Barnardos Early Learning Centre Te Puna Oraka 69b Briggs Road, Shirley, Christchurch, Canterbury 8052

Welcome to Barnardos Early Learning Centre Te Puna Oraka, located in the beautiful city of Christchurch, New Zealand. Our establishment is a point of interest, offering a safe and nurturing environment for your child to grow and thrive.

At Te Puna Oraka, we understand the importance of providing a welcoming space for children to explore their natural curiosities. Our qualified and experienced teachers are dedicated to caring for and nurturing each child, forming strong connections throughout their early learning journey. We go above and beyond to ensure that every child feels supported and that their unique needs are met.

Our teachers create positive opportunities for physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional development. They guide children as they navigate new friendships, master new skills, and build independence and resilience in preparation for school. The foundations for lifelong learning are laid here, in a happy and nurturing environment that inspires and empowers each child to learn in their own unique way.

Our outdoor spaces challenge and excite the imagination, while our spacious and light-filled indoor areas provide room for reading, rest, and engaging learning experiences. Children at our center especially enjoy activities such as painting, waiata (traditional Māori songs), and exploring the many natural play areas we have to offer.

We believe that understanding where we come from is essential in shaping who we are. That's why we place great importance on building a strong connection with nature and our local community. This connection helps your child develop a sense of belonging and identity while positively influencing their learning experiences. We are fortunate to have many wonderful options right on our doorstep here in Christchurch. We have our own garden where we grow vegetables and herbs, and we often go on local community walks and outings.

Promoting healthy eating habits is also a priority for us. This center operates on a BYO lunchbox policy, and we actively involve the children in using the vegetables and herbs we grow in our baking. Additionally, our center is nut-free, and we are more than happy to cater to any allergy or dietary requirements as needed.

We understand that affordability is an important factor in choosing an early learning center. As a not-for-profit organization, every dollar we receive goes back into supporting your child, the center, and our community. We are here to help you navigate fee and ECE subsidies, so please don't hesitate to talk to our Center Manager for further information.

Our team of teachers follows Te Whāriki, New Zealand's Early Childhood Curriculum, which guides their approach to creating an environment that reflects each child's unique curiosities and needs.

We believe that involving families and whānau (extended family) in our center and their children's learning is crucial. We connect with you through Storypark, an online platform that allows us to share photos, videos, audio, and observations of your child's learning journey in a secure environment. This platform enables parents and whānau to receive instant feedback and plan new ways to extend their child's unique interests and abilities.

But don't just take our word for it. Here's what some of our parents have to say about their experience at Te Puna Oraka:

- “James loves it there. He’s bonded with the teachers really well. It makes him happy, which makes me happy.”

- “They're so friendly, community orientated. Always treat the tamariki (children) with care and respect, as they also do with parents. Kind of feels like another family.”

- “Such a caring environment with lots of different learning experiences. Staff always keep us well informed of everything going on with our child and about the center.”

We invite you to join our warm and inclusive community at Barnardos Early Learning Centre Te Puna Oraka. Together, we can provide your child with the best possible start to their educational journey.