Childcare options in Pukekohe

We work to ensure each child is empowered, respected, and genuinely cared for.  We believe that this will set every child up for success.  To have a sense of belonging and they are valued for who they are, that they are capable of making choices and running their own programme that interests and inspires their passion.  We support them through their learning journey, stepping in when they invite us and stepping back when they are discovering their own learning. 

Our Philosophy starts here with these theorists:

Mary Ainsworth’s attachment theory is the attachment between a child and a caregiver/ teacher.  When this attachment is trusting, respectful and honest the child feels safe and secure and will settle well in their environment.  This is the foundation of everything for a child to know they are respected, cared for, and empowered.  Without this attachment, nothing else will develop in a child. 

Montessori Philosophy. The Montessori Method is founded on Maria Montessori’s educational philosophy. Her basic principle was to “follow the child”. A Montessori classroom is carefully prepared to allow the child to work independently and allow for the joy of self-discovery. Teachers introduce materials and children are free to choose them.

The basis of Magda's Gerber's RIE philosophy is respect for, and trust in the baby to be an initiator, an explorer, and a self-learner. Magda encouraged parents and caregivers to provide: An environment for the child that is physically safe, cognitively challenging, and emotionally nurturing. Time for uninterrupted play.

Vibrant, welcoming, and spacious, Lollipops Pukekohe is an architecturally designed early childhood centre offering top-quality care and education for under 5s. Equipped with the latest educational resources, and staffed by a dedicated team of experienced teachers, we have everything your little one needs to explore and grow.Help your child reach their full potential. Empower them with a love of learning.

Our philosophy

At Lollipops Pukekohe we embrace family and community contribution and communication because these are valuable resources for us. We acknowledge and respect the bicultural heritage of New Zealand and other cultures. We provide a diverse culture in our teaching practices.

We believe that children’s learning is enhanced with the support and guidance of experienced teachers who are committed to ongoing professional development. We provide opportunities with appropriate time and space for children to be empowered. We strive to provide a place where each child’s special strengths and uniqueness are recognised and valued and give them time and support to develop at their own pace and level.

Our rooms

Lollipops Pukekohe has three separate rooms, enabling us to deliver safe, nurturing and age appropriate learning experiences for all our children.  

Kiwi Room

This warm and nurturing space is home to the youngest members of the Lollipops family, our children aged from 3 months to 2 years old.

Pukeko Room

Our friendly and inspiring Pukeko Room is specially equipped for our children aged from 2 to 3.5 years old.

Tui Room

The Tui Room is for our bigger children aged 3.5 to 5 years old and equipped with all the resources they need to prepare for the next phase of their learning journey, primary school.

Why choose us?

There are a host of reasons why families choose Lollipops Pukekohe. Here are just a few of them:

• Architecturally designed centre equipped with quality facilities
• Extended opening hours great for working parents (7am to 6pm)
• Onsite cook provides delicious Healthy Heart meals
• Free nappies
• Regular excursions
• Swimming lessons
• Low staff turnover
• Better teacher to child ratios than required by the Ministry of Education
• Lots of centre events and cultural celebrations
• Excellent transition to school programme

Our team of dedicated teachers provide the  highest quality care and education,  delivering rich and inspiring learning experiences and environments that bring out the best in every child. Unlock your child’s unique potential.

Welcome to Pukekohe Playcentre!

Pukekohe Playcentre is run by families for families. We create a space for our tamariki to explore and learn, to grow in confidence, and, yes, get messy!

We provide all our members with resources and knowledge to empower our children in their own interests and ideas.

Come experience it yourself by popping into a session with us for a visit. Bring morning tea for your little ones and probably a change of clothes. We’ll show you around and tell you why we love our Playcentre!

Pukekohe Early Learning Centre is a purpose-built childcare centre set in the heart of Pukekohe. Opened in 2016, the centre offers a supportive, nurturing environment in which children thrive. 

Our teachers are all fully trained and passionate about early childhood learning.

High teacher-child ratios mean that each child’s personality and culture is celebrated, while the welcoming, stimulating spaces encourage learning and development.

Modern, thoughtfully designed rooms and outdoor areas enable dedicated zones for different activities. 

COMMUNITY FOCUSED

We are proud of the role our centre plays in the local Pukekohe community, and we aim to foster a welcoming environment for families of all backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. Our philosophy is to bring people together to create meaningful relationships based around caring for our tamariki. Regular events are held at the centre to facilitate this, including teddy bears’ picnics, dance instructor days, celebrations of festivals such as Matariki and more. Parents, caregivers and extended whanau are welcome to attend all events. 

Each child has their own diary, in which the work they have created that week is collated and, at the end of the week, children can take these home to share with their families. We are also in the process of implementing the Storypark system at the centre, which allows children’s whanau to log in to the secure online system (via computer or phone) to access updates and stories about what their child has been up to.

THE ENVIRONMENT

We have a bin to collect food scraps and a local farmer uses the scraps as food for her pigs each week. We recycle as much waste as possible from the centre, and use pre-loved materials donated by centre families in art and craft projects. 

We use biodegradable rubbish bags for the waste we do produce, and we have recently partnered with local company Dirt Doesn’t Hurt to provide children with oilcloth bags to contain any wet or soiled clothes - no more plastic bags.  

If your family uses reusable nappies, we’re happy to work with these. 

FOOD

We serve children morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea each day. Children learn and play best when their tummies are full of nutritious food, and our on-site centre cook ensures that each meal is nutritionally balanced, nourishing and healthy. We are a nut-free centre and are in the process of also becoming egg-free. 

