Ōtara Early Learning Centre
Enrolment offer
Receive 30 hours FREE for 0-6 year olds. T&C's apply
Kia ora!
Kia ora!
About this centre
Ōtara Early Learning Centre is a diverse, stimulating and welcoming environment where your child will develop as a happy and confident learner.
Indoors we have plenty of play based resources and experiences that allow our children's curiosities to develop while they learn and discover at their own pace.
Parents and whānau are always welcome at our centre, our open door policy means you can come in for a cup of tea or get involved with your child’s learning at any time.
0–6 years
Individualised support, guidance and resources
Enrolment offer
Receive 30 hours FREE for 0-6 year olds. T&C's apply
Flexible hours
Open 8:00am - 4:30pm with full and part day options
Nutritious meals
Healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks made fresh every day
Large outdoors
Spacious, secure and fun environment
Transport available
Free drop off and pick up service provided within the Manurewa area
Te Korowai Mokopuna
Providing on-site wraparound support for whānau, meeting immediate needs and offering early help.
Expertise and knowledge
Experienced in early childhood education for over 55 years
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More about us
Convenience
Our aim is to create the best conditions for your child's learning, wellbeing and care. We also know how important it is to give you the convenience you need and reassurance that your child is in safe hands. Our central location, loving team and tailored environment are all waiting to be discovered by your whānau.
Full and part day options available, and Storypark - our online parent communication tool, are just some of the ways we try to make things a little easier for parents. Local excursions, delicious meals and fun activities are just the beginning when it comes to being the best we can be for your child.
Connecting with the community
We only know who we are by knowing where we come from. That’s why building a strong connection with nature and our local community is so important. We believe it helps your child develop a sense of belonging and identity while positively influencing their learning experiences.
We’re so lucky to have so many wonderful opportunities on our doorstep here in Ōtara. We grow our own vegetables and herbs in our community garden, go on local excursions, and often visit the new entrant class and playground at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Ōtara Junior School. We also host exciting learning opportunities, such as Librarian Storytime and Ready Steady Go sports programmes, right here at our centre.
Staff who nurture and inspire
Our qualified and experienced teachers are committed to caring for and nurturing your child. They build a strong connection with each child throughout their early learning journey and go out of their way to ensure every child feels supported and their unique needs are met.
Our teachers create positive opportunities for your child to develop physically, mentally and emotionally. They help guide your child as they navigate new friendships, master new skills and build independence and resilience to get ready for school and lay the foundations for lifelong learning.
Engaging environment
Our happy and nurturing environment will inspire, stimulate and empower your child to learn in their own unique way. The outdoor spaces challenge and excite the imagination, while our spacious and light filled indoor areas offer room for reading, rest, and engaging indoor learning experiences. Our children love painting, waiata and the many natural play areas they have to discover.
Nutrition and wellbeing
We strive to provide nutritious and delicious meals and snacks to support physical and mental development. We encourage healthy eating habits and offer a balanced menu to keep your child well fueled throughout the day. The children also love being involved and we use the vegetables and herbs we grow, in our meals.
Your child will enjoy:
- Breakfast
- Morning snack
- Lunch
- Afternoon snack
To encourage learning we have 'lunchbox Friday' where children do bring in their own lunchbox with food from home.
Our centre is nut free and we're happy to cater for any allergy or other dietary requirements as required.
Care that grows with your child
We recognise that tamariki at different ages and stages have very different needs. That’s why our approach early learning evolves as your child grows, ensuring they feel safe, supported and confident every step of the way.
We also take the time to get to know each child and their whānau from the very beginning. During the onboarding process, our kaiako work closely with parents and caregivers to understand each child’s individual needs, routines and preferences, helping us create a smooth, familiar transition into care.
For our pēpi and toddlers (0–2 year olds)
Our youngest tamariki are nurtured in calm, secure and responsive environments, with dedicated kaiako who specialise in caring for this age group. We focus on building strong, trusting relationships, as this is the foundation for all future learning and wellbeing.
Pēpi have their own thoughtfully designed spaces, with cosy areas for rest, bespoke cots, and age appropriate resources that support early movement, sensory exploration and discovery. Barnardos Early Learning services offer safe outdoor areas, so they can begin to explore the natural world in a gentle and supported way.
Our routines are flexible and guided by each child’s individual rhythms, ensuring their needs for sleep, nourishment and comfort are always prioritised.
For our older tamariki (3–6 year olds)
Our older tamariki are supported to become more independent, confident and socially connected learners.
They enjoy access to larger indoor and outdoor environments, including adventurous playgrounds that encourage physical activity, creativity and problem solving. Kaiako continue to guide and extend their learning, while also allowing space for child led play, friendships and exploration.
At this stage, there is a strong focus on building skills that support school readiness, such as communication, self regulation, resilience and curiosity, all within a fun and engaging environment.
We’re always happy to talk through how we support each age group, and what this looks like in our centre.
Feel free to get in touch or come in for a visit, we’d love to show you around and chat about how we can support your child’s learning journey.
Supporting the transition to school
We support tamariki to feel confident and ready for school by gradually building their independence, self regulation skills, social competence and love of learning. This includes everyday skills like caring for themselves, making choices, problem solving and working alongside others. As children get closer to starting school, our kaiako work closely with parents, whānau and, where possible, local schools to ensure a smooth and positive transition. We share information, encourage school visits, and tailor support to each child so their move to school feels familiar and well supported.
