Ara Institute of Canterbury (Madras St campus), 130 Madras Street, Central City, Christchurch 8011
Primary caregiving
Our primary caregiving approach means that your tamaiti (child) and you, as whānau, get to build a strong relationship with at least one Kaiako (teacher). Your tamaiti builds trust that there’s someone special here for them who knows them, cares for them and will always respond to their needs. This authentic and trusting relationship fosters a sense of wellbeing and belonging, and promotes positive mental health.
Working in partnership with whānau, kaiako provide a culturally responsive and engaging environment to support the learning and development of tamariki, viewing each tamaiti as an individual and valuing all they bring with them and all they contribute from their whanau and community.
Our vision
Loving, nurturing and respectful relationships are at the heart of all we do. Our vision is to secure an environment where tamariki flourish ‘a tōna wā’ (in their own time). The centre is calm and unhurried and the uninterrupted freedom to explore fosters learning.
We honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ensuring that cultural identity is visible for all; the strong partnerships we build with parents and whānau means that each child is known and celebrated for the unique individual that they are. ‘Poipoia te kakano, kia puawai’ – ‘nurture the seed and it will blossom’.
Our virtues
Our core virtues of aroha (love), te rongo (peace), atawhai (kindness), kotahitanga (unity) and aroha (compassion) are the foundations for all that we do. They guide our interactions with tamariki, kaiako, whānau, community and the environment. Setting virtues-based boundaries brings out the best in our tamariki and ourselves, helping everyone to become compassionate, kind, courageous, confident and purposeful.
You can learn more about the global Virtues Project here.
Our outdoor environment
Our centre has beautiful natural outdoor spaces; a magical garden where imagination, wonder and awe can flourish. We understand the importance of tamariki being immersed in the outdoors and our doors are always open. We believe that ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing’. With sustainability at the forefront of everything we do, most of our resources are from nature and we are committed to using recyclable and upcycled items that spark imagination and creativity.
Our Kaimahi
All our kaiako are fully qualified and registered and hold current first aid certificates.
Our philosophy
The strength of our centre lies in the relationships we develop with tamariki, whānau and each other to create a sense of community within and beyond our immediate environment.
The loving, caring and personal nature of our team nurtures the wellbeing of tamariki and fosters the development of a strong sense of belonging. Our focus is to support and guide the development and learning of tamariki within a respectful, unhurried, home-like environment where uninterrupted play is valued for contributing to a child’s sense of curiosity and creativity.
“The love and care the staff show for my child keeps blowing me away. They took the time to connect with us as a family and this has been ongoing. The individuality of our child has been fostered and valued, her little quirks have been accepted and incorporated in to how she settles each day and the play she’s supported to have, and she’s particularly enjoyed the lunch trips. We love the amount of outside area, she's able to play in a sand pit, climb trees, race around the pavements and she's supported to take risks in a controlled and safe environment. The fully trained teaching staff was also a draw for us, as is the vibrancy that regular ECE trainee teachers bring to our child's learning environment. I couldn't recommend Ara Early Learning Centre enough. Send your child, you won’t regret it.” - Peter Gill
“I couldn’t be happier having my boys in care at the Ara ELC. The kaiako are so loving and supportive, like aunts who want the best for them. The learning stories we receive show how well they know the children as individuals and treasure their unique personalities. I feel confident at work knowing they’re so secure and well cared for.” - Fearga Jellyman
“Ara Early Learning Centre has been an amazing centre for our two boys. The kaiako are incredibly experienced and work together beautifully to make sure that all tamariki feel loved and secure, and are supported to be fully engaged in their explorations and play. The importance of positive relationships is evident throughout the centre. We feel very lucky to be part of the Ara ELC whanau.” - Emma Kenagy Taylor
“I absolutely love the Ara Early Learning Centre. My family was well supported with the transition into nursery life and the teachers are amazing with my baby. The space is so calm and enriching and I feel that my baby thrives and grows every day. I can't give this centre enough praise and count myself lucky that I have such wonderful people looking after my precious baby.” - Nicki Baughman
“My two little ones have been both been at Ara ELC since they were about seven months old. It wasn’t an easy decision to go back to work and having to put my precious babies into day care. As difficult as this was, right from the start every single staff member went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and make sure our children felt settled, secure and free to develop as confident little humans. What I found striking was their absolute commitment to continually improve every aspect of the centre, whether through sustainability, fun activities for children, professional development or policy development etc. They’ve always demonstrated high levels of professionalism while providing a beautiful warm environment for our tamarki. They centre their learning around simple concepts such as the power of play, inclusiveness, love and kindness and this resonates in the relationships between children, teachers and parents. My children love attending this centre and are always brimming with huge stories about what they have done for the day when I come to pick them up. I’ve always found the staff truly lovely and completely authentic. They’ll always advocate for your child and ensure they get the very best care they deserve. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this centre to anyone looking for a very special place to care for their child." - Melanie Wall
