HINDS PROGRAMMES

PUKEKO

Under 2's

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TAKAHE

Over 2's

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HINDS TEAM

Emma Harmer

Management Team

Diploma in ECE, Fully Registered

Kia Ora, my name is Emma Harmer and I am the director and owner of Leap Ahead Early Childhood Centre.  I have been an Early Childhood Educator for 16 years, and hold a Diploma in Early Childhood Education. I have a great desire and passion for quality early childhood care and It was part of this desire and passion that in 2010 I decided to open my own centre. There was a real need in the Methven community for another quality childcare provider to help ease the wait times for children and families to begin attending a preschool.

In June 2011 this became a reality and Leap Ahead opened its doors to the Methven community. We are now a well-established early childhood centre with two rooms offering care for children aged 3 months to 5 years. During each child’s learning journey with us at Leap Ahead we aim to give them the best start in life and watch them grow into strong, capable and confident learners with the help of quality educators and a well-resourced centre. On July 1st 2019  another opportunity arose where i purchased a  centre in the Hinds Community, where i endeavour to offer and share my knowledge and expertise between the two centres.  I can’t wait to meet you all and look forward to helping you and your child start their early childhood experience, whether in Methven or Hinds.

Kaylene Hindson

Management Team

Diploma in ECE, Fully Registered

Kia Ora,

My name is Kaylene Hindson and I am the manager at Leap Ahead. I have 18 Years experience in the Early Childhood sector, and hold a Diploma in Early Childhood education and have worked in many different roles, such as a teacher, a head teacher and now I am really enjoying being challenged in the role as manager. I have a strong interest in the Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whariki, and how this is implemented throughout our daily programme. I believe in quality education and support for our children while they are in the centre working towards their goals and achievements. I am proud to be working alongside a team of strong educators that provide an enriched and inviting environment which captures all the cultural aspects of our rural community.

Sarah McDougall

Management Team

  Diploma in ECE, Fully Registered 

Kia ora Koutou,

My name is Sarah and I have been in the Early Childhood sector for 10 years. I am fully registered, and I have a Diploma of teaching, which I completed through Rangi Ruru Early Childhood College. I work and live in the Hinds Community, and it is great. I love getting to know all our Whānau and the tamariki that attend Leap Ahead. I have taught within the centre for 1.5 years before recently taking on the role as centre manager. I love working behind the scenes and helping the team and the centre grow. A bit about myself I am married, and I have two beautiful children that keep me very busy. In our spare time as a family, we love adventuring to the lakes in the summer and spending time with family and friends.

Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu, koe me he maunga teitei

Seek the treasure you value most dearly, if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.


This whakatauki is about aiming high or what is truly valuable, but it's real message is to be persistent and don't let obstacles stop you from reaching your goal.

Grace Strudwicke

Head Teacher

Bachelor in ECE, Qualified

Kia Ora, 
My name is Grace Strudwicke, I have a bachelor of teaching and learning in ECE, with the university of canterbury. I currently work alongside the 2-4 year old age group in the Takahē room. I am very passionate in educating and working alongside your tamariki and watching them develop, grow and learn to their full potential. I look forward to working with and getting to know you, your tamariki and whānau.

Hannah Herriott  

Head Teacher

Bachelor in ECE, Fully Registered

Kia Ora,
my name is Hannah Herriott, I have been teaching for 5 years with infants and toddlers and I have a bachelor in ECE. I moved to Mount Somers area 6 years ago and recently my partner and three cats moved to a little farm in Valletta.  Since then we have grown our family and added a dog and six cows and I can not wait to add more animals to our wee farm. I have been a part of the Leap Ahead Whānau  for the past year and a half and love being a part of the community. I have learnt so much from my team. At Leap Ahead I have been excited to take on the role as head teacher in the Pukeko room as well as the health and safety manager to develop my knowledge and further support the team. I have a passion for teaching with infants and toddlers, as they are always ready and excited to learn new things. I love building relationships with the tamariki, and their whānau and it is a privilege to be part of their journey. In two short years they grow and learn so much exploring their curiosities about how the world works and it is wonderful to support and watch them grow.
Ahakoa he iti he pounamu, although it is small it is greenstone.