We’d be happy to talk more about how we support your child’s transition to school, feel free to get in touch or chat with our team.
Te Korowai Mokopuna
“Wrap the cloak around the child”
Te Korowai Mokopuna provides on-site wraparound support for whānau, meeting immediate needs and offering early help in a trusted, familiar environment - without stigma or delay.
We work to reduce barriers to education, increase participation, model positive parenting, provide group programmes, and deliver social services. Te Korowai Mokopuna empowers whānau to raise tamariki who stand on strong foundations, with māiatanga (realising potential).
It lets whānau know that it is okay to ask for help and that support is available whenever it is needed.
Fees and subsidies
We want to make your child's early learning and care experience as affordable as possible. We are a not for profit organisation, so everything we do goes back into supporting your child, the centre, and our community.
Our fees include:
- Quality education, care and activities provided by our team of teachers
- Healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks
- Local outings
Current offer:
Receive 30 hours FREE for 0-6 year olds.
T&C's:
- Offer is valid for new enrolments
- Valid from the first day of enrolment
- Minimum of 6 hours per day
Did you know you may eligible for fee and ECE subsidies? Talk to our Centre Manager for further information.
What's happening
Pasifika Early Literacy Project
At the end of last year we enjoyed a wonderful Family Fono event at our Ōtara Early Learning Centre. Facilitators from the Pasifika Early Literacy Project joined us to share an inspiring presentation on the importance of celebrating, valuing, and utilising the heritage languages and cultures of Pacific peoples. The evenings were filled with singing, talanoa, and lots of laughter, as well as shared kai that brought everyone together. It was an important reminder of the crucial role we all play in supporting the cultural identity, language, and overall wellbeing of our tamariki. A big thank you to our amazing Centre Manager, Carolaina, and the whole team for making this events so special!
Ōtara Summer Holiday Programme
Our tamariki recently spent time making their very own waka. After building their creation, they carefully placed them in a water trough to see if they would float or sink! This activity provided an opportunity for the children to test their ideas, develop problem-solving skills and allowed their imagination to run wild. We are grateful to our Kaiako for planning engaging experiences that help to connect tamariki with each other and the world around them!
This next activity on our exciting holiday programme agenda was all about making pizza! Children had the opportunity to create their own pizzas for lunch, and we heard many proud comments such as “Look at my one. Yum yum!”. It was wonderful to see the tamariki so engaged in learning about the ingredients and sharing their thoughts and ideas. Ka pai tamariki!
Ready Steady Go
In December, Coach Kylie Norton and her team visited Ōtara ELC to lead an exciting multisport Ready Steady Go session for our tamariki! Together, we learned the fundamentals of 10 different sports, building essential motor skills in a fun, non-competitive environment. The children had a fantastic time jumping rope, playing with rocket toys, and running for high-fives from the awesome coaches! We look forward to providing more sporting opportunities for our tamariki in the near future!
Stay in touch with Storypark
We use Storypark to record and communicate learning as it happens via photos, video, audio and observations within a secure online environment. Parents and whānau can receive instant feedback and plan new ways to extend their child’s unique interests and abilities.
Read what parents say about us!
I currently have my daughter attending Barnardos, she is 3 years old who is turning 4 in June. She has been attending Barnardos Otara since she was 10 months old. I can truly say i am blessed to have our amazing teachers teach, protect and raise my child while I'm away at work. they are constantly updating me, regardless if the news is big or small. I really do appreciate the learning environment my child is in. Her growth in learning improves on a daily. She currently has a lisp, but this doesn't stop her from trying to constantly communicate. The teachers are absolutely amazing and as a mother who works full time, im always worried about my children but this place just makes it seem easier for me to go about my day. I also have an 11 year old daughter too who also attended Barnardos from 6 months old to 5 years old. Thank you Carol and your team. always grateful.
Melani John-VaruWe couldn’t be happier with our experience at Barnardos Ōtara Early Learning Centre. From the very first day, the staff have been warm, welcoming, and truly dedicated to helping each child thrive. Our daughter has blossomed socially, emotionally, and academically since joining the centre.
Jo Enoka
The kaiako are patient, attentive, and clearly passionate about early childhood education. They provide a nurturing, culturally responsive environment where tamariki feel safe, valued, and excited to learn. The balance between play-based learning and structured activities has been fantastic for our daughter’s growth in language, creativity, confidence, and social skills.
We also really appreciate the consistent communication from daily updates to newsletters and parent check ins. It gives us real peace of mind knowing she’s not only well cared for, but also supported in a way that celebrates her unique strengths and personality.
Thank you, Barnardos Ōtara, for creating such a positive foundation for our daughter’s learning journey. We’re so grateful to be part of your wonderful whānau.Highly recommend Barnardo’s Otara. They are well respected, professional & most importantly great with kids. The staff are amazing, they make your child feel welcomed from the very first day. My daughter settled in very fast and continues to build reciprocal relationships with her peers and teachers. Thank you Erica for making my baby girl love kindy ☺️
Journey of Faith harrisLovely people & atmosphere, it's always a joy seeing the staff & my babies faces light up when I take them in.
Vmarie GlassieI highly recommend this centre - you know for sure your child is safe here, the multicultural environment is perfect for our little learners, the staff are always so welcoming and respectful.
Kaylen Lawson
I appreciate this place and the staff so much for always providing a safe space and fun learning environment for my child.Nylah Leatau-nganuku
