Contact Us
Email
qt-manager@curiousminds.co.nz
Phone
03 974 4650
Address
Level 1, 5 Mile Retail, 30 Grant Road, Queenstown
Opening Hours
Open:
Monday to Friday
7:30am - 5:30pm
Closed:
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays
Our Rooms
Tūi
6 Months to 2 Years
Kiwi
2 to 3.5 Years
Pūkeko
3.5 to 5 Years
Directions
Our centre is located on level one at the Five Mile Retail Centre
Te Whariki - Our Core
Te Whāriki is New Zealand's early childhood education framework, guiding children's development from birth to age five.
At Curious Minds Queenstown, we embrace this curriculum, using its principles to shape our approach. The name Te Whāriki, meaning "woven mat," reflects the interconnected strands of learning that foster each child's growth. We value children as confident, capable learners, than can take charge of their own learning journey.
Wellbeing (Mana Atua)
Children's health and emotional well-being are paramount. Our safe, supportive environment ensures each child feels secure and valued, laying the foundation for their overall development.
Belonging (Mana Whenua)
Embracing each child's unique background, we foster strong connections with families and the community. Our inclusive practices help children feel at home, encouraging confident engagement in all activities.
Contribution (Mana Tangata):
Active participation is encouraged, valuing children's ideas and promoting collaborative experiences. This approach helps them recognise their significance, developing a sense of responsibility and respect for others.
Communication (Mana Reo)
Rich language experiences and diverse mediums of expression support the development of effective communication skills. Children learn to convey their thoughts and emotions, fostering strong interpersonal connections.
Exploration (Mana Aotūroa)
Curiosity and a love for learning are nurtured through diverse opportunities for exploration and discovery. Our stimulating environments and responsive teaching practices empower children to investigate, ask questions, and develop problem-solving skills.
Our Rooms
At Curious Minds Queenstown, our facilities include spacious 3 classrooms, well-designed outdoor play areas, and plenty of resources, sensory games and experiences to enhance children’s learning through play.
Find a room for your child:
Tūi Room (6 months - 2 years): A nurturing environment for children, providing a safe space for exploration and growth.
Kiwi Room (2 - 3.5 years): Encouraging social skills, the Kiwi room offers a variety of activities promoting social development.
Pūkeko Room (3.5 - 5 years): Developing working theories about the world around them and developing a foundation for lifelong learning.
Why Curious Minds Queenstown?
At Curious Minds Queenstown, we aim to create an environment where children can explore their interests and develop a love for learning in their own unique way. By fostering a sense of belonging and community, we encourage children to develop their confidence and independence. Our experienced educators focus on providing exceptional care and nurturing the development of each child.
Our Curriculum
Curious Minds is a great place for babies, toddlers and young children to explore and create with hands-on learning in a safe and engaging environment. We know each child is on their own unique learning journey and we recognise the importance of fostering each child’s curiosity in a responsive and nurturing environment.
Curious Minds offer a play-based curriculum where teachers notice, recognise and respond to children’s ideas and interests. The learning environment is set up each day to spark curiosity and to support and extend children's learning. Our teachers use a wide variety of responsive teaching strategies to support each child’s development and progress.
Our curriculum is underpinned by New Zealand’s early childhood education curriculum, Te Whāriki. Te Whāriki sets out principles, strands, goals and learning outcomes to guide our programme and teacher practice. Each Curious Minds service has a unique philosophy developed to meet the aspirations of the children and families in their learning community.
Principles of Te Whāriki
Te Whāriki, is organised into principles, stands, goals and learning outcomes. The principles are core values that are woven through all learning, the strands describe five key areas of learning and development.
Empowerment Whakamana
Holistic development Kotahitanga
Family and Community Whānau Tangata
Relationships Ngā Hononga
Learning Outcomes with Te Whāriki
The learning outcomes describe valued learning for the children in our centres.
Over time and with guidance and encouragement, children become increasingly capable of:
- keeping themselves healthy and caring for themselves
- Managing themselves and expressing their feelings and needs
- Keeping themselves and others safe from harm.
Over time and with guidance and encouragement, children become increasingly capable of:
- Making connections between people, places and things in their world
- Taking part in caring for this place
- Understanding how things work here and adapting to change
- Showing respect for kaupapa, rules and the rights of others
Over time and with guidance and encouragement, children become increasingly capable of:
- Treating others fairly and including them in play
- Recognising and appreciating their own ability to learn
- Using a range of strategies and skills to play and learn with others
Over time and with guidance and encouragement, children become increasingly capable of:
- Using gesture and movement to express themselves
- Understanding oral language and using it for a range of purposes
- Enjoying hearing stories and retelling and creating them
- Recognising print symbols and concepts and using them with enjoyment, meaning and purpose
- Recognising mathematical symbols and concepts and using them with enjoyment, meaning and purpose.
Over time and with guidance and encouragement, children become increasingly capable of:
- Playing, imagining, inventing and experimenting
- Moving confidently and challenging themselves physically
- Using a range of strategies for reasoning and problem solving
- Making sense of their worlds by generating and refining working theories.