We’re very proud of our centre garden, which acts as both a learning resource and a source of food. Older children work with centre staff to care for the garden, and our cook uses the vegetables the children grow in centre meals. Any excess produce is given to centre families, along with easy-to-follow recipes to replicate healthy meals at home.  

We are respectful of cultural dietary requirements, and where possible will also work with your family to ensure that any intolerances or allergies your child may have are catered for.

At Busy Bees, we value every child and see them as unique and a special taonga. We understand that your child’s education and care is a priority and that choosing the right centre can be a big decision. We would be delighted to share in your child’s learning journey. You’re welcome to call or visit anytime.

We are open 7.00am – 6.0pm Monday to Friday.

Our Environment

At Busy Bees Pukekohe we have a cosy nursery, a separate toddler space and an adventurous preschool environment. The Pukeko room has its own separate outdoor play space, where Tui and Kiwi are joined outside providing endless opportunities to explore the natural environment. We promote the development of active and confident learners who think, question, seek information and apply knowledge to the best of their ability. Our team strongly value relationships with our centre whānau and wider community. This is something that we hold close to our hearts and incorporate into our programme on a daily basis.

Pukeko Ruma (up to 2 years)

Our Nursery environment is based on building loving and trusting bonds between infants and teachers, who structure the day according to individual needs. Teachers work closely with families to understand infant cues and develop a routine that supports children’s natural rhythms. Play is open-ended and full of fun as we embrace the unknown of how children explore and experiment with their ideas and theories of how the world around them works.

Tui Ruma (2-3.5 years)

Our Toddler centre is designed to help our tamariki balance the desire to be independent with the need to be nurtured and cared for. This age group are ready to explore their sense of self whilst still needing more care than the older children, therefore a focus on emerging social skills and independence make this space. Our Toddler environment is prepared to entice children’s curiosity and exploration where testing, trying and challenge is valued. We support childhood learning with a curriculum that is developmentally appropriate and supportive of all children during this age of discovery and wonder.

Kiwi Ruma (3.5-6 years)

Our Preschool Room offers opportunities throughout the day for children to be involved in contributing to the curriculum, helping to make decisions about what is set up, and sharing their ideas. Teachers work alongside the children to set up an environment which is challenging, provides curiosity and active exploration. We focus on children’s interests and dispositions that motivate and provoke their learning.

The preschool children have regular mat times throughout the day where they learn songs, stories and are encouraged to share things with the other children. We value that each child learns at their own pace and when they are ready, they will flourish.

BestStart Pukekohe West is a brand new early learning centre, opening in Pukekohe in 2020. The centre will provide quality education and care for children aged between 3 months to 5 years old.

Our indoor environments are built purposely to support the learning and development of different age groups – Infants, Toddlers and Preschool. Each room is equipped with high quality, focused resources designed to spark curious minds.

Our internal environment is connected to a challenging outdoor area, to encourage physical outdoor learning for your child. Children can challenge themselves on the playground equipment while building their independence and self-confidence.

Healthy, nutritious meals and snacks are provided throughout the day.

We offer BestStart’s Be School Ready initiative for our preschool children, which will be incorporated into everyday practice, assisting with the next step in their learning journey. The initiative encourages children to use their developing self-help skills and provides a range of opportunities to extend their independence.

Your child’s learning journey and milestones will be captured and shared through one-on-one communication and our online learning portfolios on Storypark. This is a great way to keep up to date with what your child is doing while at the centre. You can log in to see what’s been happening in their day, check out photos of them and comment on their activities.

We offer:

• 20 hours free for 3-5 year olds and WINZ subsidies available* if required
• Great teacher to child ratios
• Gift for all new enrolments*
• Contact us today to find out more!

Who is BestStart?

BestStart is for families who want more from early-childhood education. Safe, nurturing and educationally focused, we’re committed to growing caring people with curious minds.

Together we teach, learn and nurture.

Our vision is to work in partnership with families, whanau and communities to enable children to achieve their learning potential.

Ko tō mātou tirohanga hei mahi ngātahi i te taha o ngā whānau me ngā hāpori, kia āwhinatia ngā tamariki, kia tū pito mata ai rāatou, hei rangatira mō āpōpō.

We are committed to being a progressive and responsive leader in early-childhood education. We do this by enhancing our services, investing in our people, developing our support structure and continuously improving the educational outcomes and experiences of our children, families and the communities we serve.

Some facts:

• We’re licensed to educate and care for 15,000 full-time children daily.
• 18,000 families use BestStart services annually.
• We have over 270 centres nationwide located from Whangarei to Invercargill.
• Each centre is managed by a Centre Manager who is supported by a local Area Manager. This gives our centre teams ongoing quality training and support.
• Te Whāriki, the world-wide acclaimed national early childhood education curriculum, is used in all centres.
• We have over 4500 permanent teachers nationally. Over 90% of our permanent teaching staff are either fully qualified with a diploma or bachelor of teaching (ECE) or higher, or are in training. These figures are very high by national standards within the ECE sector.
• We provide a two-year Advice and Guidance Programme for all recently certified teachers, providing further mentoring and training. This gives strong support for teachers from provisional registration to full teacher registration with the NZ Teachers Council.
• We regularly spend around $4 million on teacher training per annum.

We’re for children

At our heart is our commitment and passion for children. Central to this belief is our focus on the holistic development of children. We support children to explore the world around them, learning through relationships, creating a love of learning in an ever-changing world. Exploration, friendship and fun are part of the journey.

