City Kids Childcare is a licensed, not-for-profit early childhood education centre in a double-storied villa in Thorndon, Wellington, operating since 1986. It cares for children from toddler age (12 months) and up, offering full-time (5 days) and part-time (minimum 2 days) enrolment, though it does not offer hourly care or hourly rates.
The centre is owned and governed by the parents of the children who attend, with any profit reinvested into playground equipment, learning resources, activities and excursions. Children spend much of their day in a large, nature-rich outdoor area under shade sails, and are provided with fresh, nutritious meals prepared by an onsite cook, with individual dietary needs catered for.
City Kids follows Te Whāriki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, built around the values of Ako, Whanaungatanga, Manaakitanga and Kaitiakitanga, with a guiding "Be Kind, Be Safe" mantra. High teacher-to-child ratios mean at least four teachers are working with the children at any time, with extra support during kai times, and each child's learning journey is recorded through an individual e-portfolio on Storypark that families can contribute to and keep.
Since 1986, City Kids Childcare has operated from a double-storied, double-bay villa in Thorndon, caring for children from toddler age and supporting them on their early learning journey. Almost four decades on, it remains a licensed early childhood education centre with a strong sense of place and community in the heart of Wellington.
What sets City Kids apart is how it is owned and run. The centre is not-for-profit and is owned and managed by the parents of the children who attend, meaning families have direct oversight and governance over what the centre does and plans to do. Any profit is reinvested straight back into playground equipment, learning resources, activities and excursions, and any parent is invited to join the governing group.
City Kids bases its programme on Te Whāriki, He Whāriki Mātauranga mō ngā Mokopuna o Aotearoa, New Zealand's early childhood curriculum. The centre's kaupapa is built around four values: Ako (teach and learn), Whanaungatanga (relationships and connection), Manaakitanga (respect, generosity and care) and Kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the sky, sea and land). A simple mantra, "Be Kind, Be Safe", runs through daily interactions, aiming to build respect, empathy, trust and friendship among the children.
The centre's grounds offer a large, natural outdoor area under shade sails, where children spend significant time each day engaging with nature. A daily schedule gives children "time markers" to understand the pace of the day, including planned music and literacy experiences, alongside offsite excursions to places like the local park (known to the children as Rolly Polly Park), the Thorndon Fire Station, the Ambulance Station, nearby native bush and the library.
City Kids maintains high teacher-to-child ratios, with at least four teachers working with the children throughout the day and extra support during kai times. An onsite cook prepares fresh, nutritious meals, with individual dietary needs carefully catered for. Each child's learning is recorded in an individual e-portfolio through Storypark, updated through the week with photos, videos and stories, and shared with parents and whānau who can add their own contributions. The portfolio belongs to the family and goes with the child when they move on to school.
The teaching team includes a Centre Manager, a Curriculum Leader, several Kaiako, a Centre Administrator and a Centre Cook, with backgrounds spanning early childhood education, the arts, and te reo Māori study. The centre has an ongoing focus on professional development, with current priorities including strengthening te reo use, leadership and children's social and emotional competence.
City Kids operates Monday to Friday, all year round, with the exception of statutory holidays, two weeks over the Christmas period, and two Teacher Only days used for planning and preparing resources. Families are welcome to visit and add their child's name to the waitlist, as spaces are not always immediately available.