Hailing from France and New Zealand, the husband and wife team at Le Cocon Family Day Care are varied in origin but share a common set of principles that make up Le Cocon Family Day Care's unique PHILOSOPHY. In particular, they are passionate about health, the environment and, above all, the development of the next generation to contribute meaningfully to the world.
Hélène GatlandHélène has been passionately caring for children, from newborn to adolescents, since the turn of the century. She is a French child psychologist and holds a Diploma of Children’s Services, Working with Children Check and
first aid, CPR and anaphylaxis certificates. Hélène’s experience with children is extremely varied having worked internationally as a psychologist, teacher, educator, child carer and nanny. This allows her to quickly identify and understand the needs and wants of each child and respond to them appropriately. "I am fascinated by the dynamic of relationships between children and love to encourage their development." When working with children, Hélène’s priority is to develop healthy, secure and caring relationships. Even with groups of children, she adapts routines according to the needs of each child. Another of her passions is the health of the planet and its inhabitants. Her volunteering experiences around the world and own personal research have been the main motivating factors for offering the healthiest, most natural environment possible for your child. |
Jimi GatlandJimi works quietly in the background to ensure the day-to-day operations at Le Cocon Family Day Care run smoothly. A keen gardener and foodie, Jimi lovingly prepares from scratch all the meals served to the children, much of which is based on ingredients grown by the children themselves in Le Cocon’s “potager” (home garden).
"The most rewarding aspect of my role is connecting children with nature. I just love those light bulb moments when they make the connection between the seeds they sow and the vegetables they harvest." His extensive travels served as the inspiration for his seasonal “Round the World” menu which is intended to introduce the children to a wide range of flavours and textures to help develop young palettes. He also lends a helping hand around the day care when an extra set of hands are needed. |
