Stepping Stones Community Child Care Centre is a not-for-profit early childhood education and care centre in central Upper Hutt, caring for infants, toddlers and young children from six months old through to school age. Established in 1975 and governed by the Upper Hutt Community Children's Centre Trust — made up of past and present parents, caregivers and community members — the centre has spent decades empowering children to grow as competent and confident learners.
The centre operates from two separate buildings: a Nursery licensed for 14 children aged six months to two years, and a Preschool licensed for 29 children aged two years to school age, both offering great teacher-to-child ratios. A key teacher framework builds authentic, trusting relationships between kaiako, tamariki and whānau, while the programme follows Te Whāriki, New Zealand's early childhood curriculum, with each child's learning documented and shared with families through the StoryPark online platform.
True to its aim of being a home away from home, Stepping Stones offers a calm, resource-rich environment with a strong focus on belonging. Children enjoy the outdoors in all weather, explore local places they feel connected to through the concept of Turangawaewae, and lead sustainability projects as an Enviroschool. An on-site centre cook prepares morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea from a seasonal menu aligned with the National Healthy Heart Guidelines, supporting the centre's annual Healthy Heart Award work.
Open Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 5:30pm, the centre welcomes waiting list enquiries from families across Upper Hutt.
On a quiet street in Wallaceville, just up from central Upper Hutt, Stepping Stones Community Child Care Centre has been welcoming the town's youngest residents for nearly five decades. Established in 1975 and governed by the Upper Hutt Community Children's Centre Trust — a board made up of past and present parents, caregivers and community members — the centre is a self-supporting, not-for-profit organisation with a clear purpose: empowering children to grow as competent and confident learners.
That community ownership shows in how the centre operates. It describes itself as bridging the gap from education to community, living by the concept of Turangawaewae — the places where we feel especially empowered and connected. Tamariki often engage with and explore local places, and the centre values reciprocal relationships with the organisations around it. Its stated values of ako (reciprocal teaching and learning), wellbeing, sustainability, partnership and experience thread through daily life.
Stepping Stones occupies two separate buildings on its Seddon Street site. The Nursery caters for children aged six months to two years and is licensed for 14 children, while the Preschool cares for children from two years old through to school age and is licensed for 29. Both rooms benefit from great teacher-to-child ratios, and the teaching team pairs ECE qualifications with first aid certificates across the board.
The tone inside is deliberately calm and peaceful. Children enjoy free choice of indoor and outdoor activities each day, and a key teacher framework ensures each child develops an authentic, trusting relationship with a dedicated kaiako — a strong sense of stability and connection. The centre aims to be a home away from home, rich with resources and focused on belonging for tamariki and whānau alike.
Learning follows Te Whāriki, New Zealand's early childhood curriculum, weaving the principles of empowerment, holistic development, family and community, and relationships with the strands of wellbeing, belonging, contribution, communication and exploration. Families don't have to take the learning on trust: everything is documented and shared through StoryPark, an interactive online platform.
One of the centre's most distinctive commitments is outdoor play in all weather. Children are encouraged to explore, challenge themselves and take supported risks, whatever the sky is doing. The natural environment is treated as a core part of the curriculum, and children learn to connect with and care for it — the centre nurtures its future generation to respectfully walk the Earth, mindful of the footprint they leave behind.
That ethos is formally recognised. As an Enviroschool, Stepping Stones embodies the programme's five guiding principles — empowering students, learning for sustainability, Māori perspectives, respect for diversity, and sustainable communities — with tamariki leading sustainability projects alongside the community. The centre also works towards the NZ Healthy Heart Award every year, weaving healthy eating and physical activity into daily routines.
Food is a genuine highlight: an on-site centre cook prepares morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea from a seasonal menu aligned with the National Healthy Heart Guidelines.
The centre is led by Centre Manager Sarah Jacobsen, who holds a Bachelor of Science, a Diploma of Teaching and a Post Graduate Diploma in Leadership, alongside Head Preschool Teacher Hayley Flack and Nursery Head Teacher Kelsey Morrison. They head a sizeable team of certified preschool and nursery teachers, support staff including a centre domestic and administrator, and a group of experienced relievers.
Stepping Stones is open Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 5:30pm, and closed on weekends. Fees depend on a child's age, whether 20 Hours ECE applies, and whether a family chooses a 4:30pm or 5:30pm finish, with the full schedule published on the centre's website. Fees are GST inclusive, paid weekly or fortnightly by automatic payment or direct debit, and one week in advance before a child starts.
Because places are limited — 14 in the nursery and 29 in the preschool — families are encouraged to join the waiting list early via the enquiry form on the website or by calling the centre on (04) 528 7913.