Active Explorers Ellerslie

At Active Explorers Ellerslie we know children are our future.

We believe each child has the potential to bring something unique and special to the world – and it’s our job to help them develop that potential. Conveniently located on the Ellerslie/Mt Wellington border, our purpose built centre offers high quality educational resources and a team of dedicated teachers who love what they do. We empower children to discover who they are, so they can express their own opinions and develop their own ideas.

Active Explorers Ellerslie celebrates difference, embraces multiculturalism, and goes the extra mile to ensure our families feel just as welcome here as our children do. Become a part of the Active Explorers community and set your child up for a bright future.

Our philosophy

At Active Explorers we encourage children to become lifelong learners by developing intellectual curiosity and a thirst for discovery and achievement.  We strive to create a diverse community that fosters mutual respect and social responsibility, enhanced by a strong partnership between home and the centre.

Our unique curriculum is guided by the following core values:

RESPECT – developing a positive feeling of esteem

EXPLORATION – discovering with a curious and enquiring mind

EMPOWERMENT – celebrating every child’s achievements

RESILIENCE – encouraging and developing the confidence to keep trying

ENJOYMENT – ensuring life is fun

Our rooms

We have five purpose built areas which enable us to deliver meaningful and age appropriate learning programmes.

Nursery One and Nursery Two Rooms

Our two lovely Nursery rooms cater for our children aged from 3 months to 14 months and 15 months to 2 years. They have a maximum of 25 children, cared for by seven teachers. We follow a Pikler-based approach, allowing children to discover as much as possible on their own, with the comfort of knowing that their teachers are close by. The teacher’s role is that of a keen observer, in tune with ‘their’ child, able to ‘read’ when they need assistance.

Toddler Room

The Toddlers Room is for our 2 to 3 years old, with five teachers and a maximum of 25 children. This is where children's independence is extended and built upon. Teachers encourage children to develop their self-help skills through a range of indoor and outdoor activities. Language and social skills are developed through daily activities built into our programme

Preschool One and Preschool Two Rooms

These vibrant spaces are home to our 3 to 5 year olds, with seven teachers and 50 children across both rooms. Here we embrace inquiry based learning, through a programme that supports independence, group and individual learning experiences. A range of indoor and outdoor activities are provided daily. We have a strong focus on assisting children in discovering who they are, so they can express their own opinions and nurture their own ideas.

Why choose us?

There are a host of reasons why families choose Active Explorers Ellerslie. Here are just a few of them:

• Healthy Heart Gold Award menu
• Three meals plus late snack
• Free nappies
• Graduation photobook for children leaving for school  
• Sports session with the toddlers
• Weekly playball sessions for all preschoolers in terms one and four
• Excellent transition to school programme for our 4 year olds 
• Special excursions twice a year
• Regular excursions to Paper Road, the local playground, local shops and parks for all children
• Weekly excursions to Panmure Library for our preschoolers
• Monthly visits to Edmund Hillary Retirement Village and the residents come to visit our preschool each month too. At Christmas, all preschoolers go to the village to sing carols
• Informal yoga and bootcamp for the preschoolers
• Cultural celebrations - Chinese New Year, St Patrick’s Day, Pasifika Festival, Easter, Matariki, Diwali, Halloween (family picnic at the centre), Christmas
• Family celebrations - Mother’s Day Breakfast, Father’s Day Breakfast, Grandparents Week
• Fundraising events twice a year, such as Healthy Heart Day, Daffodil Day, Red Nose Day and Crazy Hair Day
• Bi-monthly Bike Day