Kindercare Wigram Skies is an early childhood education and care centre at 151 Corsair Drive, Wigram, Christchurch, serving infants, toddlers and preschoolers. The centre has been part of the community since 2015 and is conveniently located for families in Wigram, Hornby and Halswell.
Led by Centre Director Adrienne Rivers (Pou Kaitiaki), the team places a strong emphasis on social and emotional development, encouraging inquiry, creativity and problem-solving within a safe environment. The centre describes itself as valuing partnership with families and whānau, embracing each family's cultural diversity to build an inclusive community.
Rooms are set up with family corners, dress-ups, books, construction resources and science tables, giving children space to explore activities that build sensory awareness, spatial awareness, pattern recognition and memory as they progress toward school. The centre also offers large outdoor and natural play spaces, nourishing food provided daily, a generous annual leave policy for families, and flexible full-time or part-time enrolment options.
Kindercare Wigram Skies has been part of the Christchurch community since 2015, offering early childhood education and care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers at 151 Corsair Drive, Wigram. Its location makes it a convenient option for families across Wigram, Hornby and Halswell.
Centre Director Adrienne Rivers (Pou Kaitiaki) leads a team that puts social and emotional development at the centre of the curriculum. In her welcome message, she describes a team dedicated to "integrating opportunities for self-development," encouraging inquiry, creativity and problem-solving, and fostering an environment where tamariki can take risks in their learning within a safe space. The team frames itself as active learners alongside the children — on the same journey of discovery and growth.
Family partnership is central to how the centre operates. Adrienne notes the important role parents play in a child's development, and the centre's stated aim is to work in partnership with whānau, embracing each family's cultural diversity to build a welcoming, inclusive community.
The centre's approach is built around four pillars: Nurture Me, focused on ensuring children's emotional needs are recognised, met and supported; Move Me, supporting physical development through play; Nourish Me, providing nourishing food across the day; and Inspire Me, encouraging inquiry, creativity and problem-solving. A Pathways to School programme also supports preschoolers through the transition into formal schooling.
Each room is thoughtfully set up to support development at different ages, with family corners, dress-up areas, books, construction resources and science tables designed to give children engaging, hands-on experiences. Guided by experienced teachers, tamariki have the freedom to explore and choose activities that capture their interest — building sensory awareness, spatial awareness, pattern recognition and memory skills that lay the groundwork for formal learning.
The centre also has large outdoor and natural play spaces, described as offering plenty of room for imaginative play, building friendships, and developing physical skills through movement. Indoors, the intentional, well-resourced spaces are designed to feel nurturing rather than purely functional.
Beyond the curriculum, Kindercare Wigram Skies offers a few practical features aimed at easing the load on families: a generous annual leave policy to help when a child is sick or away on holiday, full lunch and morning/afternoon tea provided daily, and flexible full-time or part-time enrolment options. The centre says it's happy to discuss individual family childcare needs to provide a tailored approach to care, learning and fees.
One parent, whose children progressed through the centre's rooms from babies to school-preparation age over three years, described the staff as consistently working to nourish their children "socially, academically, emotionally and nutritionally" — with a specific shout-out to the centre's cook for the food provided. The same reviewer called the location convenient and said they would recommend the centre to any family living or working locally.
The centre is open Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm. Families can make an enquiry or book a visit directly through the centre's website, and are encouraged to see the centre in person before deciding where to enrol their child.