Childcare options in Westport

With a safe and nurturing environment for your child, we provide a place for children to learn, develop and grow through social interaction in an engaging environment, carefully set up by kaiako, with lots of opportunities to explore and learn.

Located in the heart of the beautiful coastal town of Westport, right next to the playground, we are easy to find and within a short walk into the town centre or the beautiful coastline, making us a natural choice for busy parents and local families in the community.

Your child will love our separate Nursery, Toddler and Preschool areas, all well laid out for fun and learning at every age and stage, including family play, art area, as well as quiet space for reading and reflection.  There’s also plenty of natural resources with space to explore.

With the inviting smell of home cooked meals and baking, you won’t have to search very far to find our fabulous and passionate centre cook who freshly prepares all meals in the heart of our centre. We provide all enrolled children with morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack. We have our weekly menu displayed in centre for parents to view and you’re always welcome to stick around to taste a little yourself!

We proudly operate our own Busy Bees centre van, allowing us to help support both new and existing families who require assistance with transport to the centre.  We also utilise this awesome resource for excursions out and about in our community.

Our teaching team is made up of passionate, experienced teachers who are warm, welcoming and naturally wonderful people. Our qualified Early Childhood Educators bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team and their special connection with our children is cherished and supported in our centre.

Teachers guide our tamariki in learning, engaging them with fun, sensory and also challenging experiences to nurture their development. All children are valued at their unique stage of life, respected for who they are and have equal opportunities to ensure the best possible start in life. This special environment with a community of talented individuals, encourages the joy and wonder of learning to come alive.

Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to Westport 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.

Welcome to the Westport Early Learning Centre.

We provide excellence in care and education for children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. We strive to create an atmosphere where everyone feels welcomed, accepted and valued, and where teachers are approachable and professional. It is our responsibility to provide an environment that nurtures children's holistic development. We are a collaborative team of kaiako who all bring our own special strengths that create a varied rich and stimulating experience for the children.

When it comes to deciding what is best for you and your child, you are the expert.  

Trust your instincts to help you decide what you value and what care situation will best meet your child's needs.

Ko te tamaiti te putake o te kaupapa

The child; the heart of the matter