Childcare options in Albany

School Readiness

City Impact Church Preschool Learning Centre is an over 2’s Centre with a focus on preparing children for school. Our aim is to empower children by creating an engaging environment, to extend and support children’s interests and to equip them in becoming confident, lifelong learners. The Preschool Programme offers academic and play-based learning thoughtfully designed by our passionate and experienced teachers.

Qualified Staff

Alongside excellent qualifications and skills, our teachers bring a dedication to work to help raise a new generation of extraordinary children. Our caring staff are from a range of different backgrounds and cultures, are able to ensure that every child feels accepted and at home.

Biblical Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed to create learning experiences and opportunities for the children with the purpose to enhance the development of every child so they can grow into their unique God-given identities and be confident in who they are.

Ages and Stages

We cater to the ages and stages of each child in our Preschool with areas and activities that are tailored to each age group. Here’s some more information on our programs for each age group.

Preschool 1

The Preschool 1 room is where our youngest children will begin their learning journey with us. Each day children will engage in both planned and spontaneous learning experiences. With the environment set up to encourage the development of age-appropriate literacy, and numeracy skills, children will naturally become prepared for their next transition. The programme will include all curriculum areas with teachers extending children’s interests through exciting projects, inviting table setups, and working alongside children and their families.

Preschool 2

The Preschool 2 room is a place where all children and whanau are welcomed and have a sense of belonging. Children will experience an environment where they are encouraged to be independent learners through both free play and structured learning. The programme includes designated learning times with emphasis on pre-writing, literacy and numeracy skills, incorporated into both planned learning experiences, as well as emergent play. Teachers are passionate about learning and development and helping each child to reach their full potential.

Preschool 3

In the Preschool 3 Room children will be given opportunities to be independent, responsible learners. Every part of our programme is intentional, with learning opportunities in science, music and movement, technology, art, and gross motor woven throughout the curriculum. Children will experience both free choice and structured learning times, with school readiness being a significant part of our programme. With a strong emphasis on self-help, literacy and mathematics, children will feel empowered as they gain the skills to ensure a successful transition to school.

We offer a fun-based educational, caring programme which embraces our natural outdoor environment.

Our fully qualified teachers nurture and support tamariki to develop empathy for others, along with a lifelong passion for learning.

When it comes to early learning for you child there is an overwhelming array of options available. At Albany Community Preschool we provide quality care with an educational focus.

Friendly, experienced, fully qualified teachers; excellent staff ratios, and a warm and welcoming environment lays an essential foundation for your child’s learning.

Albany Community Preschool is a not for profit preschool, providing a high quality early childhood service to children of the Albany area for over 50 years.

Our Philosophy

We acknowledge our commitment to Tangata Whenuatanga and to the histories, heritages and cultures of our diverse, multi-cultural community

At Albany Community Preschool we provide a welcoming, fun, safe, caring, loving and stimulating environment that encourages children to build confidence and independence skills, while learning through meaningful play.   We recognise the importance of a secure and nurturing environment that is respectful and empowering for each child and work to provide a sense of belonging.  We explore and extend children’s strengths and interests, which are supported and valued on their learning journey.

Teachers and parents/whānau engage in open conversations with children’s learning and interests.

Session Details

We are licenced for 40 children (ages 2 – 5 years) per session.  We offer 20 ECE hours for children three years and over. There is the option of either morning, afternoon and/or full-day sessions. The preschool remains open during the school holidays except for the Christmas break.

• Morning Sessions 8.30am to 1.00pm

• Afternoon Sessions 1pm to 4.00pm

• Full day from 8.30am to 4.00pm    

Magicland Childcare is a local childcare centre based in Albany, Auckland. Our skilfully trained and ECE-qualified teachers facilitate educational and physical programmes designed to maximize your child’s potential. All members of our centre can freely join our physical programs to get fit and strong both mentally and physically. Enrol your child in our childcare centre and watch their interest in learning grow. We accept students between the ages of 6 months and 5 years old.

Our philosophy

Magicland is a family oriented early learning centre which has a homely feel and is located in Albany Auckland, where new ideas and fun are explored every day. At Magicland we take footsteps forward daily to make our philosophy visible to all and create a living document which grows and changes as we do.

