What we do
Wana Tamariki supports children from birth to school age who need support meeting developmental milestones.
We welcome referrals from anyone (with parental/caregiver's prior consent) who feels a child may benefit from our support. A diagnosis by a medical professional is not required to access our service.
Supporting children with learning, communication or mobility challenges
Wana Tamariki, formerly Conductive Education Waikato, was established in Hamilton in 1991 by a group of parents dedicated to providing a holistic programme that worked with the child and family.
We use play-based, holistic and collaborative practice to support and nurture tamariki to reach their potential.
We offer a welcoming space where we see relationships as key to getting the best outcomes for tamariki and their whanau. Our team work alongside whanau, Early Learning Centres and other specialists to develop a collaborative plan for support that is specific to the needs, culture and goals of each child and whanau.
At the heart of our service, lies the trusting relationships we form with families, with the children we see, and with the team of professionals from our wider community. We recognise the importance of families coming together, sharing experiences and supporting others and that the ‘team’ working together each brings knowledge and skills to contribute.
Children we see may need support with:
Autism
Cerebral Palsy
Dyspraxia
Developmental delays
Sensory processing disorders
Fine and gross motor skills
School readiness and transition
Communication and speech delays
Social and emotional challenges/development
Muscular Hypotonia Syndrome
Conditions following Encephalitis and Meningitis
Chromosomal Syndromes: Down Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Charge Syndrome, Noonans Syndrome, Di George Syndrome, Koolen de vries Syndrome
Head Injuries, Acquired Brain Disorders following drowning, stroke, tumor
Communication and Social Competence issues
Undiagnosed concerns presenting with balance and co-ordination difficulties
Our Services
If your child meets our criteria, we begin with meeting with a the child and their whanau for a chat and a free play-based assessment with one of our team. This helps us identify and recommend ways we may support the child’s development, while meeting the goals of the whaanau through a range of services.
Our services provide support and education that empowers the family as a whole. We create individual and group programmes offering opportunities to maximise every learning moment. We challenge tamariki using their own motivation to achieve goals in a way that opens doors to creating a better quality of life.
Our Team
Although our roots are based in Conductive Education (see NZFCE for more information about this), Wana Tamariki now provides a trans-disciplinary team, supporting sensory, motor, cognitive, communication and socio-emotional aspects of development. Our team includes:
Occupational Therapists
Physiotherapist
Early intervention teachers
Early Childhood teachers
Speech Language therapists
Social Worker
Psychologist
Education Support Workers