Polykids
We provide quality early childhood education and care for children up to five years of age. Spaces are limited and we strongly advise contacting Polykids when you apply for your programme of study.
Polykids – Otago Polytechnic Childcare Centre
Learning is fun and every day presents a new opportunity to discover something new!
We welcome all children from our community. Supporting and respecting children and families from all cultural, educational and social backgrounds is what we like to do. We have children of all abilities in our Polykids learning community, and we help them grow and flourish each day.
The Centre’s primary mission is to provide quality education and care for children of staff and students of Otago Polytechnic. If spaces are available, then children from the wider local community and Dunedin are accepted. Children of staff and students from Otago Polytechnic are always given priority on any Enrolment Waiting List.
Opening hours
The Centre is open from 7:45 am through to 5:15pm Monday through Friday
Attendance
The minimum enrolment is six hours a day, two days a week.
Capacity
The Centre caters for 50 children at any one time, and total numbers are dependent on the number of staff present.
Age Range
Polykids has separate designated areas for children under the age of two and those over two years old. We can take children from birth through to school age although we prefer children to begin at three months old, as this has given their immune systems a little time to develop. All of our teachers are fully trained or currently in training.
Our mission is to provide quality Early Childhood Education and care for children from birth through to age five. Our programme follows the Principles of Te Whaariki – the Early Childhood Curriculum of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Through participation in our programme, children will become confident, capable learners and communicators who develop positive dispositions for learning that guide them through life. Our Centre also promotes respect for all, and values the differences that make us all unique.
We place special value on the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa/New Zealand, and through consultation and communication with our parents and whānau, we aim to reflect the cultures, aspirations and values of our learning community.
We believe in:
- Providing a learning environment that is welcoming and inclusive
- Building positive and honest relationships – these are paramount for fostering an environment of engaged learning and education
- Promoting collaboration, exploration, problem solving, challenge and reflection, in the belief that children are competent and capable
- Fostering the development of self-belief
- Using the Principles of Te Whaariki to guide our programme and practice in conjunction with the belief that learning occurs through responsible and reciprocal interactions
- Establishing simple and clear boundaries for behaviour to promote respect and an understanding that the setting is fair for all
- Promoting the importance of structure and routine for children to develop a sense of belonging and security
- Advocating, as teachers, for our children, our parents and whānau and for Early Childhood Education
Contact us
Forth Street (opposite Otago Polytechnic Campus)
Dunedin +64 3 479 6169
childcare@op.ac.nz
Contact us
If you’re not sure what to study and would like some guidance, we’re here to help. Feel free to chat to us directly about any questions you may have.