We believe that we are responsible for providing infants, toddlers, and young children with positive learning experiences where children are encouraged to learn through meaningful relationships with and alongside other children from diverse cultures and ethnicities. At Magicland each child’s own cultural identity is acknowledged and celebrated along with children’s independent, strong, free spirited individuals who are capable in making their own decisions, working together, problem solving, and leading their own learning.

Why choose us?

At Magicland Childcare, we focus on education as well as extracurricular activities. We are committed to providing a quality education program that meets the needs of your child

• Clean environment
• Inviting
• Professionally experienced teachers
• Homely feel
• Yummy & nutritions food

Kia Ora and Welcome to our Kindergarten

We believe in providing children with the necessary tools, skills and attitudes to enable them to become competent, confident, responsible and capable learners throughout their life long journey.

Kohikohia nga kakano, whakaritea te parekereke, kia puawai nga hua. Gather the seeds, prepare the seedbed carefully, and you will be gifted with an abundance of food.

The Albany area  is also known as Okahukura, place of butterflies or of rainbows. Our kindergarten is located in the heart of the community right next to Albany Primary School. We welcome families to come and visit us anytime and experience what our learning environment has to offer them.

Our children are active explorers who are encouraged to support and respect each other as they learn together. We value manaakitanga and aroha as part of our philosophy which means that caring, sharing, kindness, supporting others, and being a friend are important and visible in our curriculum here.

Te Whariki is our guiding curriculum document and emphasises our bicultural foundations, our multicultural present and the shared future that we are creating with our Albany Kindergarten whanau.

This quote from Te Whariki says a lot about what is important to us here.

“As global citizens in a rapidly changing and increasingly connected world, children need to be adaptive, creative and resilient. They need to learn how to learn so that they can engage with new contexts, opportunities and challenges with optimism and resourcefulness.”

Arohanui and welcome to our kindergarten we look forward to meeting you.

Our Purpose

To provide effective early childhood education services to ensure every child leaves kindergarten with the foundations of personal development and a love of life and learning

Your Child, Your Place

At our centres your child will learn:

• How to relate to other children and their teachers
• How to take responsibility, develop independence and self-confidence
• How to share and explore their understanding of people, places and things
• How to express ideas and acknowledge feelings
• Negotiating, turn taking, cooperation and conflict resolution
• Respect for other cultures, languages and traditions
• How to better interact with family and the wider community
• Hauora (the four dimensions of health), physical, mental, social and spiritual health
• Sustainability and the natural environment

Our History

Kaitiaki Kindergartens were originally known as the East Coast Bays Free Kindergarten Association. Torbay was the association’s first kindergarten which opened in 1954 and it is still a very active kindergarten to this day. As we grew we became known as the Northern Auckland Free Kindergarten Association. Today, we go by the name of ‘Kaitiaki Kindergartens’. Kaitiaki means, “a guardian or trustee, typically of an environmental area or resource.” This change reflects our responsibility to each and every child, community member and kindergarten in the Kaitiaki wider family.

We’re about:

• children, families and whanau
• quality early childhood education
• a qualified and registered workforce
• community
• not-for-profit
• home grown
• kiwi owned

Kindergarten is a partnership between:

Teachers

Qualified, registered teachers provide and deliver educational programmes under the guidance and support of the Professional Practice Leaders.

Our communities

Support teachers and the Association to help raise funds to ensure it has the resources required by the teachers and staff and to build community relationships.

Board of management

Elected by the community by members (parents/whanau) to govern the Association. The board sets policies and the strategic direction of the Association and appoints the General Manager to manage the Association on their behalf.

Natural Steps Albany is located on Apollo Drive in the Rosedale, Albany area. Easy to find and access, with a lovely bush outlook onto a recreation reserve. Our beautiful purpose built centre has been designed to provide the best environment for children and families.

The whole centre is licensed for 80 children.  Three rooms are within the centre. Pipi Room is for the infants, Kina Room is for toddlers and Wahanui Room is for the preschoolers. Our teacher child ratios are excellent so your child can engage and positive, caring and meaningful interactions with the adults.

Indoor and outdoor spaces flow into each other.  Classrooms open to the outside where children and teachers feel intimately connected to the learning environment.  A high quality natural outdoor environment this is a place where children can grow and nuture their own gardens. Enjoy a climbing area, swings, sandpits, slides and open space.

Your child will feel at home in this not-for-profit early childhood centre with a history of positive Education Review Office reports and great teacher-to-child ratios. Our highly-qualified and experienced teachers nurture children from birth to six years old in a newly-built facility.

