Curious Minds Johnsonville
Where Curiosity Meets Learning. A Unique early learning experience in heart of Johnsonville for Children Aged 6 Months to 6 Years.
Contact Us
Email
johnsonville@curiousminds.co.nz
Phone
+64 4 478 1679
Address
34/36 Bannister Avenue, Johnsonville, Wellington
Opening Hours
Open:
Monday to Friday
7:30am - 6:00pm
Closed:
Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays
Our Rooms
Nursery
6 Months to 2 Years
Kiwi
2 Years to 4 Years
Tūi
4 Years to 6 Years
ERO Report
Have a look at our ERO report from The Education Review Office
Te Whariki - Our Core
Te Whāriki is New Zealand's early childhood education framework, guiding children's development from birth to age five.
At Island Bay, 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 Johnsonville, we've created two nurturing spaces providing a homely environment where children can find comfort and play. Our Nursery welcomes little ones from 6 months to between 2 and 2.5 years. Child transitions from our Nursery to our Classroom are assessed on the needs of each individual child rather than their age, allowing them to make the move between rooms when they are ready.
Our classroom is a hybrid space with two smaller areas for different age groups—2-4 years and 4-6 years. The magic of this setup is the freedom it gives your child to learn at their own pace while engaging with children of various ages. Parents love the sense of community it brings, as siblings can stay together in the same space, while still having room to explore and grow independently.
It’s a wonderful environment where children learn from one another and grow in a space that feels like a family!
Nursery Room (6 months - 2 years): A calm, nurturing environment where children receive personalised care that supports their emotional and physical development.
(The Classroom) Kiwi Room (2 - 4 years): A stimulating space designed to encourage children to develop independence, social skills, and early motor abilities through play-based learning.
(The Classroom) Tūi Room (4 - 6 years): Preparing children for school by focusing on key early literacy, numeracy, social and emotional skills, ensuring children are ready for the next stage in their educational journey.
Why Curious Minds Johnsonville?
At Curious Minds Johnsonville, we’ve been dedicated to providing a nurturing, community-driven environment for over two decades. Our approach is centred around creating strong relationships with families, fostering child independence, and offering unique experiences for your child’s development.
1. Child-First Approach
At the core of Curious Minds Johnsonville is our "child-first" philosophy. We believe in focusing on each child's unique needs and strengths, ensuring that their emotional and social development is nurtured. Our curriculum is built around what interests the children at the time, allowing for a more engaging and effective learning experience.
- Personalised Learning: We tailor our approach to fit the interests and developmental stages of each child.
- Emotional and Social Support: We emphasize socio-emotional regulation, helping children navigate their feelings and build relationships.
- Child-Initiated Play: Our indoor and outdoor environments are designed for child-led exploration, ensuring they feel empowered to make choices.
2. Community
Community is at the heart of everything we do at Curious Minds Johnsonville. For over 21 years, we’ve built lasting connections with families and local schools, making our centre a trusted pillar in the area. These relationships provide a supportive environment for children to thrive.
- Family Involvement: We work closely with parents to ensure the best outcomes for their children.
- School Connections: Our close ties with local schools make the transition to primary education seamless, with schools frequently praising the preparedness of children from Curious Minds Johnsonville.
- Local Engagement: We take advantage of our central location, frequently engaging with nearby parks, libraries, and other local amenities to broaden children’s experiences.
3. Encouraging Child Independence
Fostering independence is a cornerstone of our philosophy. At Curious Minds Johnsonville, we believe that by encouraging children to solve problems and make their own choices, we prepare them for future success.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Children are given the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them in a safe environment.
- Risky Play: We promote "risky play," allowing children to push their physical and mental limits within safe boundaries, helping them understand what their bodies can do and building their confidence.
- Sibling Interaction: Our flexible room setup allows siblings to play and learn together while also having space to grow independently, enhancing both familial and individual development.
All Day Outdoor Access
Outdoor play is an essential part of the daily routine at Curious Minds Johnsonville.
