CHILDCARE AT CO KIDS THORNDON QUAY, WELLINGTON
A WARM, NURTURING PLACE TO LEARN AND GROW
Welcome to Co Kids, Wellington
Located at 170 Thorndon Quay in the historic and vibrant suburb of Thorndon, just minutes from Wellington CBD, our centre offers spacious and thoughtfully designed early childhood education for tamariki aged 0 to 6 years. Set in the heart of Wellington’s inner-city community, our warm and welcoming spaces are designed with children in mind.
OUR WELLINGTON CENTRE
At Co Kids Wellington, our childcare and preschool centre on Thorndon Quay, close to Wellington CBD, provides nurturing early childhood education for babies, toddlers and preschoolers aged 0 to 6 years.
Our teaching philosophy draws on the principles of Emmi Pikler and Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE). This approach is built on respect, calm interactions and responsive, unhurried care. Our experienced kaiako take time to observe, support and understand each child, encouraging tamariki to lead their learning and develop confidence at their own pace.
Our Wellington childcare centre has three distinct learning areas for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Each space is thoughtfully designed to meet the developmental needs of its age group, giving children the security, freedom and room they need to explore, learn and build strong relationships.
Nutritious meals are freshly prepared onsite each day using wholefoods and no refined sugars. Children share calm, predictable mealtimes that encourage independence, healthy habits and a positive relationship with food.
Our dedicated Babies Room has its own indoor and outdoor play spaces, creating a peaceful and secure environment for our youngest learners. Care routines and learning experiences are tailored to each baby’s individual stage, supporting early movement, motor skills and gentle exploration.
Our preschool children also have their own dedicated learning space, separate from the babies and toddlers. Here, our transition-to-school programme supports growing independence, confidence, communication and early learning skills, helping each child feel prepared and excited for the next step in their journey to school.
Every part of Co Kids Wellington is designed with purpose, warmth and connection, giving each child the care, space and support they need to learn, grow and thrive.
Why Parents Choose Co Kids Thorndon Quay
Learning Environment
Our centre offers bright, open learning spaces designed to create a calm and engaging environment where children can explore, discover and grow with confidence.
Our Approach to Learning
For our youngest children we follow the RIE philosophy, which focuses on respectful, responsive care and supporting natural development. For children over three we are inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, encouraging creativity, curiosity and learning through exploration and play.
Teacher to Child Ratios
We aim to maintain excellent teacher to child ratios during our peak learning times so each child receives the attention and support they need.
Under 1: 1 teacher to 3 children
1-year-olds: 1 teacher to 4 children
2-year-olds: 1 teacher to 6 children
3–5-year-olds: 1 teacher to 8 children
Meals and Daily Essentials
Children enjoy a fresh daily menu for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. Our meals are naturally sweet and made without refined sugar, focusing on wholesome ingredients that support healthy growing bodies. Sunblock and wet wipes are also provided for your convenience.
Our Team
Our team is made up of passionate and experienced educators who genuinely care about each child’s wellbeing and development. Around 80 percent of our teachers are fully qualified, and many of our team members have been with Co Kids for more than five years.
Financial Support
We are happy to help families understand the financial support options available.
We can guide you through the FamilyBoost rebate, which may help reduce your childcare costs.
We also assist with the WINZ subsidy application process by completing our section of the form.
Flexible Fee Options
We offer flexible options including 8-hour and full-day sessions to suit different family schedules.
Transition to School
For children over four we run a Transition to School programme designed to help build confidence and prepare children for the move to primary school.
Sibling Discount
We offer a 10% sibling discount. Please speak with our Centre Manager to learn more about current promotions and availability.
In our Babies Room, you’ll find:
• A calm and soothing atmosphere that gives little ones the confidence to grow and develop at their own pace.
• Experienced, caring kaiako who provide personalised attention and build strong, responsive relationships with each baby.
• A range of thoughtfully chosen toys and activities to support early movement, sensory play and gentle exploration.
• A safe and secure space set apart from the older groups, allowing babies to explore freely without the noise and pace of the larger areas.
For our Toddlers and Preschoolers, you’ll find:
We have thoughtfully designed individual classrooms, along with two spacious shared play areas that allow children to come together throughout the day. This setup keeps transitions calm and predictable, helping to reduce anxiety and support smooth routines.
These shared spaces encourage:
• Siblings to spend time together and share parts of their day.
• Older children to mentor and care for younger peers.
• Younger children to learn from and emulate positive role models.
• A strong culture of empathy, kindness and community among both children and teachers.
Join us in our supportive and inclusive environment, where every child can flourish and grow
WHAT THORNDON FAMILIES SAY
Contact Us
Get in touch with us or click on the frequently asked questions to find out more.