Creative Corner Early Learning Centre is a community-owned, not-for-profit early childhood centre in Timaru. Its distinctive feature is that every profit goes back into the centre, and it is governed by a board of trustees made up of parents of children who attend. It is a registered charity, and it was first set up to meet the needs of State Sector workers in South Canterbury. It is now open to everyone.
The centre cares for children from three months to six years, in two rooms: Kākā for infants and toddlers under two, and Pūkeko for children from two to six. There is one teacher to every three children under two, and one to every eight over two. The roll is capped at 50, and all the kaiako are qualified and registered teachers or are training to be. Learning follows the child's own interests and the Te Whāriki curriculum, and the centre runs a child-led play programme.
The centre moved into a purpose-built building in February 2014, on the grounds of Timaru Girls' High School. It is open from 8:15am to 5:15pm on weekdays, and during school holidays, and closes for two weeks over Christmas. Families are welcome to visit and meet the team.