Did you know there are 12 early childhood services (ECE) in Te Taura Here o Otautahi Kahui Ako? ECE is a richly diverse sector made up of many different types of services and management structures. In each newsletter we will feature a few of our ECE’s historical narrative as a way to learn more about our membership and also the ECE sector. We hope you enjoy!

Te Pito o Te Puna Wai o Waipapa/ Hagley Community Preschool

Hagley Community College Preschool was established in 1974 as a not-for-profit community early childhood service. In the beginning, the mission of the centre was to support young parents to continue their education at the College. The centre operated as a creche, initially in one of the original houses on site known as Hagley House, and it provided a parenting programme facilitated by the creche staff.

The preschool is now governed by a Trust Board that is closely linked to Hagley Community College. Located in the College grounds the preschool has access to many of the resources of the College such as the library and grounds. Tamariki enjoy the additional benefits offered through being an integral part of the wider Hagley College Community. They attend College events, and productions, and make use of the environment for walks and exploration.

In recent years the preschool was gifted its name Te Pito o Te Puna Wai o Waiapapa. This name builds on the close relationship we have with Te Puna Wai O Waipapa or Hagley College. Te Pito refers to the navel or belly button, as a point where life is nurtured, and Te Puna Wai o Waipapa relates to the many streams of the Waipapa river that are under the land where Hagley College sits. So our name in Te Reo Maori can be understood as the place where the very beginnings of those streams bubble up to the surface similarly to the way our youngest learners begin their learning journey.

The preschool is currently temporarily located in Simpson House, previously occupied by the the College Counsellors. The old College classrooms that the preschool operated from were demolished at the beginning of 2021 and now a new building is being erected on the same site.

The preschool community includes tamariki and their whanau from the wider residential community, from the Christchurch city central business district, Hagley Community College staff and students. The community culturally diverse and includes many from refugee and migrant backgrounds. The preschool continues it’s 46 year tradition of supporting adult students to return to education at Hagley College or other nearby training and education facilities in the knowledge that their preschool child is in close proximity to them.

Co Kids Moorhouse Ave: Jessie Jones  - Manager

You will find Co Kids just off Moorhouse Ave in Pilgrim Place near the medical centre. Co-Kids Moorhouse Ave opened in 2017 to cater for those returning to work in the inner city of Christchurch. The number of workplaces in the city were beginning to increase with post-quake developments happening. Co Kids is built on the site of the well-known Science Alive and Hoyts movie theatre, which were housed in the old Christchurch Railway Station buildings. It is licensed for 75 tamariki aged between 3 months and 6 years, the centre cook prepares all morning tea, lunch and afternoon teas onsite offering a nutritious, sugar free menu and catering to all dietary requirements.

Co Kids Moorhouse Ave is one of a group of three ECE services, one located in Auckland, one on Moorhouse Ave and the newest one in Wellington. They are owned by a group of businessmen who were inspired to open their own services as they searched for a high-quality service for their own children. The centres are managed by a team of experienced early childhood professionals that work closely with the Co Kids owners. With a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience between them, the managers are well placed to guide and support kaiako in the delivery of outstanding education and care. Managers are not included in teacher to child ratios to ensure they are available to focus their attention on the smooth running of the centres, and meeting the needs of our families.

Co-Kids is proud to reassure the confidence of parents that their whanau will be part of sharing in a warm, caring community where kindness and warm relationships are at the core of kaiako practice. “Walk in and feel the charm of a community impassioned with an ethos that comes from the heart!” The environment consists of two main indoor play-spaces and a shared outdoor area. These safe spaces offer opportunities for siblings to share in their day; older children to help in the care of the younger children; younger children to watch and emulate actions from their charismatic older peers.