Victoria Kids Clermont, part of University Kids Wellington (Ngā Ratonga Kohungahunga), is an early childhood centre run by Victoria University of Wellington. Located close to the CBD at one end of the Kelburn campus, the centre offers a colourful space and large sunny garden for tamariki (children) to play, learn and make friends in a safe and stimulating environment.
University Kids Wellington cares for children from birth to school age and welcomes enrolments from staff, students, and members of the public — you don't need to be affiliated with the university to enrol. The centre offers flexible fees and session times to suit different whānau (family) situations, and participates in the Ministry of Education's 20 Hours ECE subsidy scheme, with staff able to help families access a Work and Income or StudyLink childcare subsidy.
As a not-for-profit centre, all money received is reinvested back into the service. University Kids Wellington has been providing quality early childhood education for more than 40 years, with a specialist manager overseeing its centres and around 80% of teaching staff holding qualified Early Childhood Education (ECE) status, alongside teachers in training and teacher aides.
Victoria Kids Clermont, part of University Kids Wellington, sits close to the CBD at one end of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington's Kelburn campus. The centre offers tamariki a colourful indoor space paired with a large sunny garden, giving children plenty of room to play, learn and build friendships in a safe, stimulating environment.
While it operates under the university's banner, University Kids Wellington welcomes enrolments from staff, students, and the general public alike — there's no requirement to be affiliated with the university to enrol your child. The centre cares for tamariki from birth through to school age, with flexible fees and session times designed to suit different family circumstances. It also participates in the Ministry of Education's 20 hours ECE subsidy scheme, and staff can help families access further support through a Work and Income or StudyLink childcare subsidy.
University Kids Wellington's programme is shaped around a set of guiding principles rooted in te ao Māori. Whakamana, or empowerment, sees children treated as interactive learners who engage with the wider world — including regular excursions using the centre's own van to places like the University library, Wellington Botanic Garden, Zealandia and Petone beach. Kotahitanga, holistic development, reflects a curriculum that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi, incorporating tikanga (Māori cultural guidelines) and te reo Māori into everyday conversations and activities as part of a genuinely bi-cultural approach.
Whānau Tangata acknowledges that family and community are integral to a child's learning, with the centre actively encouraging participation from all three and welcoming visitors to come and see the centre for themselves. Nga Hononga centres on relationships, with the belief that children learn best through responsive connections with people, places and things around them.
University Kids Wellington's teaching team includes qualified Early Childhood Education teachers making up around 80% of staff, alongside teachers in training and teacher aides — all described as passionate about helping tamariki learn and grow in a nurturing, playful environment. This is backed by more than 40 years of experience providing quality early childhood education, with a specialist manager overseeing the centres to give families confidence in the care and education their child receives.
As a not-for-profit organisation, all money University Kids Wellington receives is reinvested directly back into its centres. This structure supports the centre's ability to offer competitive fees across a range of family situations, rather than prioritising profit over the quality of care and facilities on offer.
Being located at the edge of the Kelburn campus, close to Wellington's CBD, Victoria Kids Clermont offers a genuinely convenient option for parents working or studying nearby, as well as families in the wider central Wellington area looking for quality early childhood care close to home or work.
Families interested in University Kids Wellington's Clermont Terrace Centre are encouraged to arrange a visit to see the centre in person, meet the teaching team, and ask questions before enrolling. The centre notes places are sometimes available, so it's worth reaching out directly to check availability for the specific days you need care.