How is Playcentre different from other ECE options?
Playcentres cater for children from birth to school age and are licensed early childhood education (ECE) services that are run cooperatively by parents and whānau. Playcentre creates a sense of belonging and community as families share responsibilities for their centre and have the opportunity to create a village and support network.
For many parents, Playcentre is their choice of early education because they want to see and be part of how their child learns and develops through play.
Playcentre’s overriding philosophy is that parents are the first and best educators of their tamariki and its centres all around the country foster the involvement of whānau.
This unique opportunity sets Playcentre apart from all other ECE services.
Playcentre creates a sense of belonging and community as families share responsibilities and decision making.
Parents can also extend their own skills through NZQA-accredited education programmes.
Playcentre caters to families with children aged 0-6 years, offering families the chance to play, learn and grow together, as well as to forge meaningful friendships with other whānau in the community.
Playcentre typically runs 3-hour sessions in the morning and requires parents to participate in the supervision of the children resulting in ratios of 1:5 to 1:3.
Talk to many Playcentre parents and a recurring theme is how it is not just children who gain from their involvement, but the whole whānau. A focus on child-led learning means that each day Playcentres offer a variety of learning and play experiences such as building, baking, painting, dressing up, singing, and sand and water play.
The nearly 400 Playcentres around New Zealand are cooperatively managed by parents, follow the Te Whāriki Early Childhood curriculum, are subsidised by the Ministry of Education and are supported by staff at a national and regional level.
All Playcentres offer three free visits and we encourage you to visit and see what it’s all about.