About UsTe whare Enrol now Enquire now Get the Little Citizens’ difference for your tamariki/children! Little Citizens offers exceptional early childhood education for preschool tamariki, making a positive impact that equips children for success in school and beyond. Our Philosophy He Panonitanga Huanui! Nā te tautoko, nā te werowero ka hua ake tō ao.Change that works: Enough support and challenge for you to risk a better future. At Little Citizens we are guided by Te Whāriki (the Early Childhood Curriculum ), the aspirations and character of our tamariki and their whānau, and by the values of whānaukataka (reciprocal relationships), manaakitaka (kindness, , hospitality and caring for others), aroha (love, compassion, and empathy), and kaitiakitaka (guardianship of our world). Children flourish through meaningful challenges, supported by nurturing relationships and thoughtful risk-taking, growing into confident, capable learners.We celebrate the cultural diversity and experiences that tamariki and their whānau bring with them. Our inclusive environment encourages tuakana – teina relationships, where older and younger tamariki learn from and support one another. Little Citizens take pride in creating and sustaining a nurturing learning environment which embodies our commitment to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Celebrating Holi at Little Citizens. This vibrant Hindu festival, celebrated in India, brought us together to enjoy colours, love, and the spirit of spring. Little hands lighting up Diwali, the festival of lights celebrated in India to honour the victory of good over evil. The centre celebrating Polyfest. Why choose Little Citizens? Quality early childhood education Guided by Te Whāriki, New Zealand Aotearoa’s early childhood curriculum, Little Citizens encourages children to have a strong sense of belonging so they can be confident and capable learners. We tailor our curriculum to each child in consultation with parents/whānau to support children’s development through their interests. Our learning priorities focus on language development, kaitiakitanga and social and emotional competency. Convenience and flexibility Easy drop-off, handy location in South Dunedin with heaps of parking. We have flexible enrolment with no minimum hours and total support from friendly, dedicated staff. We are open between 7.45am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday and during school holidays, excluding public holidays and a break over Christmas and New Year. Physical development Preschool kids need room to play … lots of room! We have large play areas, with enough space to ride, climb, splash, and slide. Plus, we have large indoor areas that are warm, dry and comfortable all year round. Low Fees We offer 20 hours ECE at no additional cost and we have one easy-to-calculate flat rate of $7.80 per hour and most outings are free. If your child is under three, your child could be entitled to nine hours childcare subsidy. We support whānau in applying for childcare subsidies. Nourishing meals A yummy breakfast is available to all Little Citizens children, caregivers and siblings every morning from 7.45am – 8.15am. Caregivers must stay with their children and any siblings until their child’s booked starting time at the centre. Delicious morning and afternoon teas and hot lunches are included at no extra cost. There is also an option for a hot dinner for those children enrolled later in the evenings. Support Our Taituarā a Hapori/Community Services Specialist provides free support and advocacy to parents and caregivers including behaviour management strategies, help with Work and Income liaison and budget advice. View the Little Citizens Handbook Nourishing Meals Little Citizens offers a delicious menu that includes morning and afternoon teas, along with hot lunches and dinners—all at no additional cost. Our meals are carefully created by our onsite Cook to provide nutritionally rich food, to ensure our tamariki have the necessary energy for their ongoing learning and physical development. For added convenience, we provide a hot dinner at 5pm, especially catering to those tamariki enrolled in the afternoons. We believe that exposing children to a diverse array of colours, textures, and flavours not only fosters healthy eating habits, but also helps those more picky eaters to feel comfortable with trying new foods. Our commitment is to instill an appreciation for various food. At our center, we switch between two seasonal menus—winter and summer. We also like to create food with the tamariki that celebrates various cultural events. It means we get to make tasty food that reflects the diversity in our centre, making food a flavourful and fun experience for everyone! Breakfast A yummy breakfast is available to all Little Citizens children, caregivers and siblings every Friday from 7.45am – 8.15am. Caregivers must stay with their children and any siblings until their child’s booked starting time at the centre. Dinner At Little Citizens, we provide a hot dinner meal for those tamariki enrolled after 5pm, making evenings easier and more relaxed for families around dinner time. Lunch Our centre Cook prepares a delicious hot lunch on-site, available from Tuesday to Friday. On a Monday the Tamariki have yummy sandwiches – In the Kōtuku room, the Tamariki get to create their very own sandwiches (with careful supervision of course!). They are provided with a variety of toppings to ensure everyone is catered for. The Tui Room Tamariki get their own sandwiches while the Kiwi room Tamariki have a hot cooked meal. Other Meals Morning tea usually consists of toast, a selection of fresh fruit, milk or water. Afternoon tea and a late snack usually consists of any of