Video Tour
Ready for an adventure? Take a virtual tour of Curious Minds Queenstown and see our bright and spacious classrooms, awesome outdoor play areas, and all the cool learning activities that make our centre a place where kids thrive.
Centre Philosophy
At Curious Minds we believe tamariki, Kaiako and whānau are all ākonga soaring on a journey of learning as one.
At Curious Minds forming strong reciprocal relationships is at the heart of our way of being. Ensuring all ākonga know they have a place here and are valued for the mana they bring. Creating a safe and nurturing foundation for learning to take flight.
Respect is at the foundation of our interactions and helps us discover who we are. We value the bicultural heritage of Aotearoa and strive to build knowledge and understanding of tangata whenua, whenua and the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We celebrate our multi-cultural community and pursue ways to grow our understanding of diversity.
We plant the seed to empower all ākonga to see themselves and each other as competent and confident individuals who steer their own learning. Growing independence, kindness, and compassion to create our flourishing learning community.
Curiosity sparks our sense of wonder as we seek knowledge. Our environment acts as the third teacher and is carefully curated to provide endless opportunities for individual exploration and collaborative discovery. We inspire ākonga to be kaitiakitanga and care for papatūānuku and all that is living.
Seeking challenges and discovering working theories to understand and conquer them, strengthens our abilities to take risks, cope with change and see ourselves as curious lifelong learners.
Teachers
Our team of passionate educators are dedicated to providing a nurturing, adventurous environment where children can learn and grow.
20 hours ECE subsidy is offered here
Facilites
Curious Minds Queenstown is equipped with modern, child-friendly facilities designed to create a safe and engaging environment for learning and play.
Our facilities include:
Spacious Classrooms: Bright, airy rooms filled with age-appropriate resources that promote learning and creativity.
Outdoor Play Areas: Our outdoor play areas reflect the natural beauty of Queenstown, featuring garden spaces, climbing frames and more all nestled under the mountains.
Learning Materials: A wide range of educational toys, books, puzzles, and sensory materials and so much more that encourage curiosity and hands-on learning.
Quiet Areas: Dedicated spaces for rest, relaxation, and quiet activities, helping children recharge during the day.
Our facilities are designed with the safety and well-being of your child in mind, creating an environment where they can explore, learn, and grow. See additional facilities below!
Safe caring environment
Morning and afternoon tea included
Community trips and excursions
Indoor outdoor flow
Rooftop oasis with views over mountains
Foundation skills for learning for life
ECE Hours
Competitive fees
FAQ: Common Questions
Our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section provides answers to common inquiries about Curious Minds Centres. We understand that choosing the right childcare for your child is a significant decision, and we are here to help you make an informed choice.
Curious Minds Queenstown operates from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday.
We provide morning tea, and afternoon tea each day, catering to various dietary needs to keep your child nourished and energised.
Yes, we have in-house relievers. This ensures your child is cared for by familiar staff, maintaining continuity even when regular teachers are unavailable.
We pride ourselves on excellent staff retention. By offering full pay parity, we attract and retain high-quality educators, ensuring a consistent teaching team for your child’s learning and development.
At Curious Minds Childcare, we prioritise your child's safety and development by maintaining adult-to-child ratios that surpass government standards. This commitment ensures that your child receives attentive care and the freedom to explore their world safely at all times.
We believe in a play-based, child-led approach to early childhood education. Our programmes are grounded in Te Whāriki, which are designed to promote cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development through engaging and hands-on activities
We hold bi-annual parent-teacher meetings to discuss your child’s progress and development. These meetings provide an excellent opportunity for in-depth conversations about your child’s learning journey.
Have More Questions?
Gems Educational Childcare
Looking for a center near the Lake Hayes area? Our sister centers, Gems Education Childcare, could be just the right fit!
They offer three convenient locations in Lake Hayes
Miro | 12 Onslow Road, Lake Hayes Estate 9304
Kowhai | 55 Stalker Road, Shotover Country 9304
Rata | 6 Thirteenth Avenue, Kawarau Park, Shotover Country
Ready to Look Around?
We'd love to show you around Curious Minds Queenstown, see how good our outdoor areas are, and the friendly team that looks after the next generation.
Read our ERO Report
Take a look at our latest ERO report to see how we're doing! Each year, The Education Review Office evaluates us based on their standards, and we're proud to share the results with you. Read the report below.
Contact us
Open Hours: Monday to Friday: 7:00am – 5:30pm
Phone
+64 4 478 1679Centre Location
Level 1, 5 Mile Retail, 30 Grant Road, QueenstownWhat Our Parents Say
We’re confident that you and your child will love Curious Minds Johnsonville, but don’t just listen to us! Hear what our parents say!
Formerly Wellington Childcare
We are thrilled to announce that we have rebranded to Curious Minds as of November 20th 2024. This new name better reflects our commitment to fostering curiosity and growth in every child. While our name has changed, our dedication to providing exceptional care and education remains unchanged. Welcome to Curious Minds, where curiosity and learning thrive.
Our Childcare Locations
Island Bay Curious Minds
Johnsonville Curious Minds
Miramar Curious Minds
