Childcare options in Green Bay

Kia ora and welcome to Green Bay Kindergarten

At Green Bay Kindergarten we provide outdoor play areas that are inviting and interactive, with natural areas for children to play and explore.

Throughout Green Bay Kindergarten, our programme is inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy – with an enriching, respectful environment underpinning the development and extension of children’s learning and interests.

Green Bay Kindergarten’s qualified teaching team value the importance of strong links with their whanau, and the local community, where everyone is welcome.

Our teachers are all qualified early childhood teachers, and all hold full registration.  The teachers are dedicated to, and passionate about, early childhood education.  Green Bay Kindergarten’s teaching team consists of teachers and support staff who are professional and passionate about providing a high quality learning environment.  Quality learning programmes are based on the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whãriki.

Our learning philosophy

For the past 110 years, the Auckland Kindergarten Association has been igniting young minds by encouraging them to explore their imaginations through play. For many of us, kindergarten was where we began our life of learning; it was where we started learning skills like sharing, tolerance, patience, respect and self-confidence.

We view children as capable, competent, life-long learners, and our philosophy encourages children to make their own learning choices, problem-solve and observe and explore at their own pace…with support from teachers, parents, wider whānau and their peers. We value the importance of child-initiated, play-based experiences. Our kindergarten teachers nurture your children’s interests and natural curiosity by working alongside them, expanding language and introducing mathematical and science concepts, as well as literacy, digital technology and sustainable practices.

Our centres have gardens and natural outdoor spaces where children can create, explore, be imaginative and expressive. There’s plenty of room to safely run about, being imaginative and physically active. In fact, the natural world is essential to free-range play. AKA encourages each kindergarten community to explore and enrich their diversity and uniqueness. Some have regular excursions into the local community; some are Enviroschool kindergartens that live and breathe sustainable practices; while others engage in long-term research on child interest-based programmes of learning.

As an organisation, we formally acknowledge the dual heritage of Aotearoa / New Zealand, and work to uphold the spirit and intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in each kindergarten. We are accessible, secular and welcoming to the wide diversity of tamariki and whānau who attend our centres, and value ongoing partnerships between teaching teams and leadership staff with families and whānau. We value ongoing learning for teachers, parents and whānau, and the sharing of knowledge, skills and attributes is fundamental to achieving the best learning outcomes for children. Teachers and staff can access collegial professional time to ensure that quality practice is enhanced so current theories of learning and development within New Zealand’s world-class Te Whāriki early childhood curriculum are shared and understood.

Children learn

Children in our kindergartens have the opportunity to:

• Feel confident, develop responsibility and a sense of independence
• Play meaningfully alongside other children and adults
• Develop effective communication skills
• Persevere, problem-solve and take risks
• Explore limits, boundaries, routines and conflict resolution strategies
• Practice fine motor skills such as threading, writing, cutting and grasping
• Develop gross motor play such as physical games like climbing, throwing, kicking, balancing and lifting
• Develop creative expressions through painting, music, collage, movement, dance, finger-painting, drawing, cutting, pasting and story sharing
• Develop early numeracy, literacy and science skills
• Learn techniques through trial and error
• Explore the world through experimenting, questioning and curiosity
• Develop confidence and celebrate both attempts and successes
• Develop a passion for learning and a love of life
• Have fun!

Older children will be supported in their transition to school to make this process as simple and seamless as possible. Book a visit here on Kindello today, we’d love to meet you.

Located in the beautiful natural setting of the Motu Moana Scout Camp, Lollipops Green Bay provides high quality care and education to children from Green Bay, New Lynn and Titirangi. Warm and welcoming, our centre offers a stimulating and challenging environment where children are encouraged to make their own choices and extend their skills and interests. Our experienced, multicultural teaching team love what they do, and will help your little one tap into their own unique potential.

Help your child shine. Start their learning journey at Lollipops Green Bay.

Our Philosophy

We Will Create A Place Where Everyone Feels Welcomed and Happy

Teachers will:

• Be approachable and listen to you.
• Attend to children and families in a kind and caring manner.
• Design a place for discovery, where children can touch, look and listen try out their ideas, pursue their questions and theories and follow their curiosity.
• Build children’s strengths and character and their self esteem, and make them feel safe and secure, where children have fun and laughter, and hugs when they want them.
• Develop vital foundation skills for reading, writing and maths.
• Encourage children to stay connected to their families, by surrounding them with images that are familiar.
• Promote the historical backgrounds that recognizes our dual heritage.
• Portray a strong presence of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori
• Acknowledge and celebrate each child’s and family unique culture and individuality.
• Ensure children have the time and freedom to be what ever they want to be.

