Childcare options in Ilam

Kindercare is committed to keeping children safe, loved and learning in the early years of their life, in partnership with parents. We’re located near St Theresa’s School and Fendalton Primary School, making transitioning to school smooth.

At Kindercare Riccarton, we embrace the values of our community, treating everyone with kindness, respect, and aroha. Our dedicated team fosters a sense of belonging and encourages children to explore their curiosity, promoting independence and ensuring their voices are heard. We believe children learn best when their heritage is affirmed, they feel well, and they have unlimited opportunities to explore and communicate.

Give your child The Kindercare Advantage— our curriculum that is based on Aotearoa’s early childhood framework, Te Whāriki, designed to build your child’s confidence, resilience, and self-esteem. Our program includes four foundational pillars to nurture your child, nourish and move their growing bodies and inspire creativity.

Experience the Kindercare difference for your whānau. Visit our website for more information.

Welcome to Te Whare Kohungahunga o UC | Early Childhood Learning Centre (ECLC), the University of Canterbury’s childcare and early learning centre. We accommodate children from zero to six years old and accept enrolments from students, staff and members of the wider community.  

We are uniquely placed at the heart of the UC campus and are conveniently located for you to see your child at any time during the day. The campus environment allows our children to explore their surroundings in a safe and calm way. Often you will see groups of excited children walking through places like the Ilam Gardens and surrounding fields as well as visiting departments such as Zoology and Geology, the libraries and the University Bookshop.

The UCSA's Ilam Early Learning Centre provides high-quality early childhood education that puts your child first. We care for the children of UC students, enabling parents to attend their own lectures, tutorials and employment. Where places are available, we also cater to the children of staff and the community.   

Our philosophy

The child is the seed, the origin of all things / Ko te tamaiti te kākano, te pūtake o ngā mea katoa

• We believe every child is important and deserves a quality early childhood education.
• Our qualified, friendly teachers build great relationships with each child and their family, supporting them to grow as confident, successful, lifelong learners.
• We pride ourselves on high-quality teacher/child ratios that you will not find in many other centres.
• We provide a fun, safe and nurturing environment that supports children in their learning.
• We have a large outdoor environment, and value the importance of play and physical challenges.
• Our passionate, knowledgeable teachers use effective teaching strategies to encourage children to learn through their own individual strengths and interests.
• We value the diverse range of cultures that contribute to making our centre a dynamic learning environment.