Busy C's is an Enviro-preschool at 16 Winchester Street, Lyttelton, on Banks Peninsula. It is part of Enviroschools, a nationwide programme, so children explore the environment and take action in their local place with their community. The philosophy draws on whanaungatanga, manaakitanga and tikanga, and it supports te reo Māori as a living language. Learning is child-led and play-based, and all kaiako are qualified. In a harbour town like Lyttelton, that means children learn about the environment through the places around them.
There are two areas. The Under Two area takes children from three months to two years, with a higher teacher-to-child ratio that allows for individual sleeping and eating needs. The Over Two area takes children from two to six, following the Te Whāriki early childhood curriculum in larger spaces. Free government-funded hours are available for three and four year olds. A parent of three boys says the small, caring setting, where teachers know each child's needs, has been a lifeline for their family. Kidsfirst Kindergartens Lyttelton, 0.2 km away, is the only other childcare within a kilometre. Our pick in Lyttelton for a small, child-led preschool.