Childcare options in Motueka

At Laura Ingram Kindergarten we are committed to valuing children's learning, building relationships with families and the community, and encouraging children to become independent competent learners who have the essential skills, knowledge and dispositions to become valued members of the community by:

• Being actively engaged with the curriculum where they can have fun in a safe and happy environment.
• Develop a genuine love of learning.
• Allowing time, space and the opportunities to explore and understand their own learning.
• Develop a genuine love of learning.
• Feeling success and wanting to learn more.
• We encourage children to become independent learners who have the essential skills, knowledge, and dispositions to become valued members of the community...and to have fun.
• And... we have Bella the cat!

Oasis Preschools provides high quality early childhood education for children in Motueka and Mapua.  We support, nurture, excite & inspire children on their journey of learning.

LAUGH, LOVE, LEARN

• Highly qualified and dedicated teachers
• Respectful relationship-based learning
• Age specific learning environments
• Creativity, exploration, numeracy, literacy, nature, science, music, drama and language development

At Oasis Early Learning Centre we offer a nurturing place full of play and learning for children from 6 months to 3 years.  Our centre allows a space where your child can grow and learn at their own pace. Our centre provides an atmosphere where children and their whānau form close relationships with individual teachers, and where children are supported in forming friendships with their peers.

A dedicated teacher will develop a strong, trusting and consistent relationship with you and your child. We will follow established routines that your child has from home and will keep in close communication with you to ensure the best possible care of your child. We will nurture your child, to see them to thrive!

Ko te piko o te māhuri, ko tērā te kupa o te rākau

The way in which the sapling is nurtured, determines how the tree will grow

Nature Kids is an Early Childhood Education Centre in Motueka for 2-to 6-year-olds with a foundation philosophy “let nature be your teacher”.

​We are a small family-owned and operated Early Childhood Centre with a nature based philosophy and a commitment to sustainable practice providing quality education and care and a strong belief in building positive and collaborative relationships with children, families and the community.

Taking ideas from nature kindergartens in Europe where children learn through nature and build strong connections with the natural world, as much time as possible is spent outside.

Nature Kids, set on 1.5 hectares, has a country environment which is close to town with a friendly, welcoming, nuturing homelike atmosphere and extensive outdoor facilities utilising what nature has provided.

We want Nature's Kids.....

“to grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body, and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society.” 

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.

Oasis Education Centre Motueka 3 years - school  Oasis Preschool   

At Oasis Education Centre we offer an exciting environment for 3 - 6 year olds.  We are passionate about providing experiences that challenge young children's bodies and minds, where we follow the motto of "give it a go, or you'll never know."  Children thrive within our vibrant and nurturing learning environment, knowing that they are cared for, valued and treated  with respect.   

Our programme and environment is structured to foster opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, exploration, numeracy, literacy, nature, science, music, drama and language development. Children are free to follow their own interests within the structure of our daily programme.

Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to Motueka 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!

Early Morning

Each morning begins with creative play. For young children, play is their 'work'. The toys provided, with their simple, unfinished form, allows the child to use their creativity and imagination in their play experiences. As they transform simple objects into homes, castles, farms, or airplanes, they are practicing and finding mastery of their own physical and social skills. These imaginative and self-initiated activities enable the child to develop the creative and independent capacity for thinking that will be needed for later intellectual learning.

Imagination is further enlivened through the variety of artistic activities offered. Each day of the week has its own special feature; for example:

• Monday - baking
• Tuesday - painting
• Children soon learn the rhythm and look forward to each activity.

Morning Circle

After play, we gather for 'Morning Circle' - a time for movement through songs, poems, fingerplays, ring games, and simple plays. For example, for Spring Festival there is live music as the children practice dancing around the maypole holding colorful ribbons. The children all know a variety of songs to celebrate spring. Morning circle is followed by a shared morning tea, which is prepared during the morning. This social time is enjoyed by all, as we sit together and give thanks for our food.

Late Morning

The last part of the morning is spent outside in the garden. Here children may continue with their imaginative and creative play with one another while engaging with the garden features. Or they may join the teachers for work and care of the vegetable garden or other garden tasks such as raking the leaves that fall from our Grandfather Oak tree in autumn. Our morning session concludes with a puppet story inside and singing goodbye.

At Motueka Kindergarten we view kindness and respect as values that support and foster lifelong social skills.

We believe in promoting positive outcomes for children through respectful and reciprocal relationships. We value play and fun as a meaningful way to foster this learning and development.  

We believe in acknowledging and appreciating children and their family’s contributions and achievements within a welcoming whanau environment.                                                             

Motueka Kindegarten Centre will have strong relationships with our families/ whanau and community by providing a safe, nurturing, sustainable environment where children can learn through play, adventure, exploration and equitable  care from our committed and passionate team. ‘Ko te Whanau te Putake o te kaupapa – the family, the heart of the matter’