- Email info@sunbeamselc.co.nz
- Phone +64 21 022 00220
At Sunbeams, we see every child as capable, curious and full of potential. Our programme allows children to explore at their own pace, form meaningful relationships and develop the skills they need for life. We celebrate the small moments, the big discoveries and everything in between.
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Outdoor Activities
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Loving Teachers
Pre-school has an ‘open door policy’ and also offer a free trial session to all children.
Our building is a bay villa more than 100 years old. It was moved onto this site and restored for young children
Children can follow an idea for as long as it holds them. A question about snails can become a fortnight of drawing, counting, reading and building. Teachers plan from what they notice, so the programme grows with the children.
Children aged 4 and over join Rising Sunbeams, our school transition programme. They practise the things that make the first weeks of school easier: listening in a group, looking after their belongings, having a go with letters and numbers, and asking for help.
You'll see your child's learning and hear about it at the gate. We ask about your hopes for your child and about your family's language and culture, then weave them into what we do.
We provide full day care from 8.00am to 4.30pm for children aged 2 years to 6 years.
We don't use reading levels or worksheets. At Sunbeams, early literacy grows through play. Children share stories, sing waiata, talk with kaiako, notice letters in their own names, and start making marks with pens, chalk and paint. Older tamariki begin to recognise letters and sounds and enjoy "writing" their own stories. By the time they start school, they love books and feel confident sharing their ideas.
We welcome tamariki from 2 to 6 years old. Many children join us at two or three and stay until they start school, usually around their fifth birthday. Every child's timing is different, so come and talk with us about what suits your family.
There's no checklist your child needs to pass first. Most children are ready when they show curiosity about other children, enjoy new experiences, and can manage short times away from you. They don't need to be toilet trained or able to share perfectly. That's what we're here to help with. If you're unsure, book a visit and see how your child responds to the space and the team.
This is completely normal, and it usually passes sooner than parents expect. Before your child's first official day, we plan short settling visits so they can get to know their teachers and the centre while you're nearby. At drop-off, a warm, confident goodbye tends to work better than slipping away. If your child has a tricky morning, we'll let you know once they've settled.
Yes, and it's one of the most valuable things children learn here. Because our tamariki are aged 2 to 6 and learn together, younger children learn by watching older ones, and older children practise kindness and leadership. Kaiako help with turn-taking, sharing, using words to solve problems and joining in group play. Friendships form naturally, and we love watching them grow.
