Queens Preschool is a small, licensed centre on Surrey Street in Dunedin's South Dunedin area, which the centre describes as a close-knit community preschool in St Clair. It is licensed for 29 children from birth to six years old. Its youngest children have their own calm room for under-twos, and the centre says babies and toddlers are cared for at a ratio of one adult to three children. The centre says all its teachers are fully qualified. The programme is child-led and based on Te Whāriki, with a lot of free play, risk-taking and open-ended exploration. The three and four year olds have daily activities that build early literacy, numeracy, problem-solving and social skills for school. The centre says it teaches children about Māori as tangata whenua and about Papatūānuku. We hear the infant and toddler room has spaces available at the moment, so check before you enrol. Our pick in Dunedin for a small preschool where the youngest children get their own room.