Farewell to Playspace Childcare Centre
Farewell to Playspace Childcare Centre
Playspace, a parent co-op run early childhood education centre in Newtown, Wellington, will be shutting its doors for the final time on 2 November after 33 years.
For some
years Playspace has known that it needed to find a new
property, but despite a lot of effort nothing suitable has
been found, and so the difficult decision was made to
close.
Playspace was started by a collective of parents
who wanted a childcare model that didn’t exist in
Wellington at the time. Foundation member Jeanie Truell
recalls the Centre’s beginning:
“A small group of
parents started Playspace for our babies back in January
1985, when we didn't see other services as providing the
quality we wanted for very young children. We originally
started the group in our homes, rotating monthly round 4
houses. Then after 12 or 18 months we set up in the St James
hall at 235 Adelaide Rd and opened as a licenced centre. We
wanted high quality care for our under two year olds and for
us this meant small group size, a high adult to child ratio,
highly trained teachers, lots of parent involvement and
being involved in our local community. It was a
child-centred philosophy where our aim was to create an
environment where children and families would flourish.
“
Current Head Teacher, Emma Stanic, explains what Playspace has meant to the whanau who have been part of it:
“Over the years, Playspace has provided an amazing start for hundreds and hundreds of children. For many of the children, the relationships that they made at Playspace were the first close connections they formed outside of their immediate family.”
“The collective model has required dedication from everyone involved, and it is a testament to Playspace that for over 30 years so many people have been willing to volunteer their time and energy to be part of it. Since announcing that we are closing, the thing we are hearing over and over from whanau has been how lucky they feel to have been part of such a special place.”
On Saturday 27 October,
from 7-10pm, a Playspace farewell party is being held at the
Vogelmorn Bowling Club, 93 Mornington Road, Brooklyn.
Everyone associated with Playspace over the years is very
welcome. BYO drinks and dancing shoes. Suggested koha is
$10-$20 to help meet closure costs.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2029016133843866/
Also, on Saturday 3 November, from 9am-2pm, we’re
holding a big garage sale of all the centre’s great
resources. Come and grab a bargain – or a memento. 235
Adelaide Road, Newtown (entrance via Church Lane from
Riddiford Street, next to the Southgate Motor Inn).
Cash
only. BYO bag
https://www.facebook.com/events/289842231850414/