Childcare options in Blenheim

Light, airy and homely, Pascals Blenheim offers outstanding care and education for under 5s. Our team of professional, dedicated teachers are highly passionate about doing their best for our children and families, supporting tamariki to realise their immense potential through play and exploration. We provide a calm, engaging environment where trusting relationships are cultivated, and we deliver learning programmes and assessments of the highest standard.

Pascals Blenheim kids have a love of learning and the building blocks they need for future success. Get a head start on your little one’s learning journey.

Why choose us?

There are a host of reasons why families choose Pascals Blenheim. Here are just a few of them:

• Central location means easy access to the library, pet store, supermarket and local theatre
• Four separate rooms specially designed for each age and stage
• Extended opening hours ideal for busy families (7.30am to 5.30pm)
• Small group sizes (10 in each of our under 2s rooms, and 20 in each of our over 2s rooms)
• We practice primary care and children are assigned a key teacher
• Open and collaborative communication with families/whanau
• Diversity is warmly welcomed
• Bicultural practices embraced
• Close proximity to local primary schools
• We host a Pink Ribbon afternoon tea, a Christmas party and celebrate Matariki

Our Rooms

Pascals Blenheim has four separate rooms, enabling us to deliver safe, nurturing and age appropriate learning experiences for all our children.

Atawhai Rooms

Room 1

This warm and welcoming space is for the youngest members of our Pascals family, our children aged 3 to 15 months. Here we value free movement, relationships and brain development. We care for children in a calm and unhurried manner, allowing them to be an active part in their routine times. We have just ten children in this room.

Room 2

Room 2 caters for our children aged 15 months to up to 2.5 years of age. Strongly relationship based, we focus on exploration as children develop autonomy over themselves and their bodies. Children are supported and encouraged to play with, and alongside, their peers. There are just ten tamariki in this room.

Nga Tiaki Rooms

Room 3

The next phase of our children’s learning journey is Room 3. Children transition here anywhere from 2 years and 2 months of age to about 2.5 years. They stay here until they are approximately 3.5 years old. Room 3 is the next step in developing independence and autonomy, friendships are blossoming, children are developing lots of life skills that teachers are supporting and building upon, and play is at the heart of all learning. Up to 20 children are in this room.

Room 4

Specially designed for our children aged from 3.5 to 5, Room 4 is Reggio based and children are encouraged and supported to take ownership of their learning. Transition to school is supported by a visit from the child's primary school teacher before school visits commence. This means children have a familiar face at primary. We cater for up to 20 children here.

Children love Montessori.

Tamariki have the freedom to explore and learn through self discovery in the classroom.

The calm, engaging and nurturing environment promotes self initiated learning, respect, confidence and social development. Children become life long learners through experiencing joy in their natural development.

• The Montessori classroom is calm and respectful, a learning environment like no other early childhood centre.
• Prepare your child for school; they leave Montessori with confidence, respect, independence and a strong foundation of physical and intellectual abilities.
• Children freely explore our beautiful indoor and outdoor Montessori classrooms and choose to work with the materials that appeal to their interests and developmental stage.
• The high teacher to child ratio enables our teachers to foster the child's self selected interest and nurture each child's individual growth.

We foster purposeful, independent and engaged learning in the prepared Montessori environment.

"Montessori is an education for independence, preparing not just for school, but for life"

~ Maria Montessori

What is the Montessori difference?

​The Montessori classroom is unlike other early childhood centres, the environment is calm and focused as each child is engaged in an activity that interests them.  Your child learns at their own rate in a classroom with a 'hum' of working activity.

The classroom remains orderly throughout the day as the 30 children return each activity to its shelf before choosing another. Children are taught how to invite friends to join in with their chosen activity, but also that it is ok to say "no thanks, I want to do this on my own". Their workspace is respected - the children learn how to move carefully around each others activities and to not interrupt a child who is concentrating. ​

The activities themselves are each purposeful and beautifully presented to appeal to the child. The whole environment is designed to be aesthetically pleasing - from the leafy villa entrance, the orderly and spacious classroom to the lush back garden. Children work with materials for as long as they wish, repeating activities until they have mastered it. As children move on to learning the next skill once they have mastered the present one, there are never any gaps in their education, or need for remedial education.

Montessori children leave for school as capable learners, independent and confident in their own abilities. In addition to honed fine motor skills they have solid foundations of numeracy and literacy, often reading, writing, identifying numerals to at least 20, doing basic addition, subtraction and understanding the decimal system.

In addition to their knowledge, Montessori children are able to focus their attention and enjoy learning. One of Maria Montessori's goals was for children to develop concentration. This is one of the fundamental skills for learning, and one that is largely missed in traditional school systems. A Montessori day is structured so that a child's focus is never interrupted by having to move on to the next lesson, before they have finished their current one.

