Meet Margaret Holloway, Home Based Educator
For nearly 30 years, Margaret Holloway has opened her home and her heart to tamariki as a Barnardos Home Based Educator, creating a space where learning, play, and whānau connection come together every day.
Margaret’s passion for early learning shines through in everything she does. “With Barnardos you are not just another number – you are part of a family,” she says. “Julie (Manawatū Visiting Teacher) is an incredible support, and she is one of the reasons I’m still doing this role.”
Margaret first became a Home Based Educator when she had three young children. Two were at school, and her youngest was about to start, so she completed a small course with Barnardos and began her journey. Flexibility and family connection were important to her. “We do this job looking after children so we can look after our own children too,” she explains. Today, Margaret is proud to have supported not only her own children, but also her grandchildren.
For Margaret, the highlights of the role come in the simple joys: playgroups, socialising with other educators, and learning from one another. She delights in seeing children’s creativity unfold, whether it’s chalk drawings, painting, or a pretend picnic after morning tea. “It doesn’t cost a lot to give children fun,” she says. “I find books, puzzles, and toys at opshops, often for $5 or less. Music and stories are my passion – every day we sing, dance, and play games like Simon Says and I Spy.”
Margaret also loves connecting with families from all walks of life. “Learning languages and cultures, meeting different whānau – it’s so special. Children learn better in smaller settings before school. They get more attention, more one-on-one love, and they thrive.”
Marketing her own service on Facebook, Margaret praises the support she receives from Barnardos. “Debbie (Community Coordinator) and Julie are always on the case. Anybody who joins Barnardos will never be disappointed. When you love teaching children, you want to do your best, and the support I get helps me do just that.”
Being a Home Based Educator has allowed Margaret to not only do a job she loves, but also to spend time with her family. All ten of her grandchildren have spent time in her Home Based service, and her own daughter became an early learning teacher inspired by Margaret’s journey. “We are very family oriented here, and that makes all the difference,” she says.
Margaret’s story is a testament to the joy, creativity, and connection that comes from being a Home Based Educator with Barnardos Early Learning – and the lasting impact educators can have on generations of tamariki.
