Childcare options in Dallington

Welcome to Buttercups Dallington Preschool 

We are a purpose-built facility, situated at 21 Coopers Road, Dallington, close to The Palms, Shirley in Christchurch. We provide high-quality education and care for 0 - 5-year-olds, within a welcoming environment.Te Whariki states that 'Learner identity is enhanced when children’s home languages and cultures are valued in educational settings and when kaiako are responsive to their cultural ways of knowing and being.'

We strive to incorporate the languages and cultures of all the children who attend at Buttercups. We value and demonstrate commitment to te tiriti o Waitangi. Inclusive practice is important to us, as we get to know your child and meet their individual needs.

Our Aims

Centre Management is committed to provide quality full-time care and education for children 0-6.

• To provide experienced qualified teachers to foster the childrens’ full potential and to ensure their needs and rights are respected.
• To provide a programme and curriculum which allows children to make choices and participate at their own level to enable the children and their families to learn and grow.
• To provide a creative and stimulating environment from which children learn and develop physical, intellectual, emotional, social and language skills; facilitating smooth transition from home to day care and on to school.
• To provide an environment as an extension of home, which is open and caring so that warm, respectful and reciprocal relationships develop between children, teachers and parents.

Our Philosophy

The Educational Child Care Centre is a non-profit making, Incorporated Society.

The members of the society are the parents. Qualified, registered, experienced teachers are employed to provide full time education and care for children 0–6 years of age.

We believe that our teaching ratios should be higher quality than the Ministry of Education minimum standards. We pride ourselves in providing an environment as an extension of home, which is open and caring so that warm, respectful and reciprocal relationships develop between children, teachers, parents and whānau.

Our teaching practices respect and acknowledge the principles set out in “Te Tiriti o Waitangi” through Te Reo and Tikānga Māori, as well as meeting the diverse needs of the multi-cultural community of our centre. We respect the children’s individual needs and differences.

We aim to promote their enquiring minds and high self esteem with quality programmes. These will stimulate and encourage the children to learn and develop to their full potential, becoming life-long learners.

The Educational Child Care Centre follows “Te Whāriki”, the Early Childhood Curriculum of Aotearoa. The Principles and strands of Te Whāriki are woven through out our assessment and planning and reflected in the children’s profiles.

We believe children learn through play. The majority of the time the children have free choice to play wherever they wish, in our extensive and natural outdoor environment, or in our well-resourced indoor setting. We also believe children need limits and boundaries and time to rest and relax as part of their day.

Most importantly the needs of the children are our first and major considerations.