Mangere Bridge Playcentre

Mangere Bridge Playcentre provides high quality parent-led early childhood education for children from birth to school age. Alongside this, parents and caregivers have the opportunity to study for the Playcentre Diploma in Early Childhood and Adult Education.

Mangere Bridge Playcentre has played a key role in our local community for 59 years, starting in 1959 in the Church Hall at St James Church in Mangere Bridge, and then moving to our own custom built centre on the slopes of Te Pane o Mataoho (Mangere Mountain) in September 1969 where we remain today.

At Mangere Bridge Playcentre children are supported to become confident, competent, self-directed learners, through play based around their interests. We follow the Te Whariki Early Childhood Curriculum  and run 4 sessions a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 0915-1145), where parents stay and play alongside our Tamariki.

Our parents are actively involved in providing our children’s learning programmes. The high adult to child ratio (a minimum of 1 adult: 3 children) allows a good balance for group and individual support during each session.

Children have access to a range of resources which help them develop as learners and progress towards school. They gain knowledge through play, participation and positive guidance.

Playcentre also supports and strengthens family relationships, providing and sustaining a sense of community. Our parental relationships developed through Playcentre provide support from parents and help them develop new parenting and life skills.

We are connected with our local community through links with and visits to local schools, Mangere Mountain, Ambury Farm, Manukau Harbour and other local facilities. Our location on the slopes of Mangere Mountain / Te Pane o Mataoho gives our children daily exposure to the richness of our natural environment.