We’re for good

BestStart is a registered charity owned by the Wright Family Foundation. We support initiatives and programmes within BestStart and the wider early-childhood education sector (ECE) that support good outcomes for all children. We do this because we want to make a positive difference to the lives of all children.

Innovation leads us

At BestStart, innovation guides our thinking. We advocate positive change for learners through our research and practice. We’re proud to be thought leaders within ECE, openly challenging ourselves to think differently to provide the best for our children, families and staff.

We’re responsive

Our centres reflect their children, staff and communities. We celebrate individuality, uniqueness and diversity, encouraging a spirit of empathy, understanding and collaboration. Through our responsive relationships and our curriculum, we support learners to choose their own path.

Our people matter

At BestStart people come first. When we grow and develop our people, everyone benefits. We strive for whakamana/empowerment, nurturing a culture of excellence with engaged, talented professionals. Their commitment, skill and passion light our way.

Welcome to Kids Count! We’re a Kiwi-owned family of childcare centres established to ensure every child can reach their potential, no matter what their family circumstances. Education is critical to future happiness and success. It starts in the home and is supported by children attending a preschool centre. We understand that it’s not always easy to ensure your child is able to attend preschool, so we have made it as easy for you as possible.

• 20 hours free from age 2! Most children qualify. If any fees apply, we keep them low and help you to meet them
• Our van service collects and drops off your children at home every day - free!
• Free swimming lessons included - certified instructors lead our tamariki in this important life skill. Offered in our pools at most centres for ages 4 and up
• We're open on public holidays - closed only on Christmas Day and Good Friday
• Healthy meals and snacks prepared and provided free at our centres

To start with (at no cost to you), we will collect and drop off our tamariki every week day in our sign-written vans. Once children arrive at a Kids Count centre, we make sure they’re fed nutritious and fun meals and snacks throughout the day. That means everybody has a full puku to help them focus in their learning and you don’t need to be bothered with meals — including breakfast if you are running late.

We keep our fees as low as possible. All children over 3 are entitled to at least 20 hours of free care per week, and this includes access to all our services. When fees do apply, they are set according to the Work and Income Childcare Subsidy. We’re committed to working with families to ensure our centres are accessible to everyone and that issues of payment of fees do not compromise your child’s future. There is always a solution to this matter. Don’t be embarrassed or shy — you are not alone.

We also include transitions to school programs so that our tamariki can feel excited about their next steps after graduating and leaving our centres to attend the “big” school. These programs are applied individually to children based on their development so that they have the learning skills they need to be confident and competent learners at school. Lessons also include Kapa Haka and cultural events that celebrate our heritage and give kids a sense of belonging. As physical development and confidence is a key part of a child’s development, swimming lessons for children over 4 are offered by trained instructors in our centres with pools and attendance at community gym classes are funded for those children at our centres that don’t have a pool. (At no cost to whanau).

For parents, Kids Count offers community partnerships through our Family Liaison Services, which connects families with advocacy and support services, budgeting assistance, WINZ, Salvation Army and counselling to help overcome any barriers they face. We also run free parenting sessions and community groups. We know that by supporting parents, we’re helping our tamariki thrive. Parents are the foundation of a child’s journey, and we’d love to partner with you to help your little one grow.

Kids Count was founded in 2009 by Mary McLeod. She wanted to create a program that removed barriers so ALL CHILDREN could get a great start in life. Now with four centres and more in construction, Kids Count continues to expand the benefits of an early childhood education to all our children and their whanau.

Book a visit today to learn more about what we can offer your whanau! 

You have nothing to lose and you and your children have a great deal to gain!

BestStart Paerata Rise is a brand new early learning centre, now open in Paerata. The centre will provide quality education and care for children aged between 3 months to 5 years old.

Our indoor environments are built purposely to support the learning and development of different age groups – Infants, Toddlers and Preschool. Each room will be equipped with high quality, focused resources designed to spark curious minds.

Our internal environment is connected to a challenging outdoor area, to encourage physical outdoor learning for your child. Children can challenge themselves on the playground equipment while building their independence and self-confidence.

Healthy, nutritious meals and snacks will be provided throughout the day.

We will offer BestStart’s Be School Ready initiative for our preschool children, which will be incorporated into everyday practice, assisting with the next step in their learning journey. The initiative encourages children to use their developing self-help skills and provides a range of opportunities to extend their independence.

Your child’s learning journey and milestones will be captured and shared through one-on-one communication and our online learning portfolios on Storypark. This is a great way to keep up to date with what your child is doing while at the centre. You can log in to see what’s been happening in their day, check out photos of them and comment on their activities.

We offer:

• 20 hours free for 3–5-year-olds and WINZ subsidies available* if required
• Great teacher to child ratios
• Gift for all new enrolments*

BestStart Paerata Rise is your child’s destination for early learning. Contact us today to find out more!

About BestStart

BestStart is a registered charity owned by the Wright Family Foundation. We support initiatives and programmes within BestStart and the wider ECE sector that support equitable outcomes for all children.  We do this because we want to make a positive difference in the lives of children.

Our centres reflect their children, staff, and communities. We celebrate individuality, uniqueness, and diversity, encouraging a spirit of empathy, understanding and collaboration. Through responsive relationships and our curriculum, we support learners to choose their own path.

Our centres have a strong support network including a dedicated Area Manager to ensure the centres have exceptional standards.

