“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, Involve me and I learn.” (Benjamin Franklin)
Aroha for life and learning is at the heart of everything we do.
Our place is a warm, homely and a welcoming environment in the rural community where expression, creativity and relationships grow. We focus on imagination and exploration all through fun and involvement which is our key to learning.
We believe that whanaungatanga is paramount by forming warm trusting relationships. It is the heart of our centre, our community and our mahi. We maintain positive connections with our whānau, our local community and our iwi. We especially celebrate being part of Aotearoa, Leeston and the surrounding area.
We embrace the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This guides us in our bicultural approach. All languages, identities and cultures are recognised and protected in our learning journeys these celebrate diversity and manaakitanga.
We value kaitiakitanga and how it supports us in protecting our environment, it is our teacher, in its many forms.
Our mahi is to develop capable, competent, and resilient tamariki who are willing to give back to their communities in the future.
We believe a positive preschool experience will lay the foundation for success in years to come.
We’re a licensed Early Childhood Education (ECE) centre open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. We offer flexible hours, so you can adjust your child’s schedule weekly, fortnightly, or monthly as needed.
Our license is displayed on the parent notice board by the sign-in desk. You can also view our latest ERO report:
We encourage you to review our policies and feedback is always welcome. We’ll let you know when updates are made and value your input.
We love whānau involvement! Feel free to call, email, or pop in anytime.
Our hourly rate is $7.50, with a minimum enrolment of two sessions. There’s no minimum number of hours per session.
Children aged 3 and over are eligible for 20 ECE hours.
Fees are calculated based on the enrolled session time or actual arrival/departure times (whichever is earlier/later). Weekly invoices are emailed, and interest applies to overdue accounts.
Unused enrolled hours are charged at the normal rate. Early drop-off/late pick-up is charged at $25 per hour or part thereof.
We can assist with WINZ Childcare Subsidy applications WINZ Childcare subsidy. Please speak to the manager for more information.
Our centre receives funding from the Ministry of Education each year to support our high-quality care, including staffing and equipment. The amount of this funding is displayed on the parent notice board.
Centre Holidays and Closures:
Our centre is closed on all New Zealand public holidays, and we also close for two weeks during the Christmas and New Year period. You will not be charged fees for any of these closure days.
Family Holiday Leave (Half Rate):
We understand the importance of family time and offer families the opportunity to take up to 15 days of leave at half the usual daily rate, depending on your child’s enrolment. To request this half-rate leave, please provide written notice by emailing the centre approximately two weeks before the intended leave period.
We believe that a positive settling-in experience is crucial for a successful start to preschool. For this reason, we recommend at least three settling-in visits before your child begins. These visits are indeed a wonderful opportunity for you and your child to:
Moreover, during these visits, we encourage you to allow our teachers to interact with your child and assist with some of their needs. This, in turn, helps your child form secure attachments and develop a strong sense of belonging within our preschool whānau. As such, these visits are provided free of charge.
To further foster trust and security, please always say goodbye to your child when you leave and let them know you will be back. This open communication helps them feel safe and confident.
Finally, we are committed to working in partnership with you. Therefore, please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns you may have regarding your child’s settling-in process with their teacher.
In our place we have respect for ourselves, others, our environment, and our community.
In our place we are learning and growing through fun, risk taking and challenging experiences.
In our place we nurture express and manage our feelings and needs.
In our place we like to recognise and respect the uniqueness of languages, identity and culture of all learners.
In our place we gain trust by building responsive and reciprocal relationships.
In our place we value and grow creative and inquisitive minds.
Our vision is to support all children to become great citizens of the community that we can all be proud of.
At the heart of everything we do are the values that guide and shape our centre. These principles create a nurturing and supportive environment where children can grow, learn, and thrive:
Aroha – Love: We foster a caring and inclusive community where every child feels valued and supported.
Kotua – Respect: We encourage kindness, understanding, and appreciation for others.
Tiakitanga – Trust: We build strong, trusting relationships with children, families, and our wider community.
Katakata – Fun: We believe in the joy of learning through play, creativity, and laughter.
No current vacancies
One of the best decisions we made for our daughter is to entrust her in the capable hands and nurturing hearts of the teachers of Children First Preschool.
Lovely staff who really care about the kids x