Welcome to

Belonging. Connection.
Real-life learning.

Suits & Gumboots Country Daycare – where childhood still looks like mud pies, tree climbs and collecting eggs before lunch.  Nestled in the heart of Te Kauwhata Village and catering to 0–6 year olds; come and discover the wonder of play with us.

Look around

Our Nest

A calm, nurturing space for our youngest learners, focused on connection and gentle routines.

Our Homestead

Exploration, creativity and real-life experiences through undisturbed play, outdoor adventures and hands on learning.

Play: the ‘old-fashioned way

Child-led play with room to roam, get messy, use imagination and be wild. Learning unfolds naturally through friendships, curiosity and fun.

Outdoor Learning

Bush trips, lake walks, tree climbs and muddy discoveries connecting with nature and learning life skills.
Two young boys plant. vegetables in the garden at Suits & Gumboots daycare

About Suits and Gumboots

Our philosophy

We value a sense of belonging, with relationships at the heart of who we are at Suits & Gumboots Country Daycare. Through trusted partnerships between kaiako, tamariki and whaanau, we focus on fostering respectful relationships which meet the individual learning needs of each tamaiti.

Real-life experiences guided by curiosity, nature and our wider community help shape a rich and meaningful curriculum. Together, we nurture a safe learning environment which extends young minds and explores their unique evolving interests and natural talents.

Our days are shaped by Te Whaariki, embracing:

  • Whakamana – Empowerment

  • Kotahitanga – Holistic development

  • Whaanau Tangata – Family and community

  • Ngaa Hononga – Relationships

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

Full Catering

Fresh baking, home-cooked meals, and milk for bottles (formula and breast milk provided from home)

Flexible routine

We like to say it’s your routine, not ours.

Low Ratios

We value quality ratios. 1:4 in Our Nest and 1:7 in Our Homestead.

31.25 hrs ECE

Once your child turns 3 they are eligible for 20 Ministry funded hours; we top this up to 31.25 hrs.

All kai, nappies, sunblock and milk for bottles. Breast milk and formula are provided from home.

We cater for children from birth to six years old. Our local school has a cohort entry, where children start 2 times per term. This means a lot of tamariki remain at Suits after their 5th Birthday. Some whaanau prefer to see the term through with us and start fresh at the beginning of the next term.

Once your child turns 3 years old they are eligible for 20 ECE hours funded by the Ministry of Education for up to 6 hours per day. We offer an additional 11.25hrs per week to allow 5x 6.25 hour days/ 31.25hrs total subsidised childcare hours per week. A common misconception is that ECE hours are free hours. Please see our ‘Fee Schedule’ below for more information.

We have two separate learning areas. “Our Nest” is the under threes, with flexible transitions for each child when they are ready between turning two and three. Licenced for 10 under two and 10 over twos and with low ratios of 1:4. ‘Our Homestead” room caters to 41 two-six year olds with a ratio of 1:7. Our ratios are maintained throughout all times of the day; including during breaks and non-contact.

A minimum of two visits (more if you would like), allows Kaiako to get to know you and your child before they start. You can stay as long as you want and actively participate in our routine while you are with us.  This is your process not ours and we will walk alongside you while you settle and build a connection with us. We have a dedicated settling Kaiako in each room to help you navigate this time.

We have worked hard to form a deep and meaningful relationship with the local school in our township, Te Kauwhata Primary. We take our ‘big kids’ to school visits every term, with children attending at least three to four in partnerships with whaanau before they head off to kura.

How do we support your child to be ready for these new adventures? School readiness for us is based around learning life skills,  building and sustaining friendships, independent self-help skills, showing leadership, emotional regulation and communication skills that enable them to actively participate in our day.

Feedback from whaanau

- Korall Lakatos
Suits and Gumboots has been the most amazing place for our wild children. The staff are nurturing, attentive and are constantly teaching the kids such useful life skills. We are so happy to be apart of the Suits family and really wish we had done it sooner. ​
- ASHLEIGH PHILLIPS
What isn’t amazing about Suits and Gumboots? The space, the culture, the people, everything is simply wonderful! The team truly feels like an extension of our family. We love that our boys are given the freedom to take safe risks, get messy, and experience childhood the way it’s meant to be, full of adventure and discovery.
- AMBER REESON
The Suits and Gumboots team are absolutely amazing you feel the love as soon as you walk through the door from the smiling face at reception right through to the nest and homestead. I chose this centre because it is play based, the staff are very hands on and with great ratios in each room. I can't be more happier or recommend this centre enough.
- MADDIE HANSEN
Both my boys started at S&G when they were 3. We were met with open arms and we loved the friendly staff. The outside area is fantastic and the trips to lake Puketerini is such an awesome thing for the kids to experience. By the time my kids went to school we were part of the S&G whanau and got given a very special send off with leaving party from daycare and staff and kids from the center attending their powhiri at school. My kids got to wear the special korowais made by S&G to the powhiri sending all the aroha and luck for their future adventure.
- KELLY DRAYTON
Suits and Gumboots was the best decision we made, ever since visiting we knew this was going to be a great daycare for our child. Bodhi has been there since he was 6 months old, the staff are amazing at stimulating, engaging, educating and nurturing. Excellent communication from all staff members, and Bodhi is always excited in the morning to head to daycare. We have no concerns, and know he is well cared for and in a very safe environment. Can't recommend Suits and Gumboots and staff highly enough.
- AMY
If you enjoy your child being adventurous and using their imagination then you have hit the jackpot with Suits and Gumboots Country daycare. My family and I upon moving to Te Kauwhata we were in search for the right place for our 3 year old daughter to attend just before we were due with our next child and to our surprise the teachers took our daughter under their wing and let her flourish into the most creative minded girl she is today as she took the next leap and started school this year.
Get in touch
Contact form

For all enrollment enquiries please include your child’s name, date of birth and information around days/hours. We invite you to call in for a visit to look around anytime between 9 and 3pm- but for all visits outside of these hours please send us a message.

Where are we?

Come see what makes Suits & Gumboots Country daycare so special. You’ll find us nestled in Te Kauwhata surrounded by fresh air, laughter and a whole lot of muddy gumboots.