Childcare options in Helensville

Helensville has a few daycare, childcare and early childhood education options. Book a visit or enquire at any one of them with Kindello. We're here to help you find the perfect fit for you and your child.

Search

Top-rated childcare in Helensville

Parents agree these childcare options are highly rated for location, staff, and more.

A picture of Dream Home-Based in Helensville

Pro

Helensville - Auckland

Dream Home-Based in Helensville

About the Educator:

Hi, I’m Rachel.

For the past 8 years, I’ve worked as a home-based Educator. Before this role, I was a qualified and registered ECE teacher, spending about 12 years in childcare centres, primarily with under 2’s. As a solo parent to two school-aged children, the flexibility of home-based care suited my family well, allowing me to be there for my own children when needed.

What the Educator provides:

Home-based care offers a chance to form close bonds with the children and their families. While I provide this type of care, we’re not often at home. I enjoy exploring the community and its surroundings, from beaches and playgrounds to forests and skate parks. Most days, we join other Educators in the area, helping the children build relationships beyond their immediate group and allowing us to share ideas and support each other.

I believe in providing children with a nurturing, relaxed environment where they can grow, explore, and interact socially. This approach fosters spontaneity and free play, helping children reach their full potential.

Why choose Dream?

At Dream, we are passionate about children being cared for in a home environment. If you love Home-Based but don't want someone living in your home, like an Au Pair, and find that a Nanny is not affordable, then a Home-Based Educator may be the perfect option for you. As the premium agency offering Home-Based Childcare in Auckland, we prioritise the comfort and well-being of your child.

Our Dream Home-Based Educators provide nurturing care in their own homes. Accommodating a maximum of four children under six years old. Importantly, we limit the number of children under the age of two to two.

Why should I enroll my child in Home-Based Childcare?

Research shows that smaller group settings foster strong, responsive relationships among children, nurturing essential skills like sharing, trust, and kindness. With Home-Based Childcare, your child's routine seamlessly transitions into the Educator's home. This offers your child invaluable real-life experiences, from cooking and shopping to exploring parks, attending music classes, and more.

Furthermore, all our Educators follow the Dream Education Programme, ensuring a consistent and quality educational experience. It's worth noting that Dream Educator is licensed by the Ministry of Education, reflecting our commitment to meeting and exceeding educational standards.

Fees, Charges and Funding for Home-Based Childcare

Our Educators operate as Private Independent Contractors, setting their own fees and handling all financial arrangements with parents. Fees typically range from $9 to $12 per child, per hour, depending on experience, qualifications, location, and any optional extras provided. This flexibility in pricing allows families to choose a service that best fits their budget without compromising on quality or care.

Optional extras may include:

  • Excursions and outings
  • Transport pick ups/drop offs
  • Sunscreen, food and nappies
  • Specific teaching resources such as a dance or music teacher
  • Extension programmes

20 Hours ECE

20 hours of ECE is available through our Dream Educators. This entitles every 3 and 4 year old child enrolled with a Dream Educator to receive up to 20 hours ECE education per week. As a parent/caregiver you may claim a maximum of 6 hours per day, and up to 20 hours per week across all services.

Children enrolled at more than one ECE Service

Parents are able to split their 20 ECE hours between two or more ECE services or kōhanga reo.

WINZ Subsidies

WINZ subsidies are available to those who are eligible.

Licensed for

4 children

A picture of Gumboots Early Learning Centre

4.75 (2)

Helensville - Auckland

Gumboots Early Learning Centre

“Its all about balance”

Young or old there are things we can learn about ourselves and our world every day.

Young or old we need to make time to stop and smell the roses along the way and have fun.

The essence of our centre is “home away from home”

The key in our philosophy is balance:

Gumboots ELC is licensed for up to 70 children.

Booties

  • Up to 6 children with a ratio of 1:3
  • Age 3 months – approximately 12 months

Little boots

  • Up to 16 children with a ratio 1:4
  • Ages 12 – 34 months approx.

Junior Boots

  • Up to 24 children with a ratio of 1:6
  • Ages 2+ to 3 ½ year approx.

Big boots

  • Up to 24 children with a ratio of 1:8
  • Ages 3 ½ plus

Licensed for

70 children

A picture of Precious Pipis Childcare Centre

5.00 (2)

Helensville - Auckland

Precious Pipis Childcare Centre

Our beautifully renovated historical homestead brings history to life, With our high ceilings and featured decorative rooms, our Helensville centre truly is a wonderland for children and families alike. As soon as you walk into our Helensville centre you’ll feel the essence of what we believe early childhood education is all about – a beautiful calm, unrushed environment with the child at the heart of it all.

Licensed for

35 children

Childcare for every family

Get the childcare option that is right for you and your child.

