A Community Heart Since 1967
A calm, joyful space where tamariki have the room to grow, explore, and lose themselves in play. Owned by our community since 1967, every dollar goes directly back into your childβs environment β guided by qualified, long-serving teachers who give every child the unhurried time to simply be a child.
Here, play is childrenβs work. With large natural grass grounds and rich sensory play, your tamariki build confidence, form lasting friendships, and learn at their own rhythm β documented from day one in their cherished Personal Profile Book.
WhΔngai & WhΔnaungatanga
WhΔnau is at the heart of everything we do. We partner closely with you to honour your childβs unique rhythm, creating a secure environment grounded in manaakitanga (kindness) and whakamana (empowerment).
Whakatenatena & Tuakana-Teina
Older and younger tamariki learn alongside, guide, and care for one another through reciprocal ako relationships in a genuine, community-led environment.
Tupu & Kaitiakitanga
Daily connection to PapatΕ«Δnuku through living vegetable gardens, insect discoveries, composting, sensory water play, and expansive natural grass grounds.
Nurturing Every Milestone from Infancy to Primary
Our learning spaces are intentionally crafted to nurture confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning through self-choice play.
Nursery Sanctuary
A peaceful haven guided by a philosophy of respect. Dedicated key caregivers and gentle 1:4 ratios honour your baby's home rhythms, with unhurried routines and tactile natural materials (wood, metal, cane) for calm, gentle discovery.
- 1:4 Dedicated Key Caregiver Ratio
- Tactile Natural Materials (Wood, Metal & Cane)
- Individual Cot Rooms & Community Buggy Walks
Toddler Discovery
Active social discovery and self-choice play. Your toddler builds confidence and independence through sensory play, creative art, sandpit exploration, mud pit, language-rich story circles, and Te Reo waiata.
- Indoor outdoor free choice play
- Toilet Independence Coaching
- Waiata, Karakia & Daily Rhythms
Preschool Leaders
Fostering curiosity, perseverance, problem-solving, and confidence. Early literacy, numeracy, carpentry, leadership and Perceptual Motor Programme that give your child a joyful, capable foundation for school.
- Cotswold MΔtΔhae School Bridge Visits
- Real Carpentry, Science & PMP
- 24 Free Hours (20 Hours ECE + 4 Free)
At a Glance: Essential Facts for Families
Direct answers to the practical questions that matter most when choosing childcare in Bishopdale.
Nursery Sanctuary (0β2y), Toddler Discovery (2β3.5y), and Preschool Leaders (3.5β6y).
Closed 4 weeks over Christmas & statutory holidays (no fees charged). Flexible sessions available.
20 Hours ECE (ages 3β5) + Cotswold's 4 extra free hours (for exclusive attendance, 6 hrs/day over 4 days) & WINZ approved.
Simple 3-Step Enrolment Journey
We are actively welcoming new tamariki aged 2β6 years (with up to 24 free hours available!), while accepting waitlist enquiries for our nursery under-twos.
Free Discovery Visit
Book a complimentary stay-and-play visit. Meet our long-serving kaiako, explore our spacious classrooms and natural grass grounds, and see how your child connects with the space.
Select Days & Enrol
Choose your preferred days and sessions for ages 2β6 (or register for our under-2 waitlist). Complete our simple agreement and confirm any 20 Hours ECE or WINZ subsidies.
Gentle Settling Visits
Join relaxed transition sessions before your childβs official start date. These visits give your key teacher time to get to know your childβs individual rhythms β whether thatβs their home routines, bottle times, sleep cues, or the little comforts that help them feel settled.
Room to Be a Child
Childhood should be a time to explore, imagine, play and simply be.
At Cotswold, children have the space and freedom to follow their curiosity, make discoveries, get messy, build friendships and lose themselves in play. From deep sandpit building and creative art to homegrown kai and community cultural celebrations, there is always something meaningful to experience and share.
We give children time to play at their own pace, develop confidence through doing, and discover the world alongside Kaiako who know them, care for them, and celebrate who they are.
