House of Wonder Christchurch, at 2 Bangor Street in the Central City, is an early learning centre for children from birth to six, in a converted mansion. The website calls it an early learning village, with five rooms for different stages. The pēpi room follows the Reggio Emilia approach with a group of around ten children and three kaiako. Wāna Rūma has 20 children and four kaiako, Putakitaki and Whio Rūma are for growing learners, and Kōtuku Rūma prepares children for school. The centre is bicultural and multicultural, weaving te reo Māori into daily learning. It has 20 hours of ECE, provided meals and learning updates through Storypark, and the website describes occasional trips into the local community and indoor and outdoor learning.
Customers mention the caring, passionate teachers and the welcoming atmosphere most often. One family has been with the centre for five years, and says the teachers invest in each child's growth and wellbeing. Another enrolled a baby at five months and says the teachers are fun, engaged and genuinely caring. A third describes children who thrive and grow there. Our pick in the Christchurch CBD for infants and toddlers in a homely setting with a strong teaching team.