We’re committed to promoting Hauora (Wellbeing) within our centres for our tamariki, families and staff. Our teachers ensure that children engage in physical activity as part of their everyday learning experiences, and provide healthy food, so that children receive the nourishment they need.

Part of the BestStart family, we’ve been voted the Most Trusted Early Childhood Education provider in New Zealand.

Mason Avenue is a quality, well-resourced kindergarten in Pukekohe with a large learning environment nestled amongst houses in Mason Avenue. This beautiful kindergarten is often referred to as the ‘hidden gem’ of Pukekohe.

Mason Avenue kindergarten is now an Enviro silver kindergarten.

Mason Avenue is a not-for-profit kindergarten with 4 qualified teachers plus an admin assistant and teacher aide.

We have an environment where children are encouraged to explore, question, investigate and discover. The kindergarten programme offers children an environment that is stimulating, inviting, and challenging. We trust that children are capable and confident learners and therefore have tools such as hot glue guns for children to use.

At Mason Avenue kindergarten we place high importance on sustainable practices including recycling, reducing waste, composting, worm farming, and water catchment (in water tanks). We do our best to look after our beautiful papatuanuku (earth mother)

We believe in the value of whānau and community involvement. We welcome and encourage participation and contributions from parents, whānau and the wider learning community in order to support our collaborative approach to teaching.

At Mason Avenue kindergarten, we actively promote healthy eating and physical activity as we believe in an holistic approach to each child’s learning and development.

Counties Manukau Kindergarten Association

We are a community based not-for-profit organisation, proud to be providing quality and affordable early childhood education in the Franklin and Counties Manukau areas for over 60 years. Our kindergartens and early learning centres provide high-quality environments that reflect the local community. We are New Zealand owned and operated and provide more qualified staff, equipment, learning opportunities, ICT, excursions and large attractive educational environments.

Book a visit today, we look forward to meeting you soon!

Are you looking for quality care and education for your infant, toddler or preschool child? 

The team at BestStart Puni Road in Pukekohe provides the very best education and care. We value our relationships and love working with parents and the wider community to give each and every child the best start on their learning journey.

Growing roots, happy hearts, and sandy boots!

We nurture our tamariki to be bold, courageous, and confident every day and support tamariki to use their curious nature to explore our environment within the centre, as well as within our local community. The best start to the rest of your learning journey begins with us!

Our team combines a variety of well-experienced people from different backgrounds and ethnicities, and we all work together to bring out our strengths in each other as kaiako (teachers). Our kaiako are very passionate in providing an environment where your child can build on their confidence, competence, independence, and celebrate their individuality. We communicate well together and work to the highest standard to keep your child safe while building their confidence and supporting their learning experiences.

Infants and Toddlers

Our infants and toddlers centre is a safe and nurturing space for your child. Our kaiako care deeply about the children receiving the best experience possible while they are in our care.

We are eager to work alongside you, and your child's home routine, in order to provide them with emotional and physical security while they attend BestStart Puni Road.

The first 3 years are extremely important for a child's learning and developmental potential. This includes growth in their sense of identity, confidence, competence, independence, and self-help/problem-solving skills.

Our team follows a plan that allows the children to learn from their own interests. Tamariki contribute to their own learning through play, and our staff then use their interests to expand on the information the child already knows.

As your child progresses, we share their milestones with you and have as much excitement about them taking their first explorative steps into their educational journey and physical growth, as you do.

The Infants and Toddlers centre has a spacious, natural outdoor play space. Indoors is warm and homely. Both areas are fully equipped with safe sensory and physical learning opportunities for the children.

Whānau are always welcome and we encourage you to chat with us any time, our door is always open to supporting our parents, families, and children.

Preschool

Our Preschool Centre is a fun and exciting environment, full of interactions and activities to challenge your child's thinking.

Our staff are friendly and approachable, working alongside parents. We love to know what aspirations you have for your child's learning and developmental journey, as it helps us support you as their parent, and also support your child's personal experience, while they are with us at BestStart Puni Road.

We believe in the importance of whānau and maintaining a strong relationship with you as the parent, in order to provide the best care for your child. Our preschool environment encourages both group and solitary play. Indoors, children experience an environment that is a fun, calm, and comfortable learning space.

You will see our Be School Ready initiative included around the preschool room. We believe in giving your child the best foundation to support their transition from preschool, to school. This is an important milestone in every child's life and we feel privileged to be a part of each of our children's journey of growth while they are with us at BestStart Puni Road.

Outdoors we have a large, spacious area, for your child to burn off energy. With plenty of learning opportunities to spark their interest, they will enjoy exploring as they play.

These opportunities include:

● Looking after our hei hei (chickens) such as feeding them and collecting eggs

● Harvesting fruit from our orchard which has several varieties of trees and plants

● Water play during Summer! Our centre loves water play, and the learning possibilities are never ending

As your child engages in learning activities and progresses throughout their time with us, we share with you all their experiences.

Who is BestStart?

BestStart is for families who want more from early-childhood education. Safe, nurturing and educationally focused, we’re committed to growing caring people with curious minds.

Together we teach, learn and nurture.

Our vision is to work in partnership with families, whanau and communities to enable children to achieve their learning potential.

Ko tō mātou tirohanga hei mahi ngātahi i te taha o ngā whānau me ngā hāpori, kia āwhinatia ngā tamariki, kia tū pito mata ai rāatou, hei rangatira mō āpōpō.

