills and a strong sense of themselves as capable learners.

02

Numeracy

Pāngarau

Creating meaningful opportunities to explore numbers, patterns, shapes, measurement, problem-solving and mathematical thinking through everyday play.

03

Literacy

Reo Matarau

Nurturing communication and a love of language through conversations, storytelling, books, music, mark-making and a language-rich environment.

04

Social & Emotional Competence

Pūmanawatanga

Supporting tamariki to understand and express emotions, develop self-regulation, build relationships, solve social challenges and develop empathy.

05

Cultural Identity

Ahureatanga

Ensuring tamariki see their culture, language, identity and whānau reflected and valued, while developing respect and understanding for others.

06

Community

Hāpori

Creating strong connections between tamariki, whānau, our centre and the wider community so children understand their place in the world.

Our commitment

These priorities are woven throughout our everyday curriculum and reflect the principles and strands of Te Whāriki. They influence the experiences we provide, the environments we create, the way we interact with tamariki and how we recognise and respond to learning.

We continually reflect on and evolve our practice, working alongside whānau and our wider support networks to enable every child to belong, contribute, communicate, explore and develop wellbeing.

Come and say hello

See what makes Tiny Legends feel like home.

Book a Visit