Gracie Smith

 Teaching Team

ECE Qualified, Fully Registered

Kia Ora, 
My name is Gracie Smith, I am a teacher in the Takahē room at Leap Ahead Hinds! I started my teaching journey in 2019, starting a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (ECE) and taking on relieving jobs in my spare time. I finished my Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (ECE) in 2021 and have been teaching full time ever since. I love working with all ages, from babies right up to four-year-olds. I enjoy getting creative and silly with the tamariki, making a mess through messy play and art, or having a dance to music around the classroom. I try and set up the environment to support tamariki in letting their imagination run wild! I grew up in small rural towns, so I have been loving working in the Hinds community. In my spare time I love cooking or baking, spending time with my parents or sisters, being with my friends or going to the gym.

Whaea Waimaria Ross-Marsh

Teaching Team

Kia Ora,
my name is Whaea Wai, I am in my first year of study towards a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with the New Zealand Tertiary college.
I predominately teach in the takahe room (over 2’s). I have lived locally for 5 years now with my partner Matt and our animal family, after moving off my family sheep and beef farm in Sheffield. I love to nurture and promote growth within our next generations. I love seeing them flourish and develop independence. I value the hinds and wider community and forming those trusting relationships with whanau. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you all, as I progress through my teaching studies.

Rosie Leask 

Teaching Team

ECE Qualified,  Fully Registered

Kia Ora,
my name is Rosie Leask and I am a qualified registered teacher. I am married, with two boys aged 12 and 16 years. I have moved back to canterbury after spending 10 years in the Bay of Plenty. I have been teaching since 2015 and I love nurturing, challenging and teaching young minds.

Paula Kane

Teaching Team

Diploma in ECE, Fully Registered


Kia Ora,
my name is Paula Kane and I am excited to be joining the Leap Ahead team in Hinds and continue my teaching journey with you all. I believe relationships to be the key to success in early childhood and can’t wait to get to know you, your child/ren, whanau and the amazing community of Hinds. With my family, Mark my husband and Alex our foster son, we love being outdoors, enjoying our wee lifestyle block that has many animals that we like to attend to and socialising with friends. I especially love spending time in my garden tending to my growing flower business. To relax I love bike riding, going for walks, camping in the summer and exploring this wonderful country. I originally grew up in the Waikato where all my family still reside, however where I love to visit. I spent 2 years living and travelling in the UK back in the early 2000’s where I met my husband, Mark, however have called South Canterbury home for the past 20 years.

Karen Smollett

Teaching Team

Teacher Aide

Kia Ora,
my name is  Karen, I have been working with children for 25 years from nannying, relief work and now working full time here at Leap Head. I love watching tamariki grow ad see their personalities develop. I look forward to being a part of your child’s journey here. 

Erana Cone

 House Keeper/Teacher Aide

 Kia Ora,
My name is Erana Cone. I have been the housekeeper for Leap Ahead for the last 3 years. Before Leap Ahead, I was the housekeeper for Head start Early Learning Centre. I have enjoyed getting to know the  Leap Ahead team and meeting new families. I am a local in the Hinds community and enjoy watching the children grow and develop their independence.

ABOUT LEAP AHEAD HINDS

Leap Ahead Hinds is an early childhood centre, providing your children with quality education and care within the Hinds community.

At Leap Ahead Early Childhood Centre we believe that children learn best in an environment where they feel safe and secure and reassured that their needs will be met, and where they feel that they have a special place. We provide an environment that lays this foundation so that children can develop through communicating effectively, contributing in a variety of situations, and exploring almost everything.

HINDS LOCATION