About us

EduKids Ponsonby, is known for our special character and unique inner city early childhood centre setting.  There is a strong sense of community within the centre. With many of our families having long lasting relationships. We’re just a short walk from Richmond Road School in Grey Lynn, and only a few minutes’ drive from Westmere, Herne Bay and Point Chevalier.

The team at EduKids Ponsonby believe our role is to assist children to “grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge, that they can make a valued contribution to society.”

At EduKids Ponsonby teachers are incredibility supportive and aim to work closely with parents and whanau to ensure that their child gets the very best possible start to the centre.

We provide free of charge transition visits where your child will be given one on one care from their own dedicated transition teacher. During this time teachers aim to build strong relationships with children and their families so on their first day they are settled and well adjusted.

Parents are viewed as the first teacher therefore aspirations and expectations are valued and respected as teachers work closely in partnership with families to ensure that each child reaches their full potential.

Our separate Babies Cottage (3 months – 2 years) is a cosy villa with a warm and homely feel to it. Each one of our babies has a Primary Caregiver who takes care of their key care moments such as nappy changes, feeding and sleeping. Our babies are happy, settled, and thrive in an environment where they are emotionally content. Each child’s routine is individual respectful teachers follow the child’s lead.

The Big House (2-4 years) is a large renovated villa that is a hive of activity. The Big House is well resourced and provides many different areas of choice for our curious children. There is plenty of space for children both indoors, and outdoors that supports both individual and groups of children’s current interests. Teachers are skilled in understanding and getting to know the unique and individual dispositions of each child.

The Workshop (4-5years ) is our special and unique transition to school room that caters for the 18 oldest children in the centre. In the Workshop children will gain Be School Ready skills providing the foundations to give them the best possible start once they begin their journey at Primary School. Children are taught in a fun and skilled way. There is a focus on supporting children to develop strong social competencies that see them having the skills to make friends, and be a good friend. This contributes to children having a successful transition to school.

The centre has a cook who prepares fresh, nutritious meals. The centre menu rotates on a four-weekly basis this ensures that our children receive a large variety of well balanced meals.

Te Whāriki, the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, underpins the way that children are taught and learn.   We aim to provide an environment where children can experience every opportunity to enhance their learning and development through; encouraging and questioning, scaffolding and extending, fostering of Tuakana/Teina (older/younger) relationships and positive guidance. We believe that children learn best through play and when they engage in experiences they are interested in. We value the importance of discovery, creativity and exploration.

Our unique Be School Ready initiative has been developed to ensure that children leave the centre as confident, capable learners and prepared for the next step in their education journey. Our Pre-school teachers have close ties with surrounding local schools, meeting with them once a term. This ensures that we are up to date with the latest curriculum information for young children.