Massey Child Care Centre - Albany opened its newly rehomed and refurbished centre to welcome 50 per cent more children than before.

The centre features two buildings from Massey’s Oteha Rohe campus that have been relocated and refurbished internally to provide a much-improved learning space for all.

The centre has licensing for up to 60 children, with more space inside and out to support a larger roll as well as new state-of the-art facilities.

With two main sections, the Pukeko Section for Infant and toddlers up to three years, and the Kiwi Section for young children two-and-a-half to six years-old, children can transition through the centre based on their needs rather than age.

Each section of the centre has its own inside play environment with multiple double doors opening on to the deck, which not only doubles the play space, but can be used all year round.

Our Philosophy

It is Massey Child Care Centre's vision to provide the best environment for discovery and learning to grow the capacity of our community.

Our mission is to support staff, children, families and whanau to gain knowledge and build personal and interpersonal capacity as they foster a vibrant community. We aspire for excellence in early childhood education through educational leadership in the centre and the early childhood sector. A strong community of practice culture will be fostered to support and strengthen participants as active enquirers.

Massey Child Care Centre provides innovative education and care programmes for children and families of the Massey University and wider community. Children experience an inclusive environment where their cultural heritage is respected, acknowledged and represented. Cultural diversity is valued and the individual needs of the children and their families are integral to the centre’s programme. Programmes are designed to promote children’s holistic development in an atmosphere of security and understanding.   

We welcome you to Kids Cove Albany Infants & Toddlers

This amazing facility is part of the larger complex which has Kids Cove Pre-school as the other wing, both units, situated on sprawling one acre land with 60 car parks to make drop-off and pickup easy for our parents and with the best possible facilities providing the most in security, comfort and appropriate environments for the learning of our children.

Infants & Toddlers

Albany Infants and Toddlers is a brand new child care with five rooms specifically created to meet every need of our children in the age group of 3 months and under 3 years of age. Dedicated sleep rooms with one sleep cot for every child, kitchenettes in every room, underfloor heating, furnishings and outdoor play areas that provide our young ones with all opportunities to learn and grow and yet be safe and comfortable.

With child to teacher ratios of 1:4 and with 80% + qualified staff.

The Team

Led by Kath, the site manager, our teaching staff at Kids Cove Infants & Toddlers is a friendly team of passionate teachers with a special love place in their hearts — to care for and participate in the play/learning of young children.

Since we Know that at this young age, children mostly communicate with feelings, thus to instil a sense of safety, cosiness and calmness, we at Kids Cove Infants & Toddlers use the language our babies best understand – the language of love energy.

As we also appreciate, how it can be difficult for parents to leave such young children in outside care – we thus use open, free and truthful communication to build trust and strong bonds with our families.

Healthy Food in Kids Cove

Meals That Follow Healthy Heart Foundation Guidelines

In addition to kitchenettes in every room that cater to individual needs of our children, we have an in house dedicated Kitchen run by professional chef, providing meals that follow Healthy Heart Foundation Guidelines:

• Our 4-week cyclic menu is committed to bringing nutritious meals, providing freshly made food. Giving a variety of colours, shapes and flavours.
• We aim to reduce the refined sugar intake using natural sweeteners from different fruits.
• We use a core ingredient list suggested by the Healthy Heart Foundation.
• Our meals are low in sodium and low in trans fats.

If your child has a specific dietary requirement please inform the Centre prior to enrolment so we can provide suitable meals for your child.

If your child is on breast milk or formula, this needs to be provided to the Centre with instructions.

A Flexible Fee Structure

Now open and taking new enrolments.

Also, at Kids Cove Albany, to meet the needs of our parents, we run many programmes that include, besides full days, other options of short days and sessions.

Our fees structures also vary to reflect the flexibility of our various programmes and provide our parent’s, the fees options, based on the time a child is enrolled for.

An Easily Accessible Location

Situated in the heart of the Albany business district of Orchard Park, Kids Cove Albany Infants & toddlers is easily accessible from 2 Oracle Drive with plenty of free parking.

Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to Coatesville Playcentre

Playcentre is unlike any other early childhood education organisation. At Playcentre, both children and their parents / caregivers attend.

At Playcentre children get the opportunity to learn and explore in a fun and safe environment.

The curiosity and creativity of our tamariki is nurtured in a way that allows them to learn about themselves and their world.