We believe that nature provides endless learning opportunities, which is why we guarantee that every child has continuous access to our outdoor areas.
Running for 21 Years
With more than two decades of experience, Curious Minds Johnsonville is a well-loved and trusted hub in the community.
The strong connections we’ve nurtured with local families and schools reflect the confidence parents have in us to support their children’s early learning journey.
Come see for yourself!
Video Tour
Ready for an adventure? Take a virtual tour of Curious Minds Johnsonville 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.
Activities
Learning through play is vital for your child's development. This is why our daily activities are carefully curated to encourage creativity, critical thinking, and social interaction. Some of the key activities include:
Arts & Crafts
Nature Outings
Sensory Play
Music & Movement
Outdoor Play
Story Time
20 hours ECE subsidy is offered here
Centre Philosophy
At Curious Minds Johnsonville, we respect and strive to care for papatuanuku. by looking after our environment and all that is living. (Kaitiakitanga)
We promote intentional learning opportunities based on interests and learning stages. We create a safe space, a home away from home, for tamariki to take calculated risks and challenge themselves physically, cognitively and emotionally. (Maia)
We empower tamariki to take ownership and responsibility for our shared space through play based learning and advocate for each tamaiti and their mana (power of being) to support independence and confidence. We empower tamariki to lead their own learning, seeing themselves as capable, confident and successful learners. We believe each tamaiti is unique and support their self-paced learning. (Rangatiratanga)
We create strong positive relationships with tamariki, whānau and Kaiako and anyone else in the community of practice. We promote a loving partnership with each whānau as we show utmost respect for diversity in cultural beliefs and values and strive to create an inclusive environment where the social and emotional competencies of tamariki are promoted. (Manaakitanga and Whanaungatanga)
Our Kaiako are a fun, passionate, diverse teaching team who build on each other’s uniqueness and strengths. We are committed to ongoing professional learning to strengthen and build on our knowledge. Above all, we believe in working together to cultivate an environment grounded on consistency, aroha and respect.
Principles of Te Whāriki
Te Whāriki is structured into four key elements: principles, strands, goals, and learning outcomes. At its foundation, the principles represent core values that guide every aspect of your child's learning journey. These principles are woven through daily activities at our Johnsonville centre shaping an environment where children feel valued, supported, and inspired to explore.
The strands outline five essential areas of learning and development, ensuring a holistic approach that nurtures each child's growth. See the principles below.
Empowerment Whakamana
Holistic development Kotahitanga
Family and Community Whānau Tangata
Relationships Ngā Hononga
Facilites
Curious Minds Johnsonville 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 Johnsonville, featuring garden spaces, and areas for water play. We also have dedicated areas for gardening and nature-based projects.
Learning Materials: A wide range of educational toys, books, puzzles, and sensory materials 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 facilites below!
Nursery
Hot Cooked Lunch
Secure & Privacy
ECE Hours
Morning & Afternoon Tea
Continuos Outdoor Access
Teachers
Our passionate team of qualified educators is the heart and soul of our centre. Operating as Johnsonville Childcare for over 21 years, our teachers have built strong and lasting relationships with local whānau. Though our name has changed to Curious Minds Johnsonville, our commitment to the same core values—care, creativity, and, most importantly, curiosity—remains stronger than ever.
Nursery Team:
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The Classroom Team:
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Management/Support Team
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 Johnsonville operates from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday.
Yes, meals are included in the fees. We provide a nutritious hot lunch, 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 meet or exceed 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?
Ready to
look around?
We'd love to show you around Curious Minds Johnsonville, see how good our outdoor area is, 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: 7:30am – 6:00pm
Phone
What 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 Johnsonville Childcare
We are thrilled to announce that we have rebranded to Curious Minds from Wellington Childcare. 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 Centre Locations
Island Bay Curious Minds
Johnsonville Curious Minds
Miramar Curious Minds
Queesntown Curious Minds
We've Rebranded ✨
From Wellington Childcare to Curious Minds—same dedicated team, same great childcare, now with a name that truly reflects our early learning philosophy.