Childcare options in Linwood

New Beginnings Preschool (Ngā Timatanga Hou) is a located in the suburb of Linwood in East Christchurch. The preschool is a community service governed by a Board of Trustees and caters for infants, toddlers and young children up to school age. The under two-year-old and over two-year-old groups each have their own indoor and outdoor areas

New Beginnings Preschool was established in 1983 to provide early childhood care and education for children of the Linwood community.  It has been previously known as the Linwood Community Creche Incorporated and Linwood Community Childcare Centre Incorporated. The current name was changed in 2002.   The preschool is licensed for 36 children (up to 6 under twos) with opening hours 8.45am to 3.15pm.

New Beginnings Preschool Mission

“Children in the community achieve success as learners”

New Beginnings Preschool Values

Relationships, Family, Respect, Community, Positive environment, Competent and confident learners, Well being

New Beginnings is a registered charity as well as being a non-profit community preschool. This means that we rely heavily on donations and grants so that we can put everything back into our whānau and community.

We use these donations in many ways. We provide our tamariki with full school uniforms and shoes when they start primary school and provide whānau with warm clothes and blankets during the winter months. We also bridge gaps to ease stressful times for whānau - providing food, counselling, and transport. We walk along side our whānau and support them to navigate social services.

Tiny Tots Nursery And Preschool is dedicated to helping your child or children reach their full potentials through specialised and individualised teaching and care.  

As a parent myself, I know only too well how important your child's welfare and learning is.  

For the highest quality care and education for your children, Tiny Tots Nursery and Preschool is a privately owned and family operated centre that ensures peace of mind through their commitment to your child's needs.  

Tiny Tots provides a safe and secure environment in which children can learn, create and grow to the best of their abilities.

Observing the children at play, the teachers communicate with both parents and the teaching team in order to develop an individual programme tailored to each child's unique needs. This helps the children to extend their learning and enhances their development while in an open learning environment.  

Tiny Tots is a small, homely centre with a real family feel and has a great open plan environment both indoors and out. Children are provided with high-quality equipment, resources and facilities to support each child's learning and development.   

Teachers encourage parents to spend time with their children in the centre, especially to help them settle in, which also helps parents to discover how the centre operates throughout the day.

Te Kōhanga Reo

The kōhanga reo movement is a unique initiative based on total immersion in Māori language and values with the aim of passing on Māori culture to future generations.

Kōhanga reo emphasise the revitalisation of the culture through te reo Māori and are dependent on the active participation of the whole whānau. The kaupapa of kōhanga reo aims to strengthen whānau capabilities in cultural, social, economic, spiritual and political matters. Education, health and wellbeing are inherent within all aspects of the kaupapa. The prime focus is the whānau – its collective development, growth, accountability and wellbeing set within a Māori cultural context.

Kōhanga reo do not regard tamariki in isolation, but as important members of the whānau. The kōhanga reo philosophy is that tamariki will benefit when whānau successfully operate according to the kaupapa. Tamariki are an integral part of whānau development.

The following key goals are the foundation of te kōhanga reo kaupapa established in 1982:

• total immersion in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga in daily operations
• whānau decision-making, management and responsibility
• accountability
• health and wellbeing of mokopuna and whānau.

The key goals of te kōhanga reo assure that there will be:

• security in te reo Māori
• a supportive, caring environment for mokopuna
• whānau (collective) sharing of responsibilities, knowledge and expertise
• greater respect and appreciation of each other.