Popular features for Helensville childcare centres

Other great childcare options in Helensville

A picture of Active Explorers Helensville

5.00 (1)

Helensville - Helensville

Active Explorers Helensville

Nestled amongst farmland, and overlooking the Kaipara River, Active Explorers Helensville is a brand new purpose-designed early childhood centre offering top-quality care and education for local children. Licensed for up to 85 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, the centre features three separate rooms for each age and stage, large, dynamic outdoor play spaces, and the latest educational resources. With a strong focus on natural resources and a passionate team of highly experienced teachers, Active Explorers Helensville has everything your child needs to learn, grow and thrive.

Set up your little ones up with a love of learning and empower them to reach their full potential. 

Our philosophy

Active Explorers Helensville aims to provide high quality care and education for young children within a supportive environment for parents and whānau.  We intend to achieve this by providing superior facilities, quality educational equipment and programmes and well qualified and caring teaching staff.

We believe that children learn and develop in an early childhood environment where they are happy and secure.  We believe that the physical environment and the educational programme needs to be of the highest quality and that this is essential for the wellbeing of the children, whānau and teachers.  We believe families will be confident that the choices they have made for their child’s education and care are the right ones. We also believe that quality early childhood experiences promote the development of the child and will increase the opportunity for success throughout the child’s life.

Our rooms

Active Explorers Helensville has three separate rooms for each age and stage, ensuring children’s different needs and interests are ideally catered for.

Nursery

This warm and welcoming space provides loving care for our under 2s.

Junior Room

Specially designed for our toddlers, this vibrant, engaging room is home away from home for our 2 to 3.5 year olds.

Preschool Room

Children aged from 3.5 to 6 are well catered for in our stimulating and inspiring Preschool Room.

Why choose us

The newest member of the Active Explorers family, Active Explorers Helensville is a brand new centre, offering exceptional care, education and facilities.

Here are just a few reasons why Active Explorers Helensville is a great choice for your child:

  • Brand new purpose built centre equipped with all the latest resources and facilities
  • Great rural location overlooking Kaipara River
  • Extended opening hours great for busy working parents (7am to 6pm)
  • Nutritious cooked meals provided (morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, late snack)
  • Separate rooms for different age groups
  • Dynamic outdoor spaces
  • Strong focus on natural resources
  • Highly experienced and dedicated teaching team (80 percent qualified)
  • Yoga
  • We celebrate different cultures
  • Strong community focus


Licensed for

60 children

A picture of Helensville Playcentre

5.00 (1)

Helensville - Auckland

Helensville Playcentre

Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to Helensville Playcentre

Playcentre is unlike any other early childhood education organisation. At Playcentre, both children and their parents / caregivers attend.

At Playcentre children get the opportunity to learn and explore in a fun and safe environment.

The curiosity and creativity of our tamariki is nurtured in a way that allows them to learn about themselves and their world.

Your child will be given a chance to explore, create, climb, read, sing, experiment, play music, wear costumes, have their face painted (or do it themselves!), garden, do carpentry with real tools, bake and cook, build sandcastles, swing, slide, dance, spend time in nature and get messy.

The activities change every day. Playcentre parents all bring different skills, interests, and cultural backgrounds to add to the rich learning environment.

We welcome families with children aged 0 – 6 years. Mixed age play allows your children to engage with others older and younger than themselves. Pre-schoolers learn how to communicate, share and negotiate with empathy for their younger peers.

At Playcentre, families come together and lifelong friendships are formed.

We welcome you to visit any time during the year. You are entitled to three free visits so come and check out what we do – we would love to meet you and your family!

Licensed for

30 children

A picture of Kaukapakapa Playcentre

4.83 (1)

Helensville - Auckland

Kaukapakapa Playcentre

Nau mai, haere mai and welcome to Kaukapakapa Playcentre

Playcentre is unlike any other early childhood education organisation. At Playcentre, both children and their parents / caregivers attend.

At Playcentre children get the opportunity to learn and explore in a fun and safe environment.

The curiosity and creativity of our tamariki is nurtured in a way that allows them to learn about themselves and their world.

Your child will be given a chance to explore, create, climb, read, sing, experiment, play music, wear costumes, have their face painted (or do it themselves!), garden, do carpentry with real tools, bake and cook, build sandcastles, swing, slide, dance, spend time in nature and get messy.

The activities change every day. Playcentre parents all bring different skills, interests, and cultural backgrounds to add to the rich learning environment.

We welcome families with children aged 0 – 6 years. Mixed age play allows your children to engage with others older and younger than themselves. Pre-schoolers learn how to communicate, share and negotiate with empathy for their younger peers.

At Playcentre, families come together and lifelong friendships are formed.

We welcome you to visit any time during the year. You are entitled to three free visits so come and check out what we do – we would love to meet you and your family!