Your child will be given a chance to explore, create, climb, read, sing, experiment, play music, wear costumes, have their face painted (or do it themselves!), garden, do carpentry with real tools, bake and cook, build sandcastles, swing, slide, dance, spend time in nature and get messy.

The activities change every day. Playcentre parents all bring different skills, interests, and cultural backgrounds to add to the rich learning environment.

We welcome families with children aged 0 – 6 years. Mixed age play allows your children to engage with others older and younger than themselves. Pre-schoolers learn how to communicate, share and negotiate with empathy for their younger peers.

At Playcentre, families come together and lifelong friendships are formed.

We welcome you to visit any time during the year. You are entitled to three free visits so come and check out what we do – we would love to meet you and your family!

BestStart North Harbour is located downstairs and outside at Westfield Albany.

Our children develop and learn in a warm and nurturing environment, where they are respected and encouraged to be active and guide their own learning and development. This learning and development takes place with support from experienced teachers who work closely with you and your child to ensure that we provide the best possible care and education during their early years.

What makes us different

The infant and toddlers environment includes a baby nest to support the growth and development of our youngest children

Primary care givers in our infants and toddlers room

Child focused by working closely with and fostering relationships with parents and whanau

Our pre-school room supports your child to become independent and confident in their abilities

Our Be School Ready initiative develops the skills needed to ensure a smooth transition to school

Our centre and learning spaces

BestStart North Harbour cares for children aged from 3 months to 5 years. Your child will be looked after first in our Ara Tūhura room from 3 months up to 2.5 years, where they will then have visits to ensure a smooth transition to our Ara Tipu room.

We value working in partnership with whānau (families) and children through building respectful and trusting relationships. This includes focusing on children as individuals by developing a learning journey specific to their needs and interests. Through interactions with our teachers and our stimulating environment, children are encouraged to explore and develop their social skills, communication, curiosity and confidence.

BestStart North Harbour also has a learning focus based around creative arts. This is evident in how visual arts, music, movement and dance are incorporated into curriculum areas such as numeracy, literacy, science and outdoor play. Our friendly and approachable teachers take pride in making a positive difference in their lives by being role models.

We were recognised this year by Reader's Digest readers, who awarded us the Gold Quality Service award.

Who is BestStart?

BestStart is for families who want more from early-childhood education. Safe, nurturing and educationally focused, we’re committed to growing caring people with curious minds.

Together we teach, learn and nurture.

Our vision is to work in partnership with families, whanau and communities to enable children to achieve their learning potential.

Ko tō mātou tirohanga hei mahi ngātahi i te taha o ngā whānau me ngā hāpori, kia āwhinatia ngā tamariki, kia tū pito mata ai rāatou, hei rangatira mō āpōpō.

We are committed to being a progressive and responsive leader in early-childhood education. We do this by enhancing our services, investing in our people, developing our support structure and continuously improving the educational outcomes and experiences of our children, families and the communities we serve.

Some facts:

• We’re licensed to educate and care for 15,000 full-time children daily.
• 18,000 families use BestStart services annually.
• We have over 270 centres nationwide located from Whangarei to Invercargill.
• Each centre is managed by a Centre Manager who is supported by a local Area Manager. This gives our centre teams ongoing quality training and support.
• Te Whāriki, the world-wide acclaimed national early childhood education curriculum, is used in all centres.
• We have over 4500 permanent teachers nationally. Over 90% of our permanent teaching staff are either fully qualified with a diploma or bachelor of teaching (ECE) or higher, or are in training. These figures are very high by national standards within the ECE sector.
• We provide a two-year Advice and Guidance Programme for all recently certified teachers, providing further mentoring and training. This gives strong support for teachers from provisional registration to full teacher registration with the NZ Teachers Council.
• We regularly spend around $4 million on teacher training per annum.

We’re for children

At our heart is our commitment and passion for children. Central to this belief is our focus on the holistic development of children. We support children to explore the world around them, learning through relationships, creating a love of learning in an ever-changing world. Exploration, friendship and fun are part of the journey.

We’re for good

BestStart is a registered charity owned by the Wright Family Foundation. We support initiatives and programmes within BestStart and the wider early-childhood education sector (ECE) that support good outcomes for all children. We do this because we want to make a positive difference to the lives of all children.

Innovation leads us

At BestStart, innovation guides our thinking. We advocate positive change for learners through our research and practice. We’re proud to be thought leaders within ECE, openly challenging ourselves to think differently to provide the best for our children, families and staff.

