Our History

Preschool (then called a Nursery) opened by Ms Doreen E. Dolton for working mothers teaching at Avonside Girls High School. It was also an initiative for high school girls to gain parent education.

Mrs Dalmer is Head Teacher, then Miss Freeman takes over the role later in the year when Mrs Dalmer becomes Principal of the Kindergarten Teachers Training College.

Gay Averis becomes Head Teacher. At this stage there are morning sessions only. Due to a waiting list, afternoon sessions start for younger children. Morning sessions remained for older kindy-age children.
Full days were later offered.

The preschool moved out of the centre for a whole term while lead paint was removed from the building. The preschool temporarily moved to Trinity Church, Avonside Drive.

The Centre received a grant of $25,000 to replace borer-riden windows with new double-glazed windows. During this year declining rolls and low fees meant the centre did not have enough money to pay the teachers’ wages.

Sue Downey takes over the role as Centre Manager, and Gay retires.

Avonside Early Childhood Centre is very well placed to promote positive learning outcomes for children.

​​'Avonside Early Childhood Centre is very effectively enabling positive outcomes for children.'

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Warm, respectful relationships between children, teachers and families are highly evident. A well-considered philosophy, vision and values clearly influence the programme and contribute to equitable outcomes for children. Leadership has established a culture in which children are first and foremost valued, celebrated and affirmed for who they are and what they bring to their learning. Leaders and teachers advocate for children and provide a quality and inclusive early childhood education.

A rich, responsive curriculum closely aligned with Te Whāriki provides an inclusive, stimulating learning environment.

Parents' and whānau aspirations for their children are valued and considered in assessment and planning, processes and programmes. Leaders and teachers work in partnership with parents of children with diverse learning needs to improve and enhance their learning.

Leaders and teachers take responsibility for learning about the languages, cultures and identities of all children attending. Children have opportunities to use te reo and tikanga Māori in the daily programme. Transitions into and beyond the centre are well managed. The centre provides a range of well-considered and thoughtfully resourced indoor and outdoor environments that meet the needs of children.

​Read the full document here 

After major renovations, Avonside was ready to open its doors to under twos, and change its licence from 30 over two children, to 5 under twos and 30 over twos. This allowed families with infants and young children to enrol, and soon the nursery was full!

Emily Driver resigns and the team are left without a manager for a while before Claire Hedgman joins the Avonside Family in June 2023.

Two weeks after Claire starts her position as Centre Manager, The Education review office return for another centre review.

https://ero.govt.nz/institution/70321/avonside-early-childhood-centre

ERO said

“Leaders and teachers provide a learning-based play curriculum that links to the principles and strands of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum. Infants and toddlers experience caring interactions with their attentive teachers who know them well. There are many opportunities for them to explore and play alongside older children. Children’s learning and wellbeing are at the centre of decision making by the board.”

From findings from the review, the team review the philosophy and recognise learning values and intentions for all Tamariki.

Governance policies and Structure of the Board is reviewed. Roles and responsibilities are shared and this allows for a more collaborative approach to governance and management, based on the well-being of all involved.

The old Avonside Girls High school becomes the Climate Action campus, and relationships are established between the two educational facilities. We are gifted a garden which enables us to grow fruit and vegetables with our tamariki, to be shared to families.