We are committed to being a progressive and responsive leader in early-childhood education. We do this by enhancing our services, investing in our people, developing our support structure and continuously improving the educational outcomes and experiences of our children, families and the communities we serve.

Some facts:

• We’re licensed to educate and care for 15,000 full-time children daily.
• 18,000 families use BestStart services annually.
• We have over 270 centres nationwide located from Whangarei to Invercargill.
• Each centre is managed by a Centre Manager who is supported by a local Area Manager. This gives our centre teams ongoing quality training and support.
• Te Whāriki, the world-wide acclaimed national early childhood education curriculum, is used in all centres.
• We have over 4500 permanent teachers nationally. Over 90% of our permanent teaching staff are either fully qualified with a diploma or bachelor of teaching (ECE) or higher, or are in training. These figures are very high by national standards within the ECE sector.
• We provide a two-year Advice and Guidance Programme for all recently certified teachers, providing further mentoring and training. This gives strong support for teachers from provisional registration to full teacher registration with the NZ Teachers Council.
• We regularly spend around $4 million on teacher training per annum.

We’re for children

At our heart is our commitment and passion for children. Central to this belief is our focus on the holistic development of children. We support children to explore the world around them, learning through relationships, creating a love of learning in an ever-changing world. Exploration, friendship and fun are part of the journey.

We’re for good

BestStart is a registered charity owned by the Wright Family Foundation. We support initiatives and programmes within BestStart and the wider early-childhood education sector (ECE) that support good outcomes for all children. We do this because we want to make a positive difference to the lives of all children.

Innovation leads us

At BestStart, innovation guides our thinking. We advocate positive change for learners through our research and practice. We’re proud to be thought leaders within ECE, openly challenging ourselves to think differently to provide the best for our children, families and staff.

We’re responsive

Our centres reflect their children, staff and communities. We celebrate individuality, uniqueness and diversity, encouraging a spirit of empathy, understanding and collaboration. Through our responsive relationships and our curriculum, we support learners to choose their own path.

Our people matter

At BestStart people come first. When we grow and develop our people, everyone benefits. We strive for whakamana/empowerment, nurturing a culture of excellence with engaged, talented professionals. Their commitment, skill and passion light our way.

BestStart Dublin Street has a wonderful, warm, family-focused environment. Whether you require a caring and nurturing centre for toddlers or a challenging place for pre-school-aged children - We're all about learning with purpose.

Back to Basics!

At BestStart Dublin Street, we’re all about learning with purpose.  

With two separate buildings that are age-appropriate, the centre provides plenty of opportunities for children to learn, socialise and develop important skills and competencies that enable them to be lifelong learners. Whakawhanaungatanga is at the heart of our centre.

Our centre is focused on providing the best quality childcare and education and is convenient to those living in Pukekohe or the greater Franklin and Waikato districts. We even have swimming lessons with Franklin Pool and Leisure in partnership with parents which is furthering extending the children’s educational experience.

Your child is our focus, we take a humble approach to build kind, confident children ready to take on any challenges in their way. Our specialised teachers break down barriers to meet the needs of our community, by inspiring children to love learning by providing stimulating spaces where children are able to express and question ideas and theories. 

We work alongside family and whānau to grow children’s learning capabilities, cultural participation, and social interactions. Through working together, we're able to share our wisdom, experiences, cultural values, and knowledge of the children in our care.

Small World (our infant and toddler room)

The home-like atmosphere in provides a relaxing and calm environment for your children to gain confidence and independence while feeling very supported and cared for by a fantastic teaching team. Catering for only 25 children, this is an ideal way for children to begin their childcare experience. Teachers create an ambient learning space where the atmosphere is warm, caring, resourceful, and safe, ensuring our youngest children are best placed to learn, grow and develop.

Little Taniwha room (our pre-school room)

The Taniwha Room supports our unique Be School Ready initiative. With plenty of room for everyone, the centre has curriculum areas that are set up to inspire children to consider and develop skills and understanding in early literacy, maths, and other age-appropriate concepts. The huge outdoor area in Little Taniwha caters to those explorers who enjoy lots of fresh air. We have a grand old tree, gardening, climbing equipment, and plenty of room for bikes and other stimulating spaces.

Who is BestStart?

BestStart is for families who want more from early-childhood education. Safe, nurturing and educationally focused, we’re committed to growing caring people with curious minds.

Together we teach, learn and nurture.

Our vision is to work in partnership with families, whanau and communities to enable children to achieve their learning potential.

Ko tō mātou tirohanga hei mahi ngātahi i te taha o ngā whānau me ngā hāpori, kia āwhinatia ngā tamariki, kia tū pito mata ai rāatou, hei rangatira mō āpōpō.

We are committed to being a progressive and responsive leader in early-childhood education. We do this by enhancing our services, investing in our people, developing our support structure and continuously improving the educational outcomes and experiences of our children, families and the communities we serve.

Some facts:

• We’re licensed to educate and care for 15,000 full-time children daily.
• 18,000 families use BestStart services annually.
• We have over 270 centres nationwide located from Whangarei to Invercargill.
• Each centre is managed by a Centre Manager who is supported by a local Area Manager. This gives our centre teams ongoing quality training and support.
• Te Whāriki, the world-wide acclaimed national early childhood education curriculum, is used in all centres.
• We have over 4500 permanent teachers nationally. Over 90% of our permanent teaching staff are either fully qualified with a diploma or bachelor of teaching (ECE) or higher, or are in training. These figures are very high by national standards within the ECE sector.
• We provide a two-year Advice and Guidance Programme for all recently certified teachers, providing further mentoring and training. This gives strong support for teachers from provisional registration to full teacher registration with the NZ Teachers Council.
• We regularly spend around $4 million on teacher training per annum.