We’re responsive

Our centres reflect their children, staff and communities. We celebrate individuality, uniqueness and diversity, encouraging a spirit of empathy, understanding and collaboration. Through our responsive relationships and our curriculum, we support learners to choose their own path.

Our people matter

At BestStart people come first. When we grow and develop our people, everyone benefits. We strive for whakamana/empowerment, nurturing a culture of excellence with engaged, talented professionals. Their commitment, skill and passion light our way.

Kowhai Kids Early Learning Centre is a boutique, family-owned early childhood education centre catering for ages 0-5 years.

At Kowhai Kids, we believe in the power of early childhood education to develop young minds and set the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. 

Our mission is to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment where children can grow, explore, be safe and thrive .

We are conveniently located in the Rosedale / Albany area.  Our childcare centre is licensed for up to 80 children spread across 3 rooms.

We warmly welcome Babies / Infants, Toddlers and Preschool children.

Play-based learning and care

We have a programme that through play encourages children to be inquisitive, curious, and have an open mind, and takes a holistic approach to each child – socially, intellectually, physically and emotionally.

We provide a welcoming and learning rich environment that is safe, caring and secure for all children. Our passionate, qualified and experienced teachers (many of whom are parents too), see children as active participants in their own learning, and act as facilitators to recognise and support this learning.

Our values

We believe that relationships formed during a child’s early years are the foundation for emotional security and social development for later life.  What they experience, feel and know in their infant and toddler years becomes the map by which they will navigate the world.

BestStart Albany is a unique childcare centre with two separate modern buildings across the road from each other. Located just off the Albany Highway, a short distance from Rosedale Road, we’re handy to motorways and other main thoroughfares.

Nurturing a sense of wonder

Tahi Centre offers an intimate environment for infants and toddlers. We provide a family orientated atmosphere within an environment that is open, spacious and very well resourced. Children are given the opportunity to develop at their own pace in a safe, secure environment. Independence is encouraged as children are viewed as individuals with their own personality. Learning and development is introduced through play, music, dance, visual arts, and our relationships with the children during care moments.

Our Tahi centres has two outdoor area, providing a safe learning environment for children to explore the natural environment and learn about the world around them whilst developing friendships and social skills.

We understand at this young age your child’s routine may change a few times, so we work in partnership with you to ensure we are maintaining your home routines and keeping your personal aspirations in mind. We pride ourselves on our strong relationships with children and their families.

Rua Centre is our Preschool centre. Children’s learning is encouraged through play and our fun-filled, stimulating environment encourages children to grow and develop a healthy sense of self. We support each child’s social and emotional development so they look forward to learning new things and are ready to participate in group activities, as well as initiate their own learning.

Our recently renovated and upgraded playground is the ideal backyard for pre-schoolers to explore, offering exciting opportunities to build on children’s learning and physical developmental and educational needs. Equipped with swings, climbing equipment, mud play area and a productive vegetable garden, children develop the essential knowledge and skills to support them as they prepare for school.

Our unique Be School Ready initiative has been developed to ensure that children leave the centre as confident, capable learners and have a successful start at school. Our preparation for school is designed individually for each child, focusing on their unique learning and developmental needs, interests, and dispositions.

Our teachers are motivated and have the experience to provide the very best learning opportunities for your child. BestStart Albany has a strong and productive relationship with the local Primary schools, and together we work towards preparing your children for school.

Who is BestStart?

BestStart is for families who want more from early-childhood education. Safe, nurturing and educationally focused, we’re committed to growing caring people with curious minds.

Together we teach, learn and nurture.

Our vision is to work in partnership with families, whanau and communities to enable children to achieve their learning potential.

Ko tō mātou tirohanga hei mahi ngātahi i te taha o ngā whānau me ngā hāpori, kia āwhinatia ngā tamariki, kia tū pito mata ai rāatou, hei rangatira mō āpōpō.

We are committed to being a progressive and responsive leader in early-childhood education. We do this by enhancing our services, investing in our people, developing our support structure and continuously improving the educational outcomes and experiences of our children, families and the communities we serve.

