Mangere Bridge Playcentre

Welcome to Mangere Bridge Playcentre! Located in Auckland, New Zealand, our institution has been providing high-quality parent-led early childhood education for children from birth to school age for 59 years.

Founded in 1959 in the Church Hall at St James Church in Mangere Bridge, we moved to our own custom-built center on the slopes of Te Pane o Mataoho (Mangere Mountain) in September 1969, where we remain today.

At Mangere Bridge Playcentre, our goal is to support children in becoming confident, competent, and self-directed learners through play based around their interests. We follow the Te Whariki Early Childhood Curriculum and offer 4 sessions a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:15 am to 11:45 am), where parents stay and play alongside our Tamariki (children).

One of the unique aspects of our center is the active involvement of parents in providing our children's learning programs. With a high adult to child ratio (a minimum of 1 adult: 3 children), we ensure a good balance of group and individual support during each session.

Our children have access to a wide range of resources that help them develop as learners and progress towards school. Through play, participation, and positive guidance, they gain valuable knowledge and skills.

Beyond education, Mangere Bridge Playcentre also focuses on supporting and strengthening family relationships, providing and sustaining a sense of community. The relationships developed through our center offer support for parents and help them develop new parenting and life skills.

We are closely connected with our local community through links with and visits to local schools, Mangere Mountain, Ambury Farm, Manukau Harbour, and other nearby facilities. Our location on the slopes of Mangere Mountain/Te Pane o Mataoho exposes our children to the richness of our natural environment on a daily basis.

We would love to welcome you to our Playcentre and invite you to arrange a visit to come and play with us!

Please note that any information collected through our online system may be viewed by members of your center, as well as regional or national employees of Playcentre Aotearoa. By completing any forms, you confirm your agreement for this to happen and acknowledge the importance of maintaining confidentiality and using the information only for the agreed purposes.