Because sometimes, the best childhood experiences are the simplest ones.
Expansive Living Grass & Parkland
Tamariki enjoy a large natural grass field with space to run barefoot, tumble, play group games, explore, and rest under shady mature trees.
Sensory Mud, Sand & Water Play
Hands-on experimentation with gravity, pipes, scoops, water flow troughs, deep sandpit construction, and open-air creative painting.
Living Gardens, Kai & Kaitiakitanga
Planting seeds in rich soil, tending vegetable patches, discovering insects, harvesting fresh herbs, and baking wholesome kai together.
Bicultural Roots & WhΔnau Diversity
Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi with daily Te Reo waiata, karakia, and Matariki, alongside Pacific song, cultural visitors, and rich celebrations from all our diverse Bishopdale families.
Our Direct Bridge to Cotswold Primary School
Just a short 3-minute stroll from Cotswold MΔtΔhae School, our older tamariki enjoy termly visits to school where they can experience the classroom environment and playground β helping them step into primary school with familiar faces and radiant confidence.
Campus Familiarity
A gentle 3-minute walk to the school grounds for playground confidence, field games, and waving to older friends and siblings.
Mat Time
Older children take part in Mat Time in our hall, where we explore the days of the week, seasons, weather, letters, numbers, and shapes. This shared learning time helps children build early skills for their transition to school and enjoy learning together as a group.
Lunchbox Mastery
Practicing unzipping school bags, opening containers independently, and managing shoes without stress.
Joyful New Entrant
Stepping into Year 1 with the confidence and skills to slot smoothly into the school environment β excited, capable, and ready to learn.
Meet the WhΔnau at the Heart of Cotswold
For more than 50 years, Cotswold has been shaped by the people who care for, teach, and grow alongside our children. Familiar faces, dedicated qualified teachers, and genuine care every day.
Meet Our Teaching WhΔnau βLoved by Generations of Local Families
Read what parents say about the warm community and lifelong friendships formed at Cotswold.
"Both my children attended Cotswold Preschool & Nursery. The teachers are so genuine and caring β it truly feels like leaving your kids with family. The huge grass yard is unmatched!"
"The school transition visits to Cotswold Primary made starting Year 1 totally painless. My daughter walked into her classroom on day one with zero tears and a big smile."
"Finding a not-for-profit centre with qualified teachers and such affordable fees was a lifesaver. You can feel the heart in everything they do."
Did you come to Cotswold as a child?
We love hearing from past tamariki who are now raising the next generation in our community.
Frequently Asked Questions & Fees
Transparent childcare fee schedules, government subsidies, and daily routines.
Current Childcare Fee Schedule
Community-owned not-for-profit rates β’ Every dollar reinvested into children's learning.
| Age Group / Enrolment Type | Hours & Funding | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0 β 2 Years (Nursery Sanctuary) | Standard hourly rate (dedicated key-caregiver guidance) | $7.00 / hour ($42 for 6-hr day β’ $56 for full 8-hr day) |
| 2 to 3 Years (Toddler Discovery) | Standard hourly rate (prior to 20 Hours ECE eligibility at age 3) | $7.00 / hour ($42 for 6-hr day β’ $56 for full 8-hr day) |
| 3 to 5 Years (Over 3s) | 20 Hours ECE Subsidy + Cotswold 4 Extra Free Hours (up to 24 free hrs/week) | 100% Free (up to 24 hours/week enrolled 6 hrs/day across 4 days) |
| 3 to 5 Years (Additional Hours) | Hours beyond the 24 funded free hours | $7.00 / hour |
| Full Week Enrolment | 35 hours/week ($245.00) or 40 hours/week ($280.00) | $245.00 β $280.00 / week (before applicable subsidies) |
Ministry of Education Licensed β’ ERO Assured
Cotswold Preschool & Nursery is an Incorporated Society (Est. 1967) fully licensed by the Ministry of Education (Service #55070) for 40 children (up to 8 under-twos). Our service operates under the Te WhΔriki early childhood curriculum with dedicated, qualified, and registered teachers.