Some facts:

• We’re licensed to educate and care for 15,000 full-time children daily.
• 18,000 families use BestStart services annually.
• We have over 270 centres nationwide located from Whangarei to Invercargill.
• Each centre is managed by a Centre Manager who is supported by a local Area Manager. This gives our centre teams ongoing quality training and support.
• Te Whāriki, the world-wide acclaimed national early childhood education curriculum, is used in all centres.
• We have over 4500 permanent teachers nationally. Over 90% of our permanent teaching staff are either fully qualified with a diploma or bachelor of teaching (ECE) or higher, or are in training. These figures are very high by national standards within the ECE sector.
• We provide a two-year Advice and Guidance Programme for all recently certified teachers, providing further mentoring and training. This gives strong support for teachers from provisional registration to full teacher registration with the NZ Teachers Council.
• We regularly spend around $4 million on teacher training per annum.

We’re for children

At our heart is our commitment and passion for children. Central to this belief is our focus on the holistic development of children. We support children to explore the world around them, learning through relationships, creating a love of learning in an ever-changing world. Exploration, friendship and fun are part of the journey.

We’re for good

BestStart is a registered charity owned by the Wright Family Foundation. We support initiatives and programmes within BestStart and the wider early-childhood education sector (ECE) that support good outcomes for all children. We do this because we want to make a positive difference to the lives of all children.

Innovation leads us

At BestStart, innovation guides our thinking. We advocate positive change for learners through our research and practice. We’re proud to be thought leaders within ECE, openly challenging ourselves to think differently to provide the best for our children, families and staff.

We’re responsive

Our centres reflect their children, staff and communities. We celebrate individuality, uniqueness and diversity, encouraging a spirit of empathy, understanding and collaboration. Through our responsive relationships and our curriculum, we support learners to choose their own path.

Nestled in the grounds of Kristin School, Little Doves Early Learning Centre is a haven for exploration, learning and play for our very youngest children. Set in stunning landscaped gardens, in an architecturally designed building, Little Doves Early Learning Centre welcomes children from the age of 6 months.                                       

WHAT’S SO UNIQUE ABOUT KRISTIN LITTLE DOVES EARLY LEARNING CENTRE?

Research consistently highlights how critically important the first 1000 days are in a child’s life for building the foundations that will last a lifetime. It is in these early years that children’s brains are still being shaped and formed, setting them up for a lifetime of living and learning.

At Little Doves, our first priority, each and every day, is ensuring that children feel safe, secure and nurtured. We know that it is only then that they are able to truly flourish, to explore and to learn, and to reach their full potential.

Building on these foundations, our programme of care and education is designed to tap into the natural curiosity of children to explore and understand the world around them, to foster their creativity and imagination, and to nurture the attitudes, values and social skills that will set them up for life.

At the age of four, children move seamlessly into our well-established Kindergarten. Here they experience a programme that continues to feed their natural curiosity while preparing them for success at school.

This centre is currently closed

Our Pre-School. Our Family. Our Community

We are a family owned and operated centre. Since 2003 we have worked with many families from the Glenfield and Albany communities within the North Shore to provide high quality childcare and education.  Our team of teachers are highly experienced in providing a warm home away from home and a rich learning environment for your children.

Our Philosophy

At Apple Tree Childcare, our relationships with children and their whanau form the foundation of their home away from home. We believe that establishing warm and meaningful relationships enables educators to provide the best possible care, curriculum and learning environment that is nurturing, safe and empowering. We believe in setting a foundation for lifelong learning through fostering social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cognitive development and focussing on each child’s individual strengths and abilities.

Our environment promotes learning through active exploration and meaningful play based on children’s passions and interests and encouraging growth in their own unique abilities, confidence and competence.  We respect and celebrate the cultural diversity of each child and their family, ensuring that they feel a sense of belonging and know that they are a valued part of the Apple Tree Whanau.

Secret Garden ELC is a high-quality childcare centre, where our highly qualified teachers provide an age-appropriate educational program for all our children

We are conveniently located at 428 Albany Highway, very close to Albany Primary School and Massey University, making it easy for you to drop off and pick up your child on the way to and from dropping your other children at school, or work.

At Secret Garden ELC we believe that care and education coincide together to create a great learning environment that stimulates children. The curriculum areas of science, Maths, English, Art and Social Studies are integrated into all areas of centre life, with our programme carefully designed to ensure that all our activities provide a positive educational outcome for the children. Secret Garden ELC is a multicultural centre where we embrace all the different cultures and incorporate family beliefs and culture into each child’s day. We are able to ensure that every child feels accepted and at home.

