Greerton Early Childhood Centre

Welcome to Greerton Early Childhood Centre, located in the heart of Greerton Village, Tauranga, New Zealand. Our establishment is a family-owned and family-focused early learning centre that provides care and education for families in the area.

At Greerton Early Childhood Centre, we believe in the importance of learning in the natural world. Twice a week, we take groups of children to our farm/forest at Wairoa and explore bush reserves like Otanewainuku Forest, Te Puna Quarry, Puketoki Reserve, and Mauao. We also make regular visits to our local libraries and art gallery, providing diverse learning experiences for our children.

Our centre has been recognized by the Ministry of Education as a Centre of Innovation. Through our research and inquiry-focused approach, we aim to better understand our learning community and share our findings with early childhood teachers across New Zealand and beyond.

Established in 1993, Greerton Early Childhood Centre has operated in two separate sites for infants & toddlers and toddlers & young children. Recently, we have amalgamated the two settings to create a new building on the Emmett Street site, designed with modern learning environments in mind.

We believe that learning together with infants, toddlers, young children, and adults offers numerous advantages from both a whānau perspective and a Te Ao Māori cultural view. This belief is supported by scientific research and guides our approach to education.

Our learning setting at Greerton ELC is filled with various loose parts that encourage creativity and imaginative thinking. Our goal is to nurture imaginative thinkers who thrive in an environment that offers opportunities for creation and problem-solving. Our dedicated teachers support children's resilience and guide them through the process of learning.

For our youngest learners, we provide a secure and safe environment where babies can explore and learn. Our teachers work closely with each child's family to ensure their individual needs and rhythms are supported.

Toddlers at Greerton ELC are encouraged to be curious explorers who have fun while learning and discovering what it means to be a friend. Our garden offers rich opportunities to investigate nature and develop physical skills. Teachers engage in conversations that focus on building creative thinking and imagination in children.

We believe in the power of venturing out into the community and our forest farm site. Twice a week, we explore nature, work as a team, and engage in practical scientific, mathematical, and storytelling activities. Through these experiences, we learn to trust each other, value nature, solve problems, and develop imaginative and creative thinking skills.

Join us at Greerton Early Childhood Centre, where we foster a love for learning and provide a supportive and enriching environment for children and families alike.