Our Values

The Waimate Childcare Centre values respect within our centre where everyone is treated as an individual and has a sense of belonging. The Tamariki gain experiences and understanding of people and places and learn to respect each other and the environment. We want our children to be independent and lifelong learners and take increased responsibility for their own learning.

Relationships will be built from trust and the Tamariki will develop social skills for establishing and maintaining friendships.

We value the importance of family/whanau.

Our Vision

Our vision is to provide quality childcare that is responsive to the needs of the community and reflects the culture of the families/whanau of the children attending.

We want the children to be confident and creative and be lifelong learners in a friendly, welcoming and fun environment.

Our Philosophy

Our Centre will provide families/whanau with an inclusive safe and positive environment, where they can trust the staff to nurture their children.

As a team we value Relationships, Respect and Responsibility and work to support the children in developing these attributes.

We promote the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of young children while responding to the values, needs and aspirations of families/whanau

Our Centre will respect the individuality and culture of each child and family, and empower the children to be active participants in their learning thus enabling them to contribute to society with the ability to adapt in an ever changing world.

Our History

"I remember sitting underneath that blossom tree!..."

Over thirty years ago, in 1986, the Waimate community needed a childcare facility which would allow parents to have some time for themselves to attend appointments, have some well-earned 'me' time, or to have some part time work.

Waimate Childcare is, and has always been, a non-profit making childcare designed to meet the needs of the families in our local area. Initially we were in the old Salvation Army building and heavily reliant on volunteers. We were soon at maximum capacity and our reputation was growing. A few years later, to continue to meet the needs of our local Waimate community, we needed to have bigger premises. So once again with a lot of voluntary hours from the teachers, the committee, and our community, we purchased a section on Innes street and were given a classroom from Bluestone School in Timaru. We were made! The Waimate community had its first permanent Childcare Centre! A great many children have happy memories playing beneath the loveliest of blossom trees. The branches provided shade in summer, and through the leaves filtered speckles of sunlight which glittered the grass as we played. Then in autumn we would watch the leaves turn and fall as winter approached.

Waimate Childcare Centre was making a positive influence in the lives of many families and we needed to expand and grow our premises to continue to meet the needs of the community. Red tape prevented us from simply doing renovations to meet the new regulations so once again with many volunteer hours in fundraising in our community we were able to purchase our current John Street premises. Originally the Waimate Bowling Club, Childcare is now situated in the heart of our township just off the main street behind the Council buildings. The old bowling green is now an amazing outdoor play environment and the buildings are sited for all day sun right next to the tennis courts and Boland Park.

Meeting the needs of the local Waimate families is at the heart of what we do. We constantly look for ways to improve the learning environment for the children. We strive to consistently exceed expectations and give back to the community as much as we have been given. As we are non-profit, we are able to put everything back into making Childcare even better than before. We are a community-oriented Childcare Centre and in return the Waimate community supports us.

Our children are our future. We now offer the Waimate community full-time childcare education for preschool children in a fun learning environment. We offer children the opportunity to explore, create, and enhance their skills while parents attend meetings, work, or just catch up with friends and have valuable time to themselves.

How can we meet your family's needs? Come on in and let us show you all that we have to offer!