Preschool service Auckland

Montessori preschools in Auckland

We make your child feel at home in our care.

Lilly's Locker and Lillyput are two unique Montessori preschools situated on a 5 acre lifestyle block just ten minutes from Howick, Auckland. Lilly’s Locker was established in July 1994 with Lillyput being built for the 0-3 age group two years later in September 1996. Both centres follow the Montessori philosophy with teachers in both centres having two qualifications i.e. the Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and Montessori Diplomas. 

We now have families with us who have had 3 and 4 children at our centres over the years. We have an extremely settled staff with two members working in excess of 17 years and others up to 10 years and 12 years. We belong to the Early Childhood Council and have an associate membership with MANZ (Montessori Association of New Zealand) only.

Montessori method

Both of our well-developed centres follow the Montessori philosophy with teachers in both centres holding two qualifications in Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and Montessori Diplomas. The Montessori method of teaching is named after its founder Dr. Maria Montessori, 1907 – 1952 who was Italy’s first female doctor. Through observation she studied how children learned and developed her methods. From those observations, she went on to develop a full range of equipment and materials to complement the structure of lessons. For the younger children, Lillyput has lessons in practical life, sensorial and basic sciences. For the older children at Lilly's Locker, the classroom is set up with various lessons in:

  • Practical life studies
  • Sensorial areas
  • Geography
  • Botany
  • Zoology and other sciences
  • Maths
  • Language
  • Grace and courtesy (manners)

 

Activities

Both of our lovely centres provide ample opportunity for your child to grow in the areas of arts, crafts, music and movement within our spacious, grassy playgrounds. Being on five acres allows us the scope to offer more unique opportunities than most preschools in NZ. Our children are fortunate enough to:

  • Care for and ride the centre's ponies
  • Help out in the stables
  • Take preliminary ballet lessons in the studio above the stables
  • Have swimming lessons in the centre's solar heated pool
  • Have gymnastics lessons in the purpose-built gym

The centres are across the road from the beach and adjacent to Ayrlies Lake wetlands which is home to swans, geese and ducks. For many years we have had an abundant vegetable garden with the composting of all the centre’s food scraps allowing your children to grow a variety of tasty vegetables, herbs and fruits which we use in our morning teas.

We also have pet cats, rabbits, lambs and chicks to care for and frequently visit a neighbour’s pig with tasty leftovers. On Lillyput daily walks down our country road, we stop and talk to the cows and calves and friendly neighbours give us a wave as they watch us go by. 

Contact information

  • Address
    • Lilly's Locker
      338 Clifton Road
      Whitford
      Auckland 2571

      Postal address:
      RD1 Howick
      Auckland 2571
  • Phone
    • 09 530 8697
  • Email