A privately owned childcare and pre-school centre at 27 First Street in Lansdowne, Masterton, open since January 1993. It is one of Masterton's longest-running early childhood centres and describes itself as multicultural.
The centre runs a planned programme for both groups and individual children, mixing structured activities with free play. Activities include stories, music, puzzles, painting, cooking, sand play and fitness. Babies and toddlers have separate nursery and play areas, with quiet rest time. Four-year-olds have an extension programme that prepares them for school, covering names, letters, numbers, colours and shapes, and pencil and scissor skills. The centre offers 20 hours ECE for three- and four-year-olds, and it is open from 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Staff are chosen for their warmth and love of children, and hold early childhood qualifications. Parents are told each day what their child has done. Our pick in Masterton for a family who wants a long-standing, relaxed centre with a school-readiness programme.