We Will Create A Place That Plants The Seeds For A Love For Learning

Our rooms

Lollipops Green Bay has three separate rooms, enabling us to deliver safe, nurturing and age appropriate learning experiences for all our children.  

Koru Room

Our Koru Room caters for our smallest people with a capacity for up to 20 under 2s. We have a large outdoor area just for this age and a very special sleep room that was built around our beautiful tree. Ashley is our wonderful chef extraordinaire (she is a qualified chef) for this age group and cooks a variety of delicious wholesome food.

Kowhai Room

Kowhai Room is our next age group for children aged 2 to 3.5 years. Our focus in this age group is on building social competency and increasing children’s confidence around independence whilst maintaining a high level of emotional support.  Kowhai Room shares a large natural outdoor space with Pohutukawa Room. There are connecting decks and doors enabling our children to have the benefit of experiencing tuakana/teina relationships with our older tamariki.

Pohutukawa Room

Our Pohutukawa Room is for children aged 3.5 to 6 years of age. In this room we are again building on concepts of social capability, empathy, contribution, friendship and an increasing level of independence and responsibility for their own wellbeing and that of others.

In both our Kowhai and Pohutukawa Room we have a lunchbox system where parents provide their children’s food with guidelines provided around healthy options, as well as plenty of ideas and support if needed.

All our age groups are approximate, as we look at the holistic development and readiness of each individual before transitioning between rooms.  This is done over an extended period of time with plenty of support, love and communication to ensure everyone is comfortable and confident with the change.

Why choose us?

There are a host of reasons why families choose Lollipops Green Bay. Here are just a few of them:

• Stunning location in the Motu Moana Scout grounds
• Extended hours convenient for busy parents (7:30am to 5:30pm)
• Free ECE hours
• We work closely with family and whanau
• Multicultural environment
• Stable, experienced teaching team
• Fabulous purpose built centre
• Lunch provided for under 2s
• Dance classes

Our team of dedicated teachers provide the  highest quality care and education,  delivering rich and inspiring learning experiences and environments that bring out the best in every child. Unlock your child’s unique potential.

At Playhouse Early Learning Centre we are passionate about education and childcare in a safe, relaxed and homely environment. A person’s traits are formed in their first five years – we’re building better people!!

Our nurturing staff provide an educational programme, home cooked meals and a sense of fun. We listen to you and will work alongside you and your child in partnership to provide a programme which supports your child’s strengths and interests.

Playhouse Early Learning Centre is a child care centre based in Green Bay, West Auckland, with a lovely homely environment.

• We welcome children from 6 months to 5 years
• High teacher/child ratios (our ratios are above the government requirement)
• We offer “20 hours ECE” for 3+ year olds
• Quality educational programme developed by our experienced team
• Primary care-giving for our under 2’s and transitioning children
• Home cooked nutritional meals prepared by our centre cook
• Awesome BIG “Kiwi backyard” outdoor area/playground
• Our high number of caring qualified staff helps to ensure your child receives education and care that is tailored to their individual needs

What should you look for in a centre?

• When walking through a centre – check that staff are playing and learning with your children. This is a sign that they are educators, not just child-minders.
• Look for a centre that reminds kids of their home.
• Look for smiles and fun.
• Look for artwork and photos on the walls.
• Look for a good sized outdoor area where kids can stretch and get some sunlight while learning through play – climbing equipment, sandpit, water play, art opportunities etc.

Is childcare good for my child?

You can feel safe in the knowledge that you’re giving your child a huge head start.

From a recent Herald article:

“Pre-schooling shoots pupils to the top of the class.”

“Children who experienced quality education before the age of 5 are leaving their peers far behind as they head towards the teenage years.”

“Those with pre-schooling are better readers, writers and mathematicians.”

“Did not necessarily mean kids were expert readers before they went to school, rather that they had developed an understanding of the importance of language.”

“Asking open ended questions, encouraging thinking in kids and creating a learning culture.”

Children at 12 who were outperforming their peers had been to early childhood centres with indoor/outdoor equipment familiarising them with shapes and proportions from a young age.