Historic Kelsey Yaralla is a diverse, whānau-orientated kindergarten with a strong sense of community. Our spacious learning environment is dynamic and well resourced, supporting children to be independent and confident learners.

Our History

Kelsey Yaralla Kindergarten has occupied many homes since opening in the King St Church Hall in 1891. It moved to the North Dunedin Club Rooms and then to Knox Church Hall, it resided in the Albany St School Gymnasium, a room at the Grange and in the Union St School Gymnasium until finally in 1920 the Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association erected the present Kelsey Yaralla Kindergarten in Trent Avenue.

Kia ora and welcome to the Otago University Childcare Association (OUCA).

We are a community operated Early Childhood Service administered by the Manager and an elected Board. We provide a high quality early childhood education for children through the provision of 100% qualified registered teachers and excellent teacher-to-child ratios.

Over 50 years ago the OUCA was established by students and staff of the University for children of students and staff. We continue that tradition today by giving priority to this group of children.

Te Pā is licensed for 150 children, including up to 50 children under two. The service has four centres on the same site, each offering a different learning context:

Te Pārekereke o Te Kī - bilingual mixed age centre for children from birth to five years

Te Maioha - two groups of children all aged under two years

Te Puna - mixed age setting for children over two years who attend for shorter days

Te Uru - mixed age setting for children over two years who attend for longer days.

Our guiding principles:

It's all about the children We will be guided by parents/whanau in decision making concerning their children

We embrace Te Tiriti o Waitangi and endeavour to implement bi-cultural policies and practices in our centres

We respect and celebrate the cultures of all our centre families

We seek to foster self-esteem, confidence and a disposition to learn in each child

We recognise the varied abilities of each child

We create a warm, accepting and welcoming atmosphere for children and adults

We ensure that our learning environment will attract and retain quality staff