Whanganui Montessori Preschool is proud to combine the timeless principles of Montessori education with the richness of New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum, Te Whāriki.

Our programme nurtures each child’s natural curiosity and supports their development into confident, independent learners.

As the only Montessori preschool in Whanganui, we’ve been serving our community since 1992. Today, we are a not-for-profit, community-based centre with a newly refurbished environment, a large peaceful Montessori classroom with breakout areas, and a welcoming outdoor playground and garden space.

We are proud to maintain high teacher-to-child ratios, ensuring that each tamaiti receives focused attention and guidance. Our passionate teaching team includes seven fully qualified and experienced educators, who guide and support around 50 tamariki through individual and group learning each week. 

In a Montessori environment, strong relationships between teachers and parents are a key part of each child's success. Communication is open and ongoing, with regular in-person catch-ups that give parents meaningful insights into their child’s development and learning journey. Additionally, the Storypark app is used to keep parents up to date with real-time updates, photos, and learning stories, creating a transparent and collaborative connection between home and preschool.

Children attend between 8:30am and 3:30pm, Monday to Friday, depending on your family's needs. We are proud to offer up to 20 Hours ECE per week to eligible families.

We follow the primary school term structure, with four terms each year and an extended break in summer. We also run holiday programmes for part of the holiday break.

Our preschool is a special, not-for-profit, parent co-operative.  It is run by a Manager and Lead Teacher and an elected Committee of parents. It’s a place where everyone’s voice and contribution is valued and respected, and people care for each other and the environment.

Whanganui Montessori Preschool is a member of Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand (MANZ).

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