Secret Garden ELC stands apart with our huge natural outdoor area of over 800m2, with plenty of mature trees, space to ride bikes and kick a ball. Our outside area is utilized as an extension of our inside classroom. 

Our philosophy

At Secret Garden ELC we believe that children have the right to a high quality inclusive education with staff that are passionate about the teaching and learning of young children.  Our children have opportunities to explore and engage in a diverse variety of experiences in a child and teacher led programme, which encourages children’s learning through play.

We provide an environment which is safe, challenging, supportive and nurturing. This fosters social, emotional, physical and cognitive development within a lifelong learning framework.  We encourage our children to become independent and active members of our community, who care and have respect for themselves, others and the environment, both in the babies and preschool room.

We have a rich learning environment which provides opportunities for all children – regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or ability, to become fully involved in learning alongside others.  We foster respectful relationships between the children and staff in our warm, caring and homely centre.

Summerfield Early Learning Centre opened its doors more than 32 years ago and is highly regarded and recognised for its quality of care and education of children, toddlers and babies. We are independently owned, and operated by a passionate experienced team and offer unique experiences for children in a strikingly beautiful natural setting in the heart of Albany.

We provide a balance of structured learning opportunities alongside child-initiated play, allowing our children to explore and discover in a spacious environment that offers a sound education programme with many opportunities for learning. We believe children are inquisitive, capable and competent, and that a strong partnership with families is fundamental to their well-being.

Summerfield is more than a childcare or daycare, we provide uncompromising quality standards tailored specifically to your child and their needs. Your child becomes part of our extended Summerfield family enjoying a safe, nurturing and fun environment where they learn, grow and thrive.

Our Philosophy

We believe children are inquisitive, capable and competent, and that a partnership with families is fundamental to their well-being. We love being part of the growth and development of your amazing children and this is guided by our 7 principles: Teach me with love, Guide me with care, Fill me with wonder, Imagine what you could be, A place for everyone, Learning partnership and Their future, our present.

Our philosophy

At Little Steps Montessori Preschool, we offer a developmentally appropriate, early childhood education programme that meets the needs of the “whole child” and builds a safe environment where exploration, play and discovery are promoted.  The curriculum respects both the age and the individual needs of each child.

We provide a safe, healthy learning environment that will advance your child’s physical and intellectual competence, communication and creativity. Social and emotional development is encouraged to nurture self-esteem, social responsibility and respect for others. We treasure the relationships we can foster with each of our families and appreciate the diversity of different cultures and their input into our centre.

We believe that children learn best in a secure, caring, and loving environment which is respectful and affirming and that stimulates and allows for active exploration, discoveries and learning. Childhood is an unforgettable and unique time; we aspire to support every ‘Little Step’ that your child takes. It is very important to us that a foundation of values is laid to support this journey.

Embracing children's wonder, playfulness and love for learning is paramount as they build a strong sense of who they are and the endless opportunities that await them in this ever changing world. Through providing children with a safe and inspirational environment we are able to foster children's curiosity and provide a strong framework for 21 century learning. Kristin Kindergarten caters for 4 year olds and supports them on their learning journey through the early years, transitioning seamlessly into Year 0 and Year 1.

Our Kindergarten students enjoy regular specialist instruction in Languages, Music & Movement, Performing and Visual Arts and a Perceptual Motor Program. Visits to the Kristin library and bush add richness to our program. Our highly skilled teachers move to the Junior School with each class, continuing to support the dyadic relationships.

Our foundations for learning in Kristin Kindergarten

• A strong focus on developing oral language, leading into early literacy skills.
• Providing specialised teachers that open pathways to new ways to be creative and expressive.
• Opportunities that support all aspects of a child's development.

Our Philosophy

Our babies have a separate nursery which is temperature controlled to ensure peaceful play times. With well thought out equipment and resources our babies will have a happy and secure space to develop and grow.

Our Toddlers and Preschool children have their own rooms also. With a separate learning space provided for quiet and focused activities your children will have the opportunity to experience a wide range of resources with a learning focus.

Our teaching team are very experienced within the age groups that they teach and will keep you updated via Storypark – our online learning portal.

Our environment is very homely and includes an interactive library. We encourage a love of learning and to support our families we provide a Learning Library. Parents and children can choose from our extensive range of books and take them home for a few days to enjoy as a family.

We provide healthy meals and children have options within our set meals. We source organic products where possible and our children will enjoy free range eggs and chicken as part of our meal options