Ruru House is an early learning centre, architecturally designed with children at the heart of all that we do. Nestled in nature, just outside of the township of Lepperton, Taranaki. Offering whānau the opportunity to have their taonga nurtured and educated amongst nature and loved by qualified educators who live and breathe teaching.
“A person’s a person no matter how small”
Home
At Ruru House we value the importance of quality early learning. Our kaiako have been carefully chosen to ensure they have the special qualities needed to nurture and care for children while fostering learning. Our kaiako are trained, qualified and registered, with many years experience. Children will experience real work: real baking, real meals, real gardening, and real crafts as in harakeke weaving, wood work, real experiences; exploring their environment, using resources creatively and sharing experiences with others. A day at Ruru House is filled with exploration, fun, curiosity, anchored against times to come back together and share meals and converse about our day.
We are committed to open, positive relationships with whānau & their tamariki. We revere the role of the whānau as children’s first teachers. We encourage whānau to become active members of our learning community, sharing with us their own knowledge and experiences. Whanaungatanga (partnerships with whānau and our community) are essential and influential to a child’s own sense of belonging to our own learning community. Ruru has an open door policy, we welcome whānau, extended whānau to visit, share skills, knowledge or just join us for a cup of tea.
Ruru House, nestled in the countryside, is a purpose built early learning centre with the child at the center of everything we do. Our early learning centre has been specifically designed so that children can immerse themselves in nature and what the unique surroundings have to offer. We have large rolling paddocks at our doorstep, a meandering river, shadowed by two large macrocarpa trees that are home to our resident Ruru. At our early learning centre we have a commitment to ensuring that children are empowered to become kaitiaki and take an active role in nurturing all living things; garden, land, animals and each other. We have been fortunate to receive special funding to minimise waste within our community . This is why we are committed to supplying cloth nappies for the duration of your child’s time attendance.
Ruru House has been purpose built to support children’s unfolding development. Children need the right environment both emotionally and physically. We are committed to providing children with the best raw materials/recycled/purpose picked resources with uninterrupted time to explore. Inviting spaces that foster curiosity and relationships that support children emotionally is the recipe for learning . This is why we have not compromised on providing space for children to explore and be nurtured.
“Teaching is a work of heart””
Because the little things are actually the big things.
Choosing an early learning environment is about more than the weekly fee. As both a mum and a kaiako, I know how much trust it takes to leave your child in someone else's care.
That's why we're intentional about what we invest in: qualified and experienced kaiako, staffing ratios that go beyond minimum requirements, and a consistent team who have the time to build meaningful relationships with tamariki. Alongside this, we provide spacious, well-resourced places to play, explore and grow.
These are not extras to us. They're part of the care and education we believe every tamaiti deserves.
Because how your child experiences their day matters.
| Days | Mini | Midi | Full |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $237 | $299 | $324 |
| 4 | $319 | $381 | $412 |
| 5 | $380 | $412 | $443 |
| Days | Mini | Midi | Full |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $165 | $196 | $206 |
| 4 | $227 | $258 | $278 |
| 5 | $258 | $299 | $319 |
All enrolments are a minimum of three days per week.
Our full-day operating hours are 7:30 am to 5:15 pm.
Fees as at January 2025. Fees are calculated across 52 weeks of the year and paid weekly. Te Koko fees assume eligible 20 Hours ECE funding. Please refer to our fee policy for other conditions.
Eligible whānau may claim back up to 40% of their childcare fees, to a maximum of $1,560 per quarter. The amount depends on household income and eligible fees.
Move the sliders to estimate what your whānau could claim back from IRD.
Enter what you pay Ruru each week after any Work and Income subsidy. Do not subtract FamilyBoost.
You pay your Ruru fees weekly. If eligible, you claim FamilyBoost from IRD each quarter. IRD pays you directly, not Ruru.
Good to know: This is an estimate, not a guaranteed FamilyBoost payment. It assumes the same fees for 13 weeks and estimates quarterly income from annual income. Your actual rebate depends on IRD's assessment of your income, eligible fees and circumstances. FamilyBoost is claimed per household.
20 Hours ECE
Ruru participates in the Government's 20 Hours ECE scheme for children aged 3 to 5. Our Te Koko fees already account for this funding where applicable.
Work and Income Childcare Subsidy
Some whānau may qualify for additional support with childcare fees through Work and Income. We're happy to help explain how this works alongside your Ruru enrolment.
Wondering which days or sessions would work best? We'd love to show you around, introduce you to our kaiako and help you understand your weekly fees.
Email us about enrolment Call 021 156 3300“Every baby has three wishes: they wish to feel safe, they wish to feel loved, and they wish to feel respected”
If you are ready to join the Ruru whānau, please fill out our enrolment form by clicking on the link below.
Please note, that unless you have a confirmed space, this form does not guarantee your enrolment. Please complete all the fields, along with providing us with a copy of your child’s identification and immunisation records (if immunised).
Alternatively you can arrange a time to come in to visit the uniquely special Ruru environment and pick up the forms.
We have spaces in both Te Kōpae and Te Koko for 2027, on full-time and part-time enrolments, until they’re filled. Fill out our enquiry form and we’ll be in touch to arrange a Ruru House tour. Once you’ve visited and completed the enrolment paperwork, we’ll confirm your child’s place.
It only takes a couple of minutes. I’ll be in touch to find a time that suits you.
Kia ora,
My name is Anna, and I am the owner, operator, and a qualified teacher here at Ruru House. You’ll often find me alongside our tamariki and kaiako, sharing in the day’s play, learning, and laughter.
Our manager, Nic, works closely with me in the office and is also part of our Te Kōpae teaching team. She brings a calm presence, strong leadership, and a wealth of knowledge that supports both our kaiako and whānau.
My husband Nathan works locally and enjoys being behind the scenes — tinkering in his shed, inventing creative learning resources, and offering plenty of moral support. Our eldest son Joe is now at school, while our youngest, Eddie, attends Ruru and brings a bright spark of curiosity and fun to our days.
We live next door with our dogs, Oscar and Pippin, so Ruru truly feels like an extension of our home. You may also meet other members of our wider whānau, as Ruru House is nestled on our family land — a place filled with warmth, connection, and care.
I was born and raised on the land where Ruru is built and reside next door. I feel connected to this land and feel a responsibility (kaitiaki) to ensure it is nurtured. I have had a vision for long time to be able to offer our extended family land as a place for discovery and learning. A base for children to foster a love of nature and that supports children to take healthy risks to develop their sense of self.
Before embarking on my teaching journey we lived in Wellington then abroad and worked in a range of roles that focused on business administration and IT support. The opportunity arose to come back to settle in Lepperton, a real slice of paradise in our corner of the world. The urge to become a teacher grew and I became qualified through Canterbury University in 2011.
We hope you feel at home at Ruru House 💚
246 Richmond Road, Lepperton
Monday to Friday 7.30 am - 5.15 pm
Anna Ryder (BTchLn ECE)
p: 021 156 3300
“Education is not a linear process of preparation for the future: it is about cultivating the talents and sensibilities through which we can live our best lives in the present and create the future for ourselves””