Licensed for

29 children

A picture of The Homestead Early Learning Centre

5.00 (2)

Helensville - Helensville

The Homestead Early Learning Centre

Amanda and Justin, with their two young children, are the proud owners of The Homestead.  Amanda comes from a long history of early childhood with her mother Maggie-Anne being an early childhood teacher herself.  Although now retired, Maggie is still involved in the centre and hand makes all of the individual quilts for each child when they start at the Homestead.  Amanda and Justin's daughter also attended the centre up until recently when she left for school.

Owned by a family, not a big corporate, our teaching team are passionate about children and are dedicated to putting your children's well-being and learning outcomes at the forefront of everything they do.  

We are proud to be able to provide small group sizes and good quality teacher:child ratios, meaning your child has more one-on-one time with our passionate and highly experienced teachers.

Home away from home

Our centre is a beautiful 120 year old villa, modernised and converted into an amazing Early Learning Centre.   We believe that children learn best when they are in a stress-free environment and a place that they feel comfortable and secure.  Our setting is warm and nurturing, like an extension of home.  

We are so lucky to have a huge expansive playground with real grass, natural resources, fresh air and cows as our only neighbours.... giving it a real country feel.  Access to the natural world is an important part of our philosophy.

Infants

Infants from 3mths - 2 years are cared for in our Garden Room. 

We take inspiration from the RIE philosophy which focuses on respectful education and care.  This approach incorporates a deep respect of the baby and encourages infants and adults to trust each other, learn to problem solve, and embrace their ability for self-discovery.  We trust the child to be the initiator of exploration.  We provide time for uninterrupted play and allow the freedom to explore and interact with other infants.  When allowed to unfold in their own way and in their own time, children discover an authentic sense of self which lays the foundation for secure relationships, enduring curiosity and lasting self-confidence. Our environment is full of natural resources and provides challenging age-appropriate equipment to help encourage your baby to develop naturally. 

We know how important it is for childrens' wellbeing to be in a centre with small group sizes and so we are very proud of our small group size of maximum of 12 children in our infants space.  We have a 1:3 ratio for under 1's and a 1:4 ratio for 1 - 2 years.

Toddlers

Toddlers from 2 - 3 years move through to our main house with huge natural garden. 

In this age group we are inspired by Reggio Emilia.  The Reggio approach to early childhood education views young children as individuals who are curious about their world and have the powerful potential to learn from all that surrounds them. Educational, psychological, and sociological influences are important factors to consider in understanding children and working to stimulate learning in appropriate ways. Teachers employ strategies such as offering children a wide variety of educational opportunities that encourage self-expression, communication, logical thinking, and problem-solving.

For our toddlers, we have a focus on loose parts to stimulate creativity and problem solving.  Our toys are mostly made of open-ended natural materials.  Nature inspires a lot of our play.

Preschool

Pre-schoolers move to our separate Cottage where more structured and focused learning is gradually introduced. 

The world of work is changing and the skills that adults need to be successful today will be different in the future.  We believe adaptability, creativity, resilience and social skills are just as important as early literacy and numeracy.  Children learn best through play and exploration so we provide lots of opportunities for our children to experiment and try out their ideas.  We also offer our preschool children opportunities for them to learn and develop early literacy and numeracy skills through fun activities. 

We have strong links to local schools and when children are nearing school age we offer the opportunity for your child to visit their local school with a preschool teacher.

Licensed for

52 children

A picture of Helensville Montessori

5.00 (2)

Helensville - Auckland

Helensville Montessori

We offer a specialised education opportunity for your child. Our hours are 8:45am- 3:15pm ( extended to 3:30pm by arrangement) during school terms. Attendance during school holidays can be available

Our Team

Warm, trusting relationships will always be  the foundation for children’s learning. For this reason our teacher ratios are 1:4 in Nido and 1:6 in Casa and Villa.

“A culture of high relational trust encourages professional discussion and critical reflection that results in improved teaching practice.” Education Review Office


Licensed for

76 children

A picture of Sunny Days Community Preschool

4.50 (1)

Helensville - Auckland

Sunny Days Community Preschool

About Sunny Days

At Sunny Days children will be given the opportunity to develop a positive self-image and experience success through developmentally appropriate activities in the aspects of mathematics; construction; language; literacy; social skills; music and movement; science and nature; and arts and crafts. All these are based on child-initiated interests within the centre.

It is important at Sunny Days to be able to provide enriching experiences to the children. All of these help to develop their social skills and language development. We promote respect among all the children, teaching manners and respect regardless of people’s differences. Sunny Days prides itself on being a community centre working alongside you, your children and your family/whanau.


Our Mission Statement

Sunny Days Preschool believes in having a strong Vision, Purpose and Values in the Centre. This is to achieve Excellence and equitable education and care for our Tamariki. This is also consistent with our Philosophy, Strategic Plan and Curriculum design.

Licensed for

34 children