the following: a selection of baking (by our own cook), cooked carrot sticks, cheese sticks, dip, water crackers, rice cakes, a selection of fresh vegetables and fruit, water or milk. View a sample menu Meet The Little Citizens Team Emilie Mellor – Kaiwhakahaere Matua – Centre Manager Tēnā koutouKo Ruahine te maungaWhakaruruhau ki ahauKo Manawatū te awa o te roheNō Ōtepoti tōku kainga inaianeiKo Emilie tōku ingoa. Read more about Emilie Kia ora, I’m Emilie. I am passionate about igniting curiosity and creativity in young minds. During my career, I have taught in Aotearoa and abroad in a variety of settings including Early Childhood, Primary and Montessori and Parent Education. Building strong connections is at the heart of my approach. I believe in fostering warm, trusting and respectful relationships with tamariki, their whānau, colleagues, and the wider community. This collaborative approach ensures each child feels supported to pursue a lifelong love of learning that extends beyond their early years. Tamara Dixon – Kaiwhakarite – Administrator Hi! I’m Tamara Dixon and though I am originally from India I have had the wonderful privilege and opportunity of a multi-cultural upbringing, having lived in several countries in Asia, Africa and North America. Read more about Tamara Dunedin, New Zealand, is now home and where I raised my now adult family, after coming to study at the University of Otago. The importance of education has been instilled in me growing up with two dedicated teachers as my parents and my first Administration job was in an Adult Education setting where I worked with migrants and refugees who were learning English. As a mother who was very much involved in my children’s pre-school and school years, I was keen to become involved in the early childhood sector and I now have that opportunity as Administrator for Little Citizens Early Learning Centre. I enjoy being involved in the local pre-school community and I endeavour to be a positive, welcoming and encouraging influence on the families, children and teachers at the Centre. Outside of work I love spending time with family and being active. Music, singing and being creative are a huge part of my life as is my involvement in a local church community. Steph Watson – Kaiako Kōhukahuka Matua – Senior Teacher – Kiwi Room Tēna koutou katoaKo Cargill te maungaKo Leith te awaNō Ōtepoti ahauKo McKenna ratou ko Sawyer ngᾱ tamarikiKo Stephanie tōku ingoa Read more about Steph Kia Ora, my name is Steph Watson and I have recently started in my new role as Senior Teacher in the Infant and Toddler classroom (Kiwi room) at Little Citizens. I have worked as an Early Childhood Educator for the past seven years and have two of my own children aged 6 and 3. I love working alongside children, watching as their confidence develops and they start to try new experiences, bringing their own unique ideas, knowledge and understandings to the classroom. Kylie Preedy – Kaiako Kōhukahuka Matua – Senior Teacher – Kōtuku Room Kia Ora KoutouKo Te Poho o Tamatea te maungaKo Mata-Au te awaNō Otepoti auTokorua āku tamāhineKo Kylie tōku ingoa Read more about Kylie Kia Ora my name is Kylie Preedy and I have been teaching for over 20 years with many of these being here as part of the Little Citizens family. In this time, I have taught across all areas of the centre. I am currently teaching in the Kōtuku room with our amazing 3 ½ – 5 year olds tamariki as the Senior teacher within the room alongside some amazing teachers. I believe in providing an environment where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to learn at their own pace. Supporting children with their developing social competencies and self-regulation skills is a passion of mine. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family where we enjoy going boating and relaxing at the river. Emilie Mellor – Kaiako Kōhukahuka Matua – Senior Teacher – Tui Room Talofa Lava Ko ngā maunga kākāriki tāku maunga Ko Pomahaka te awaKo Kai Tahu te iwiko taku runaga he puketeraki me te awaruaKo Patrick tōku tamaKo Ann rāua ko Ewing ngā mātua o au. I noho au i Tapanui, ā, nāianei e noho ana au i Ōtepoti. Read more about Mel Kia ora, I’m Emilie. Having respect for the world is when you allow people to be what they areMagda GerberHi my name is MelI come from Tapanui. My beautiful son turns 21 this year. I love learning new crafts and this year it was learning to knit on circular needles. I love the outdoors, and you will find me in my garden usually when not at work.I have taught for a long time in many different places with a lot of different philosophies. This is why I really enjoy the play based nature of Little Citizens.I love the magic and spark children bring to the world and love finding joy in small things as a child does. I enjoy the collaborative nature of teaching in an early childhood setting and the laughter that comes from being in a strong team. Language and language acquisition is one of my favourite parts of being a teacher. I appreciate being able to challenge my skills in this new role as head teacher. Suzy Swanson-Dobbs – Taituarā a Hāpori – Community Services Specialist Ko Suzy Swanson-Dobbs tōku ingoaNō Tenemāka, Kōtirana, Ingarani tōku tīpunaNō Ōtepoti au Read more about Suzy My name is Suzy Swanson-DobbsMy ancestors come from Denmark, Scotland and England. I live in Dunedin My role is to support whānau here at Little Citizens in whatever way possible. The role is flexible so if you think there’s a way that I might be able to assist you please get in touch, even if it’s just for a chat! I look forward to getting to know you and your whānau.I have lived in Ōtepoti since 2021 and absolutely love it here. Enquire about enrolments now Enrol now Book a tour
