Childcare options in Ashhurst

Nestled in the heart of the semi-rural village of Ashhurst, we are a small and welcoming early childhood centre of the highest quality.  Our team of passionate, dedicated Kaiako will work closely with your child to unlock their potential, planting the seeds for a lifelong love of learning and setting them up for a bright future.

Well resourced, with large, engaging spaces and an inspiring curriculum, Learning Adventures Ashhurst is a home away from home – a haven where your child can have fun, learn and grow.  Give your child the greatest start.

Why choose us?

There are a host of reasons why families choose Learning Adventures Ashhurst.  Here are just a few of them:

• Based in a rural Manawatū community at the foot of the Ruahine and Tararua ranges beneath Wharite peak
• Closely connected to the community
• Extended hours great for working parents (7.30am to 5.30pm)
• Fantastic range of age appropriate resources
• Large outdoor playgrounds
• Low infant numbers ensure quality caring moments are valued
• Three separate rooms for the different ages
• Fruit and vegetable garden nurtured by the children for our community
• We supply nappies
• Weekly football sessions
• Staff make regular contributions to local community
• Fluent te reo Māori kaiako
• Inspiring, innovative curriculum including arts and crafts, and science

Our Rooms

Learning Adventures Ashhurst has three distinct areas for different age groups, enabling us to deliver safe, nurturing and age appropriate learning experiences for all our children.  Each area has its own amazing outdoor space.

Koru House

This nurturing and warm space is for our developing infants - our under 2s.  Teachers form close attachments to children and whānau so they can best understand each child and incorporate individual home routines into daily care.

Kōwhai House

This fun and vibrant space is home to our blossoming toddlers – our 2 to 3 year olds. Teachers are passionate about teaching in a natural environment, incorporating sustainable materials to foster respect for our world. Te Reo Māori is woven into the programme as well as Mandarin, New Zealand Sign Language and Samoan.

Kahikatea House

This inspiring space is set up for our biggest tamariki, our 3 to 5 years olds.  Here, children are empowered to set their own learning paths by extending their emerging interests with our wide range of resources.

Kawakawa Hapori

From 3.30 pm each afternoon all our age groups come together giving children the chance to relax and revive while still having the opportunity to continue their journey of discovery. Siblings along with the mixed age groups get to spend time together, forming valuable tuaka-teina relationships.

Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to Ashhurst Playcentre.

Playcentre is unlike any other early childhood education organisation. At Playcentre, both children and their parents / caregivers attend.

At Playcentre children get the opportunity to learn and explore in a fun and safe environment.

The curiosity and creativity of our tamariki is nurtured in a way that allows them to learn about themselves and their world.

Your child will be given a chance to explore, create, climb, read, sing, experiment, play music, wear costumes, have their face painted (or do it themselves!), garden, do carpentry with real tools, bake and cook, build sandcastles, swing, slide, dance, spend time in nature and get messy.

The activities change every day. Playcentre parents all bring different skills, interests, and cultural backgrounds to add to the rich learning environment.

We welcome families with children aged 0 – 6 years. Mixed age play allows your children to engage with others older and younger than themselves. Pre-schoolers learn how to communicate, share and negotiate with empathy for their younger peers.

At Playcentre, families come together and lifelong friendships are formed.

We welcome you to visit any time during the year. You are entitled to three free visits so come and check out what we do – we would love to meet you and your family!

Welcome to Ruahine Ashhurst Kindergarten, an open, diverse and supportive learning community that includes families from Ashhurst as well as Woodville, Pohangina, Hiwinui and Whakarongo.

At Ashhurst, children's learning is enriched through shared knowledge with families, and developing programmes that advance children's interests, while placing an emphasis on fun.

Our caring teachers and relaxed atmosphere make it easy for children to settle into kindergarten life then transition to school when they are ready.

Ruahine Ashhurst Kindergarten is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 2.30pm, and closed over the Christmas and New Year break, as well as three weeks during the year when teachers are engaged in professional development (dates to be advised on enrolment). 

Three, four and five year old's may attend our kindergarten up to 30 hours at no charge, a fee of $2.50 (inclusive of GST) is in place for tamariki under 3 years of age - ask our Head Teacher for a copy of our Terms of Trade.