We are proud to say we’re a 100% locally owned and operated family business

Who are we?

Paula’s Preschool has been operating as a family owned operation in the Nelson area since 1994.  Paula and Kevin Holder (our parents) are the founders of our philosophy.  As a family we are very passionate about Early Childhood Education. 

What are our values?

Paula’s Preschool Richmond has a homely feel to children, parents and teachers.  Our centre is not a custom made building, nor are we located in industrious or commercial zoned areas.  We are located in the community, often close to schools and people.  Our philosophy is vastly different to the ideals of the multi-national early childhood education chain centres.  We believe in supporting local business, and often get out and about with the children in our centre to enjoy our community. We value our relationships with local schools and stay connected with our families long after they move on from Paula’s Preschool. 

We are about quality of programme, not quantity of children attending.  We do not operate our centres to the MOE (Ministry Of Education) minimums like other centres. Rather, we focus on what we feel is the best ratios and play areas for our children so they don’t feel crowded, lost in the system and just another number on the role.  Our value is the experiences and opportunities the children and families receive while attending our centre.

Feel free to check out our full philosophy here

What is our environment like?

Our centre has fantastic flow from indoors to outdoors.  Our playgrounds are designed with the age of the children in mind, with big trees and large expansive areas to explore. We take pride in our completely natural outdoor environment with real grass, soft bark, trees to provide shade and gardens to grow vegetables. Our large covered sandpit is perfect for rainy days.

What experience do our teachers have?

At Paula’s Preschool Richmond, we seek out the best teachers we can find, offering the best quality care.  We do not have a high turn-over of staff, instead our teachers have been at Paula’s Preschool for many years. This contributes hugely to our home-like environment, and provides consistency for children to form special bonds with their teachers. This is crucial for a childs sense of belonging and well-being in the centre. We also develop quality teachers by supporting students through their training, and we’re huge supporters of school students joining us for work experience. 

Our excellent teacher-to-child ratios give our teachers the opportunity to really connect with your child.  This is vital as Early Childhood Educators are passion driven professionals. We strive to provide an environment where teachers are valued and can give their best for the children. 

More about our teachers…

We feel strong ties to the community and enjoy supporting local events.  We are very proud of our identity and our history in the community.   If you have any questions about our centre, we are very approachable and happy to help.