Early Childhood Education staff at REAP Wairarapa support our rural Playgroups to thrive.
Playgroups are community-based and run by parents and whānau.
Sessions are held weekly or for some, twice weekly for a few hours.
REAP staff visit 2 to 3 times per term to provide educational curriculum support, parenting information and workshops for parents to give them more confidence to run their sessions independently.
Whānau who engage with their local playgroup build social and community relationships and networks.
REAP staff provide professional support for Playgroups to become certificated, and to continue to be certificated, so they qualify for some government funding.
North Wairarapa
| Playgroup | When | Time | Where |
| Pahiatua | Monday | 9.30 am -12 noon | Anglican Church Hall Albert St |
| Mangamaire | Tuesday | 9.30 am -12 noon | Mangamaire Hall, Tutaekara Road |
| Eketāhuna | Wednesday and Thursday | 9.00 am -12 noon | Eketāhuna School |
| Pongaroa | Tuesday | 9.00 am -12 noon | Pongaroa Early Years |
| Makuri | Contact Makuri primary | Makuri Domain | |
| Alfredton | Thursday | 9.30 am -12 noon | Alfredton Hall |
| Mauriceville | 2nd Thursday of each month in school term | 9:00 am – 11.30 am | Mauriceville School Hall |
| Ballance | Contact Ballance primary school | Ballance School | |
South Wairarapa
| Playgroup | When | Time | Where |
| Kahutara | Monday | 9.30 am -12 noon | Kahutara Hall Cnr Pukio West Road |
| Greytown | Monday | 9.30 am -11:30 am | Greytown Plunket rooms Cnr McMaster & East Street |
| Carterton | Friday | 9.30 am -11:30 am | St Mark’s Anglican Church Hall, 185 High St. Carterton |
| Featherston | Wednesday | 10.00am – 12 noon | 15 Wallace St Featherston |
| Pirinoa | Tuesday | 9.00 am -11.30 am | Beside Pirinoa School |
| Longbush | Wednesday | 9.30 am -12 noon | Longbush Playgroup 1132/1202 Longbush Rd |
Central/East Wairarapa
| Playgroup | When | Time | Where |
| Tinui | Wednesday | 9.30 am -1.00pm | Behind Tinui School |
| Wainuioru | Tuesday | 9.30 am -12 noon | Beside Wainuioru School |
| Whareama | Wednesday | 9.30 am -12 noon | Whareama School |
For more information on how to contact a playgroup please contact Jude or Shirley.
Chatterbox
REAP Wairarapa runs a campaign to encourage and support all adults who have contact with children under 5 to spend more time talking, singing and reading so the tamariki of the Wairarapa can be the best they can be. We provide workshops for teachers, professionals and parents to learn more about the important role they have.
Learn more at chatterbox at www.chatterbox.nz
Professional Development for Kaiako and teachers
REAP Wairarapa works with our local MoE curriculum lead to provide professional development opportunities each term. We also work closely with our ECE across-school lead from one of our local Kahui Ako to support EC staff.