We’re for children

At our heart is our commitment and passion for children. Central to this belief is our focus on the holistic development of children. We support children to explore the world around them, learning through relationships, creating a love of learning in an ever-changing world. Exploration, friendship and fun are part of the journey.

We’re for good

BestStart is a registered charity owned by the Wright Family Foundation. We support initiatives and programmes within BestStart and the wider early-childhood education sector (ECE) that support good outcomes for all children. We do this because we want to make a positive difference to the lives of all children.

Innovation leads us

At BestStart, innovation guides our thinking. We advocate positive change for learners through our research and practice. We’re proud to be thought leaders within ECE, openly challenging ourselves to think differently to provide the best for our children, families and staff.

We’re responsive

Our centres reflect their children, staff and communities. We celebrate individuality, uniqueness and diversity, encouraging a spirit of empathy, understanding and collaboration. Through our responsive relationships and our curriculum, we support learners to choose their own path.

Our people matter

At BestStart people come first. When we grow and develop our people, everyone benefits. We strive for whakamana/empowerment, nurturing a culture of excellence with engaged, talented professionals. Their commitment, skill and passion light our way.

We are a small rural centre just outside Pukekohe township to the East. We run three sessions per week and currently have a roll of 22 families. We are fortunate to be housed in the beautiful historic building that was once the Pukekohe East School built in the 1860s.

Through the playcentre philosophy, our members promote a safe and caring environment that is focused on child-led play and learning. We aim to provide a fun and attractive space for children to achieve learning outcomes.

We are a small privately-owned centre licensed for 38 children, including up to 12 under two-year-olds. 

We are open from 7:00 am – 6:00 pm Monday to Friday and only close on statutory holidays.

At Little Sparks, we strive to provide a relaxed environment that is not overprescribed and where the value of open-ended play and discovery holds the highest importance in our day. With careful planning and consideration of the layout of our environment, as well as utilising the strengths and skills of our teaching team, we are able to support each child’s individual development.

Our Philosophy

At Tiny Wonders Early Learning Centre, we provide a nurturing and stimulating environment for all children in our care. 

With a future-proof foundation for children’s learning through play-based, where children can explore, revisit and experiment irrespective of their abilities.  Virtues of Magda Gerber philosophies for Under 2’s is reflected to ensure infants reach milestones in their own time.

We believe for the positive development of all children at Tiny Wonders, working together in partnership with family/whanau and our community is vital. We believe in celebrating cultural diversity and supporting children to enable them to understand and acknowledge differences

 We believe in the importance of knowing the history of our community and reflecting this in our centre. 

Our team of educators at Tiny Wonders Early Learning Centre is committed to extending our own knowledge through regular professional development so we can provide the best learning environment for the children in our centre. We believe in honesty, respect, trust, and laughter while leading by example.

Our teachers are certificated

Many of our teachers are certificated, and we have extensive experience in providing quality care and education for children between the ages of birth to 6 years.

We insist on providing quality education – that means we have a very high teacher to child ratio (far more than required by the Ministry of Education). Our education philosophy puts your child at the centre of everything we do.

Quality Education

The high quality of our education can also be seen in the equipment we use and the toys our children play with. These are replaced regularly and cleaned by the staff daily, and each centre is thoroughly cleaned each night.

Our outdoor playing areas are well equipped and are much larger than required by the Ministry of Education. Our equipment is regularly replaced and constantly maintained.  

The Playhouse Pre-Schools are privately owned; one is a renovated Restaurant (opened 2013) and the other is a purpose-built centre (opened 2008). They are both situated in Twomey Drive, one at 41 and the other at 51, which is in the Newsham Park subdivision, in Pukekohe. The Playhouse Pre-Schools are attractive well designed open plan environments, which maximize space and provide a welcoming, nurturing, flexible and stimulating environment for children, families, and teachers.

An attraction for parents is the diversity of ages, enabling flexibility for siblings to attend the same centre.

The Playhouse Pre-Schools provide high-quality education and care, high child/teacher ratios, excellent qualified experienced teachers, and teachers in training within nurturing safe environments for children from zero to six years of age.

Both Pre-Schools are divided into spaces; one designed for free movement and floor time for infants and toddlers under two years of age. These spaces enable them to have some time away from the older children to explore age-appropriate activities before coming together as bigger groups. The second space, also inside, is for all children, where they have specific activities and resources designed for all ages. All children are generally together (like a family) where they are encouraged to mix and explore in all spaces. The third space is our outdoor areas, which provide safe, stimulating, natural environments, enhanced with murals, carvings, and mosaics, in which children are encouraged to freely explore and play. Our meal times are very special and social as the whole centre comes together (like a family) to sit, eat and talk with their friends about their day at each of The Playhouse Pre-Schools.

Information for Parents, Family/Whanau

The subsequent information will help you understand our methodology and what you can expect. You are free to discuss any queries you may have with any of our teachers or administrative staff. We encourage you to visit, explore, and ask questions regarding any aspect of our service you need clarity on. You can also arrange for an appointment with our manager, if needed, to discuss things over.

Be rest assured that your child’s development and well-being is our main priority. Find out further how you can get acquainted with the administrative process at Blossoms Educare.

