Welcome to our Newtown Centre

We aim to create a home away from home, where tamariki feel safe, respected and free to learn at their own pace. Our teaching philosophy values free play, respectful care, and holistic development, ensuring that every child is supported to unfold naturally in their own way.

• Outdoor play: A unique upstairs outdoor area shared by both rooms, with a huge sandpit, climbing fort structure, plenty of plants, and a new dedicated area for our youngest children to safely explore
• Indoor learning: Separate spaces for for exploration, language, social and emotional growth.
• Sleep facilities: Calm and comfortable sleep rooms where children are supported in following similar routines to home.
• Meals provided: Nourishing, whole foods focused lunches and snacks prepared daily by our onsite cook.
• Community Connection: Being within our Newtown Salvation Army hub, we are connected to the Wellington South Church, food bank, social workers, financial mentor, counselling and more.

• Mokoroa (0–2 years): Focus on secure relationships, free play and holistic development. Small group size ensures every child feels known and valued.
• Pepe Tuna (2–5+ years): Respectful care and play-based learning to support communication, social and emotional development and independence.
• Support for whānau: Access to Salvation Army’s wider support network
• Inclusive education: We live out our Christian beliefs in ways that include all families.

• Leaders and teachers ensure their teaching is responsive to, and inclusive of the interests, strengths, abilities and identified needs of children. External agencies are well accessed to support specific groups of children, their whānau and the teaching team to identify their learning and wellbeing goals. ERO, 2025
• Children, including infants and toddlers, engage in a thoughtfully designed learning environment that promotes exploration, choice, and a wide range of experiences that support their social and emotional development. ERO, 2025
• Teachers work collaboratively and respond sensitively to children's gestures and cues, providing nurturing care through consistent and respectful routines. ERO, 2025
• I really appreciate the thought and care that the teaching team put into the environment for our tamariki. The children are just out there having a great time as they should be, but what I really appreciate is that there is an enormous amount of complexity, knowledge and experience behind the simple things that we as parents see - daily routines shown in pictures on the walls, toy and activity selection, that sort of thing.

• Storypark for personalised learning updates and stories
• Facebook for community connection