The Team - The Little Castle

Beryl Langford – Owner / Teacher

Holds a Bachelor of Education in ECE Teaching, full Teachers Registration and a current First Aid Cert. My husband Mike and I have owned this centre since 1997 and we are still actively involved in it. I love my profession as early childhood teacher and leader of my fabulous team of educators. I still work in the centre because it is a joy and honour for me to spend time with your children. I believe that continuous professional learning is paramount for maintaining a confident, inspired and effective teaching team so we attend lots of lectures and courses throughout the year. We also hold annual parent evenings to share knowledge with you. When I am not working I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren, family and friends. I like to walk and exercise and I especially love sitting and reading.

Emily Tonge – Manager

Holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Education, a Bachelor of Teaching in ECE, Full Teacher Registration and a current First Aid Cert. I have followed in my mother’s (Beryl) footsteps and found my passion as an early childhood teacher. I enjoy the caring side of early childhood, and being able to be a part of the children’s lives as they grow and develop into confident, excited learners. There is not a dull moment in early childhood and I enjoy everyday spent here at The Little Castle and so do my children.

Lynda Mathews – Head Teacher

Holds a Diploma of Teaching in ECE, Full Teachers Registration and a current First Aid Cert. I am an early childhood teacher as I am very passionate about teaching infants and toddlers. I especially enjoy the nurturing and caring side of my profession. I have been at The Little Castle since 2003 and continue to love my role of extending children’s learning and development. I am also a mother of a lovely adult son.

Downstairs Team

Gemma Moreton

Holds a Bachelor of Teaching in ECE, is provisionally registered, and a current First Aid Cert. I love children and have always wanted to be an early childhood teacher. I really enjoy doing art with the children, providing different experiences for them to learn through. I am a very gentle and quite teacher but build strong relationships with the children. In my spare time you will catch me playing with my daughter, hanging with my friends and family, spending days at the beach swimming and just relaxing.

Samantha Owen

Holds a Bachelor of Teaching in ECE, Full Teachers Registration and a current First Aid Cert. Joined the Little Castle Team in Oct 2013 after finishing her study towards her Bachelor of Teaching. Children learn best when they are interested and love what they are doing, and I enjoy planning and implementing experiences that cater to each individual child’s interest.

Sarah Hempsey

Holds NVQ 2 and 3 (English qualification in ECE) and current First Aid Cert. I also have 14 years experience working in Early Childhood along with being a mother of 2 teenage boys. I enjoy spending most of time outside with the children; watching them explore different ways to achieve their own goals and using their imagination with in this. I have been a reliever at the Little Castle since 2008 and now working full time.

Keryn Brown

In her third year of study towards a Bachelor of Education in ECE. I enjoy watching the children I teach grow and develop into confident learners. I particularly love doing this through my passion for art and dance.

Upstairs - Infants and Toddlers Team

Karen Redit

Holds a Bachelor of Education (primary), Graduate Diploma in ECE, Full Teachers Registration and a current First Aid Certificate. Nurturing and teaching young minds is a job I enjoy and find very rewarding. Building positive learning relationships with children is my focus.

Kimberley Huxley

Holds a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma in ECE, and Current First Aid Certificate. I have been a teacher for three years and I love it. My passion is with infants and toddlers. I enjoy developing meaningful relationships with children and their families.

Sarah Newbold

Holds her Bachelor in Teaching Primary Education, and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching in ECE, Full Teacher Registration and a current First Aid Cert. After becoming a Primary School Teacher I wondered if my passion lay with younger children and gave it go. I have been hooked ever since. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, reading or watching movies.

Zoe Zen

Holds her Bachelor in Teaching ECE, Full Registration and current First Aid Certificate.
“I have 4 years experience working with infants and toddlers as a primary caregiver. I always strive to be creative and patient with every child. I believe when we nurture children’s learning journey with warmth and respect both teacher and children develop together”.

Debbie Moreton- Castle Cook

Holds level 3 ECE, and Food and Safety Certificate 2017. I am a mum to three adult children, and five grandchildren. My daughter Gemma is a teacher here at The Little Castle, and my grandchild Zariah also attends. I love cooking nutritious meals for the children and building warm and loving relationships with both the children and their whanau.