Avonside Early Childhood Centre is a small, home-like preschool at 43 Woodham Road in Linwood, Christchurch, and it has been the hub of the Avonside community since 1943. It cares for children aged 0 to 6, including infants and toddlers. The centre is a non-profit, community-based charitable society, and its board of trustees is made up of parents of children at the centre. Staffing ratios are low, with two adults for six children in the under-twos room and one adult for seven in the older rooms. All the kaiako are qualified and registered with the Teaching Council. The learning follows Te Whāriki, and children learn through play. Families are welcome to visit the learning spaces and talk with the kaiako before they enrol.
Children describe the climbing boxes, the bikes, the magnets, the puppet shows and the stickers they earn for helping. One says the centre is lots of fun once they arrive. Parents describe a personable centre with experienced teachers who know their children well, and one says both of their children have thrived there. Among the childcare centres nearby, Tiny Tots Nursery and Preschool is the closest at 0.4 km, and Kidsfirst Kindergartens Linwood is 0.6 km away. For a family in Linwood or Avonside who wants a small, long-established preschool, it is a good place to start.