Montessori children are independent, self-assured in their learning and in their relationships and interactions with others and the world. Your child will master the important life skill of being a self-directed learner. Montessori's aim is to nurture and develop inner motivation to find intrinsic satisfaction in learning.

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Welcome to St Mary’s Preschool!

Our purpose built centre is located in a picturesque setting behind the historic St Mary’s Catholic church and is nestled beside St Mary’s Primary School.  St Mary’s Preschool is a unique Early Childhood Centre that offers high quality education for all children. We are licensed for children 2 yrs of age till they launch off to school. We are the only Christian based Early Childhood centre in the Marlborough region. Everyone is very welcome.

Our mission statement is:

“In Christ’s Light we Grow and Learn Together Through Exploration, Love, Care and Respect”

Every child and their family is welcomed, nurtured and supported… Our highly qualified, experienced teachers and staff ensure that St Mary’s Preschool is a learning centre, which provides an interesting, stimulating environment supported by quality resources and equipment.

We welcome you and your child to visit us at any time. We look forward to meeting you and your family.

Why St Mary’s?

• Dedicated and experienced staff committed to the task of providing quality education
• Individual care and concern for your child
• A wide range of meaningful and appropriate activities within the educational programme
• Excellent facilities, equipment and resources
• St. Mary’s Preschool provides an exciting educational environment. All children are encouraged to do their best in a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities. In this purpose built facility, all children have the opportunity to find success and enjoyment.
• St. Mary’s Preschool works within the guidelines of Te Whaariki, New Zealand’s curriculum for early childhood learning.
• Te Whaariki is based on the following four principles.
• Empowerment of the child to learn and grow
• Holistic development – seeing the child as a whole and encompassing all aspects
• Family and community – a wider world of family and community is and integral part of the early childhood curriculum
• Relationships – Children learn through responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places and things

Our philosophy

Little Footsteps aims to provide a warm welcoming environment where the children feel safe in their relationships and their health and well-being is protected and nurtured.  An environment where tamariki and their whanau have a sense of belonging and where teachers are guided by the principles of *whanaungatanga and **manaakitanga.  We aspire to provide a holistic programme where children learn strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning.  

Through communication and collaborative relationships with whanau we strive to ensure that their needs and aspirations are valued and respected.  Teachers encourage tamariki and their whanau to be partners in learning to ensure positive learning outcomes for all tamariki.  

We value our small centre, which has a mixed age grouping that sustains teina/tuakana relationships where older tamariki support the younger tamariki.  We provide a programme where tamariki are empowered to actively learn through play with and alongside others supported by a sensitive and knowledgeable teaching team.

Te Kōhanga Reo

The kōhanga reo movement is a unique initiative based on total immersion in Māori language and values with the aim of passing on Māori culture to future generations.

Kōhanga reo emphasise the revitalisation of the culture through te reo Māori and are dependent on the active participation of the whole whānau. The kaupapa of kōhanga reo aims to strengthen whānau capabilities in cultural, social, economic, spiritual and political matters. Education, health and wellbeing are inherent within all aspects of the kaupapa. The prime focus is the whānau – its collective development, growth, accountability and wellbeing set within a Māori cultural context.

Kōhanga reo do not regard tamariki in isolation, but as important members of the whānau. The kōhanga reo philosophy is that tamariki will benefit when whānau successfully operate according to the kaupapa. Tamariki are an integral part of whānau development.

The following key goals are the foundation of te kōhanga reo kaupapa established in 1982:

• total immersion in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga in daily operations
• whānau decision-making, management and responsibility
• accountability
• health and wellbeing of mokopuna and whānau.

The key goals of te kōhanga reo assure that there will be:

• security in te reo Māori
• a supportive, caring environment for mokopuna
• whānau (collective) sharing of responsibilities, knowledge and expertise
• greater respect and appreciation of each other.

Omaka Early Learning Centre is based upon the philosophies of Reggio Emelia and RIE – offering children uninhibited opportunities to engage their curiosity, exploration and investigation. Children are empowered to take leadership in their learning, develop their social skills and the confidence to make their own choices, take risks and express themselves.

The Environment is considered the "third teacher” and our learning spaces are designed to be stimulating while integrating nature – encouraging tamariki to engage in experiences and discovery. The design of our centre has been thoughtfully developed to encourage playful encounters for students, and plants, artworks and children's work are displayed at their eye level.

Our philosophy

Omaka Early Learning Centre upholds the image of the child as a powerful, competent, capable, and integral member of the community. Our Early Childhood Centre is a place for children to grow, explore and flourish as unique individuals strong in their ability to lead their own learning.

Our teachers celebrate children’s development through our holistic and child-led approach, embracing our Early Childhood Curriculum. Our teachers listen to our children’s voice at all times and work alongside our children engaging in a partnership of growth and learning together, knowing that learning is a lifelong journey. Ensuring a strong image of the child correlates to a strong image of the teacher.