Complete involvement of family

We believe in an open door policy and involve parents and family members in everything we do. Ensuring participation of parents makes the child feel comfortable and has a strong positive impact on the child. Keeping this in mind, we warmly welcome parents to the centre anytime.

The teachers and staff at Blossoms sincerely take care of the child’s happiness and comfort. We regard a three-way relationship between parents, caregivers and the child as an indispensable part of the child’s well-being.

Keeping track of everything

We make sure that parents are well-informed at each step of the way. They are provided with everything they need including newsletters, invoices, receipts and copies of learning stories.

Events and Outings

We believe that interaction and communication is vital. Keeping this in focus, we organize cultural events to help Blossom Educare members interact with other families and children and also with the teachers and staff. We are always on the lookout for such events and they form an integral part of our calendar.

Training for new teachers and volunteers

Volunteers and new teachers are thoroughly screened before getting onboard with us. They are required to meet our standards and adhere to our philosophy. Volunteers interact with the children and keep them engaged. Students of early childhood teacher training courses are properly supervised at the centre.

Facilities for availing subsidy

Our ‘Work and Income’ department operates a subsidy for parents. The subsidy is subject to an income qualification. Further information and forms shall be provided by ‘Work and Income’. Also, Blossoms provides 20 hours subsidy for all children above the age of 3. Please refer to our fees schedule for further information.

Educare Programme

‘Educare’ is a compound word meaning education and care. Our centres deliver educare programmes centered around the child. These programmes involve observing the children on a regular basis, evaluating their needs and concerns and planning activities around them. These programmes help the child develop in their own individual pace.

These programmes are founded on the guiding principles of Te Whāriki, the early childhood curriculum policy of the Ministry of Education. We keep revising our developmental programmes to stay updated.

There are four broad principles at the centre of Te Whāriki – the early childhood curriculum.

• Empowerment - The early childhood curriculum empowers the child to learn and grow.
• Holistic Development - The early childhood curriculum reflects the holistic way children learn and grow.
• Family and Community - The wider world of family and community is an integral part of the early childhood curriculum.
• Relationships - Children learn through responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places, and things.

The Playhouse Pre-Schools are privately owned; one is a renovated Restaurant (opened 2013) and the other is a purpose-built centre (opened 2008). They are both situated in Twomey Drive, one at 41 and the other at 51, which is in the Newsham Park subdivision, in Pukekohe. The Playhouse Pre-Schools are attractive well designed open plan environments, which maximize space and provide a welcoming, nurturing, flexible and stimulating environment for children, families, and teachers.

An attraction for parents is the diversity of ages, enabling flexibility for siblings to attend the same centre.

The Playhouse Pre-Schools provide high-quality education and care, high child/teacher ratios, excellent qualified experienced teachers, and teachers in training within nurturing safe environments for children from zero to six years of age.

Both Pre-Schools are divided into spaces; one designed for free movement and floor time for infants and toddlers under two years of age. These spaces enable them to have some time away from the older children to explore age-appropriate activities before coming together as bigger groups. The second space, also inside, is for all children, where they have specific activities and resources designed for all ages. All children are generally together (like a family) where they are encouraged to mix and explore in all spaces. The third space is our outdoor areas, which provide safe, stimulating, natural environments, enhanced with murals, carvings, and mosaics, in which children are encouraged to freely explore and play. Our meal times are very special and social as the whole centre comes together (like a family) to sit, eat and talk with their friends about their day at each of The Playhouse Pre-Schools.

The Pukekohe High School Childcare Centre began its life in 1993 when a group of determined and dedicated teachers from the Pukekohe High School saw a need for quality care within Pukekohe and the surrounding areas.  This group formed a committee that spent 3 1/2 years planning, fundraising, and applying for grants to establish the original purpose-built centre which was situated on Pukekohe High School grounds at 14a Harris Street, Pukekohe. 

As a community-based non-profit making centre, it was set up as an Incorporated Society, which requires all users of the centre to be members of the society.  The Centre was licensed for 22 children, then later re-licensed to 23 children to meet the ever-increasing demand for child places.

Subsequent committees then spent more years planning, fundraising, and then finally receiving a grant from the Ministry of Education, to open the new Pukekohe High School Childcare Centre premises, in October 2007, which is currently situated at 18 John Street Pukekohe.  The Pukekohe High School moved the old Principal’s House to make room for our centre, which we occupy on a ‘POD’ agreement where we have a licence to occupy.

As a much larger property, the centre was then licensed for 30 children, before increasing its licence to 33 children late in 2013, to keep up with the demand of under 2 spaces, and then in 2017, we increased again to 36 children, to keep up with our ever-growing waiting list.

In June 2008,  the Centre received Charity Status by becoming a Charitable Trust. 

The Centre comprises an Executive Committee, a Parent Committee, a Centre Manager, Centre Supervisor, and staff.  The Executive Committee is responsible for the overall governance of the Centre and consists of our Chairperson, our Treasurer, Human Resources Representative, Centre Manager, and Supervisor. 

Our Parent committee consists of parents who are using the centre, who want to share ideas, help fundraise, and to ensure their children and others receive the best in childcare facilities.  We encourage as many parents as we can to join the Committee, as, without a committee, our centre cannot run.

The committee is voted annually, consisting of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and up to eight committee members.

All staff report directly to the Centre Supervisor.  The overall responsibility and day-to-day management of the centre lie with the Centre Manager who reports directly to the Executive Committee. 

Wise Owl Early Learning Centre Pukekohe is tucked away in the quiet residential area on John Street – beside the “Big Slide” park, Samuel Miller Reserve.

