Early Learning Counties Manukau Takanini is a well-established, vibrant centre providing the local community with a fantastic and innovative opportunity for children’s before five growth and learning.  The ELCM Takanini Team is caring, inviting, open and welcoming to our community’s children, whanau and visitors. The teaching team comprises of qualified, registered and in training teachers as well as enthusiastic support staff.

We consider that a healthy, safe, stimulating and enriching environment for our children is paramount, one in which we follow the children’s interests, extend their thinking and challenge their physical boundaries.  We pride ourselves on having an environmentally friendly building and surrounds, with an indoor/outdoor flow to generous play spaces and an environment that has a naturally appealing look and feel.

We believe our centre caters to the needs and aspirations of the whole community, building strong relationships, nurturing confident and competent children, because “Children are the heart of all we do”. One of the ways we do this is by providing flexible hours to accommodate family’s needs, morning and afternoon sessions for over three’s.

View our latest ERO Report

The programme is tailored to the individual child’s age, stage and interests. We are a play based centre, inspired by a range of philosophies and approaches that include aspects of, RIE/Pikler, Reggio Emilia.   We promote and encourage inquiry based learning and believe in utilising the environment as a third teacher.  The programme has a kindergarten character and feel which encompasses and weaves through our New Zealand Curriculum, Te Whᾱriki.  We embrace a bicultural approach, whilst valuing, respecting and making welcome all families and cultures in our community.