Along with Te Whāriki, our Early Childhood Curriculum, and the Reggio Emilia approach, Omaka Early Learning Centre strongly values the aspects of the RIE philosophy. Primary caregiving, respectful relationships and genuine love for children are visible in every aspect of our programme and are visible in all that we say and do.

Omaka Early Learning Centre embraces New Zealand’s unique culture as essential in developing holistic learners true to understanding our bicultural values and embracing a multi-cultural learning community.

Omaka Early Learning Centre celebrates that each whānau is unique, deserving of respect, and the centre of each child’s life. We foster interpersonal relationships among children and adults in order to provide an educational experience of the highest quality built upon the belief that children have a natural disposition for learning and an innate curiosity that, when intentionally and carefully nurtured, blossoms into a life-long love of learning. We strive for all whānau to genuinely have their sense of belonging valued and to know that they have a special place with us.

We value ourselves on providing a home away from home for our children where they can discover their curiosity while developing a sense of wonder and be celebrated for the amazing individuals they are with unlimited potential as they embark on the first flight on their learning journey.

Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to Blenheim 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!

Te Kupenga (TK) is an idyllic rural preschool set on the grounds of the Omaka Marae, five minutes from town. Our family / whanau-centred environment is quiet and relaxing, and provides high-quality educational programmes. Although we are situated on a Marae we are not a Kohanga Reo, we do however have a strong commitment to a bi-cultural content and teachers that are skilled in this area.  

We offer quality, up-to-date play-based programmes through our commitment to excellent teacher professional development. We love involving our community in family and whanau-focused programmes to encourage positive relationships.

At Kidz Kindy @ 49 we provide an exciting, well balanced educational programme for children aged between 3-5 years.    

Transition to School group - the 'Owl Group'

Our Transition to School group meets daily. This small group's focus is to develop skills to support our

children with their transition to start school. We will be working on writing their names, holding their pencil

correctly, identifying letter sounds and names, identifying numbers 1-10 counting in order, and  enjoying books.

Activities include:

• Focus activity – based on children’s interests, includes cutting skills, writing skills, stories, completing an activity
• Art activities – painting, screen-printing, collage, finger painting, messy play, cutting, sticking, glass painting
• Manipulative activities – playdough, clay
• Individual, large/small group activities
• Baking
• Mat times – stories, finger rhymes., counting, numbers, movement, music, instruments, listening skills
• Fine motor skill activities – constructing, sorting, forming symbols, art creative activities, writing etc.
• Gross motor skill activities – climbing, pedaling trikes, ball skills etc
• Imaginative play
• Water play, sand pit
• Early literacy skills – nursery rhymes, singing, retelling stories, identifying and writing their name, forming symbols
• Early mathematical skills – nursery rhymes, counting in sequence, counting at mat time, shapes and colours, understanding mathematical concepts
• Reading and listening to stories and enjoying stories

John Street Preschool is situated in the heart of Blenheim, on Henry Street, close to the centre of town and easily accessible for parents and whãnau. The team at John Street pride ourselves on our large outdoor environment and well-resourced centre.  

At John Street Preschool we focus on collaborative relationships with our families, maintaining shared and trusting relationships to get the best result for all our children. We focus on what the children want to learn. Interest-based learning ensures the children are focused to enjoy learning.

At Kidz Kindy @ 75 (0-3yrs) we provide a nurturing, warm environment catering for your child's individual needs and routines. The Kindy has separate areas for babies/infants and for toddlers. This creates a safe, stimulating environment for your child to grow, explore and develop.    

NON-WALKERS

We provide an individualised programme based on your baby’s needs – their routines and their interests. We aim to provide an interesting, calm and stimulating environment.

Activities include:

• Art activities – paint, crayons and stamping
• Sensory and tactile activities – exploring textures, mirrors, messy play, water play, sand play
• Literacy activities – books, story time, music, songs, finger puppets, nursery rhymes
• Mathematical activities – sorting, shapes, counting, finger puppet plays, building towers,puzzles
• Floor time – exploring equipment, puzzles, blocks
• WALKERS

We give our toddlers plenty of opportunities to extend their skills and knowledge as they are rapidly learning about the world around them.

Activities include:

• Focus activities- based on children’s interests
• Art activities – painting, screen-printing, collage, finger painting, messy play, cutting, sticking
• Manipulative activities – playdough, clay
• Individual, large/small group activities
• Baking 
• Mat times – stories, finger rhymes., counting, numbers, movement, music, instruments
• Fine motor skill activities – constructing, sorting, forming symbols, art creative activities etc.
• Gross motor skill activities – crawling, climbing, using trikes, ball skills etc.
• Imaginative play
• Water play, sand pit.
• Early literacy and early numeracy activities
• Reading and listening to stories and enjoying stories