Our centre has a unique homely feel and we consider it to be a second home.

We have a strong focus on authentic connections with people, love, and nurture alongside high-quality care and education. This creates a balance in an unhurried environment, that is also full of energy.

We are a “mixed age group” child care centre. This means we keep our children together as much as possible to foster and encourage social choices that are not limited to age.

We have wonderfully spacious open-plan rooms (double the size required by the ministry of education) where teachers and children can engage in meaningful and teachable moments.

Ko Taupiri te Maunga – The name of our mountain is Taupiri

Ko Waikato te Awa – The name of our river is Waikato

Ko Manukau te Moana – The name of our sea is Manukau

He puna ana ahau e te whare Kohungahunga ko Wise Owl no Pukekohe – The name of our early learning centre is Wise Owl in Pukekohe

Quality purpose-built centre with qualified dedicated teachers. 

Book a visit today.

Little Pukeko's Pre-School is the second of our Pukekohe Pre-School "family" and has been providing a warm and nurturing environment for children's care and learning since 2005.  

Special features of our pre-school include:-

• A huge outdoor play area where kids can be kids
• Outdoor activities made possible year-round due to large under-cover areas.  
• Children are encouraged to participate in gardening and other eco-orientated activities, which provide an excellent introduction to our relationship with our immediate environment.
• On-going encouragement to investigate and explore.
• A bright, safe, and cheerful setting.

Do come and meet us. You are so very welcome!

Who are we?

St James KidsWay is a non-profit preschool run by a Board under the St James Presbyterian Church. 

St James Kidsway is an Incorporated Society made up of voted members of the community.

Our Vision

The outstanding Christian preschool in Franklin

Our Mission

Kidsway provides a nurturing Christian environment for tamariki and whanau

Lottie (our Kunekune pig) roams in our surrounding paddocks alongside our neighbours sheep, helping create that rural feel. The children help to care for our veggie garden and our worm farm.

Patumahoe is a small rural village where everyone knows your name. It's the same at Farmhouse Preschool. With a maximum of 30 children per day, you will quickly get to know our teachers and the other families that share our centre.

We are a newly purposely set up childcare centre providing christian curriculum to encourage Tamariki to be an independent and confident learner and love with God.

Flying Turtles Pre-School is a centre for 4-6-year-olds.  It was established in August 2010 to complete the Pukekohe Pre-School Family.  Prior to this Prickly Hedgehog Pre-School and Little Pukeko's Pre-School were mixed-aged, 0-5-year-old centres.  At the age of 4 children from both our younger centres and the wider community are welcome to transition into our centre.  

Our philosophy is based on respect, relationships, and the environment.  We provide an inclusive place where tamariki are happy and feel valued.  Our tamariki are encouraged to become socially and emotionally competent in preparation for school.  Tamariki are able to make their own decisions and are encouraged to extend their ideas and explorations through play.  

Do come in and meet us. You are so very welcome!

Welcome to the Young Explorers Early Learning Centre. Young Explorers is a purpose-built facility providing care and education for children aged 0-5 years from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday.

A mixed-age centre provides children the opportunity to establish and maintain trustful relationships that are conducive to the learning process. Our infants and toddlers will be cared for by a primary caregiver who will work closely with you and your family establishing routines that are reflective of their home environment.

Children learn best through active exploration and discovery. Our centre will provide your child with the time to play, investigate and question the world around them. We will empower your child by providing them with choices, flexible routines, and opportunities to direct their own learning.

Our passionate and dedicated educators will invite and encourage you to actively participate in your child's learning journey. When you share your visions, aspirations, and dreams your child's learning potential is unlimited.

Te Hononga Puna Reo is situated alongside Pukekohe North School in Pukekohe, South Auckland. The puna reo provides a full day service for up to 45 children including 7 under two years old. The majority of children and their families come from the local Pukekohe area. The philosophy of the puna reo aims to recognise and acknowledge the potential of Māori and to join whānau, hapū and iwi together to provide quality learning and care for their children.

Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Hau e Whā o Pukekohe is a centre-based kōhanga reo located in Pukekohe and provides for up to 35 tamariki. Book a visit today to connect with our kōhanga reo and to learn more about the options for your whanau.  

Te Kōhanga Reo

The kōhanga reo movement is a unique initiative based on total immersion in Māori language and values with the aim of passing on Māori culture to future generations.

Kōhanga reo emphasise the revitalisation of the culture through te reo Māori and are dependent on the active participation of the whole whānau. The kaupapa of kōhanga reo aims to strengthen whānau capabilities in cultural, social, economic, spiritual and political matters. Education, health and wellbeing are inherent within all aspects of the kaupapa. The prime focus is the whānau – its collective development, growth, accountability and wellbeing set within a Māori cultural context.

Kōhanga reo do not regard tamariki in isolation, but as important members of the whānau. The kōhanga reo philosophy is that tamariki will benefit when whānau successfully operate according to the kaupapa. Tamariki are an integral part of whānau development.

The following key goals are the foundation of te kōhanga reo kaupapa established in 1982:

• total immersion in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga in daily operations
• whānau decision-making, management and responsibility
• accountability
• health and wellbeing of mokopuna and whānau.

The key goals of te kōhanga reo assure that there will be:

• security in te reo Māori
• a supportive, caring environment for mokopuna
• whānau (collective) sharing of responsibilities, knowledge and expertise
• greater respect and appreciation of each other.