Choosing the right early learning centre is a big decision! You’re not just looking for a place for your child to spend their day – you’re looking for a place where they’ll feel safe, nurtured, challenged and genuinely known. At Central Hastings ELC, we know that finding the right fit matters. That’s why we encourage all prospective families to visit and spend some time with us.
Bring Your Child Along
We always encourage you to bring your child with you on your tour.
A centre visit isn’t just about you gathering information; it’s an opportunity for your little one to explore the space, meet our kaiako and begin building familiarity with the spaces and people around them. Often, children will tell us just as much as parents, about whether the space feels right.
See Our Centre in Action
During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to explore our indoor and outdoor learning environments and see our daily routines unfolding naturally/
You’ll see tamariki learning through play, engaging with their friends, and being supported by caring kaiako who know them well. Every centre has its own unique feel, and we believe it’s important you feel ours firsthand.
Meet our Kaiako
Relationships are at the heart of everything we do. Our kaiako are passionate about creating warm, responsive environments where tamariki feel a strong sense of belonging. A tour gives you the chance to meet our team, ask questions, and begin building those important relationships from the very beginning.
Ask All the Questions
There are no silly questions when it comes to your child!
Whether you’re wondering about routines, fees, sleep times, meals, settling visits, communication with whanau, or how we support individual needs, we’re happy to talk it through. This is your opportunity to get a genuine feel for who we are, and how we work alongside families.
Our Philosophy in Action
You’ll hear us talk about Te Whariki, Aotearoa New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum, but more importantly, you’ll hear us talk about what that actually means for your child. For us, it’s about supporting tamariki to become confident and capable learners! It’s about fostering independence, nurturing relationships, encouraging curiousity and creating opportunities for tamariki to develop a strong sense of identity and belonging.
That’s not just educational jargon. It’s about ensuring every child is seen, valued, respected and supported to thrive!
If We Don’t Have a Space Right Now
Sometimes, the timing isn’t quite right and we may not have immediate space available for your child. If that’s the case, don’t let that discourage you.
We’re currently experiencing a wonderful influx of enquiries and tour requests – somewhat unusual for this time of year, but very warmly welcomed. While this means some of our rooms are full, it also reflects the confidence our community has in the relationships and learning experiences we offer at CHELC. We maintain active waitlists and do our very best to stay in touch with whanau as spaces become available or circumstances change. Family circumstances can shift quickly, and enrolment availability can change just as quickly too. Even if we can’t welcome your child straight away, we’d still love the opportunity to get to know your whanau, understand what you’re looking for, and keep the options open. Many of our current families began their journey with us on our waitlist.
Because at CHELC, relationships matter. The right place is worth waiting for, and we’d love to welcome your whanau when the time is right.
Come and Visit Us
Choosing an early learning centre is as much about how a place feels as it is about what it offers.
We’d love to meet, show you around and answer any questions you may hae.
Come and see if Central Hastings Early Learning Centre feels like the right fit for you whanau. We look forward to meeting you!