Childcare options in Avonhead

We are conveniently located on a main road, with the adjacent nursery able to be accessed either by walking through our walkway, or from a separate street address.

The preschool opened in 2007 in a converted house on a large section, which has been extended and adapted to meet the particular requirements of our centre.

The outdoor area is a 'Kiwi backyard' - a large natural space, with grass, fruit trees, a grape vine, decking, several garden areas, a lazy river and mud kitchen, and plenty of space for exploration and physical activities. Every day the children use this space for swinging, digging, running, climbing a tree, playing ball games, lazing on the grass with books, riding their bikes and taking care of our edible garden. They learn about challenge and risk, problem-solving, working with others, perseverance, and responsibility for the environment, while making discoveries in this rich environment.

Care and thoughtful presentation of the indoor environment enables teachers to provide inviting areas that encourage children to engage in sustained creative play. We have a wide range of ever-changing resources that invite cooperation and joint work on projects of various natures and sizes. Children learn about respect, responsibility and community, while developing friendship skills, creativity, problem solving, and literacy and numeracy.
We love getting out and about in our local community, and there are local parks, a primary school, shops and a library for us to walk to regularly. We are also handy to the bus stop so we can explore further afield, with trips to the museum, art gallery, Botanic Gardens and so forth.

Please phone to arrange a visit to see how special Portobelo Avonhead Preschool is, and what we have to offer you and your child. We will be happy to show you around and discuss your child’s particular interests and strengths, and your wishes and hopes for their learning and care in our centre.

About Avonhead Nursery

Portobelo Avonhead Nursery opened in 2014 in a converted house, joined to our Preschool by a walkway. We are tucked away on a quiet residential street, with the play area at the back, away from the street. Here there are trees, grass and spaces to encourage children's curiosity and exploration of their natural environment at their own pace. Our babies and toddlers can also see into the older children’s playground, allowing for interaction with their siblings as a natural part of their day.

We believe that babies and toddlers thrive with individual time and attention, so we provide specialised teachers and a ‘primary’ or key teacher for every child to form a special attachment with. Each key teacher is responsible for meeting the needs of their own small group of children, including bottle feeding, sleep times and nappy changing. To ensure we can meet this high expectation, we work to ratios of 1 adult per 3 babies (under 12 months) and 1 adult per 4 toddlers (12 months and over).

We understand how special your child is to you, and key teachers work hard to ensure the settling-in process takes account of what’s important to you and your whanau. This includes adjusting our routines such as eating and sleeping to suit the needs of each individual child. Our indoor and outdoor environments are freshly set up several times each day to have lots of interesting and inviting play spaces with resources that encourage children to explore deeply, all with a natural feel.

When your child shows us they are ready to move on to the Preschool, your child’s key teacher will consult with you and put into place an individual transition plan to ensure your child has plenty of time to become familiar with the new environment and teachers. We take our lead from the child as to how best to pace this.

Located next to the Staveley Reserve in the vibrant Avonhead community, Kidsfirst Kindergartens Avonhead offers a beautiful and spacious playground that catches the eye. Inside the gates, engaged children can be heard and seen, freely exploring, connecting with others, and learning through play. The kindergarten provides a calm yet bustling environment where children work alongside each other, making choices that foster engagement with their surroundings. The expansive backyard features green grass, gardens, and areas for physical challenges, including climbing trees and specially designed equipment. With a focus on child-centeredness, Kidsfirst Kindergartens Avonhead offers a well-resourced environment that encourages children aged 2 to 5 years to try new things, cultivate curiosity, and develop creativity through play. The program emphasizes exploration, inquiry, and sustainability, allowing children to learn about and care for the natural world through hands-on experiences that spark their curiosity.