FAQ’s

Children can start attending from age two. For children under three, attendance depends on ECE funding arrangements. Bridge Street and Matangi Āwhio  
Auckland Point Kindergarten also welcome under 2’s.

Waitlist times vary depending on the kindergarten. Please contact your preferred kindergarten.

Priority is given to the oldest children on the waitlist, enquire with the kindergarten to see what age children are starting at

Yes, we encourage visits before your child starts so you and your tamariki can get familiar with the environment and teachers.

Our kindergartens operate during standard weekdays. Please contact your local kindergarten for specific times as these can vary.

For children aged 2-6 years, the ratio is 1 teacher to 10 children. For children under 2 years, it is 1 teacher to 5 children.

Group sizes vary by kindergarten. We align with ratios and local regulations to ensure quality care.

All our kindergartens offer the Ministry of Education’s 20 Hours Early Childhood Education (ECE) policy. This means if you use some or all of your child’s 20 free hours at our kindergartens, those hours are fully funded by the Ministry and free to you. Many of our centres even offer up to 30 free hours if you attest all your 20 hours to us. Conditions apply, for example if your child is under three, or attends more than six hours a day. Please check with your kindergarten administrator to see if this applies to your child.

Fees and Additional Costs

You may be required to pay a fee if:

• You do not attest all 20 hours of ECE to your chosen kindergarten.

• Your child is under 3 years old.

• Your child attends for more than 6 hours a day.

• All children under 2 years old.

Your kindergarten administrator can provide specific fee details for your centre.

We have a voluntary family contribution fee, which helps fund excursions and extra resources at your child’s kindergarten. It’s 50 cents per hour your child attends. This donation is greatly appreciated but not compulsory.

Many of our centres even offer up to 30 free hours if you attest all your 20 hours to us. Conditions apply, for example if your child is under three, or attends more than six hours a day. Please check with your kindergarten administrator to see if this applies to your child.

Yes, please bring a lunchbox with food for the day, a water bottle, nappies if needed, a couple of changes of clothes, and a wet bag for water or messy play.

No, your child does not need to be toilet trained. We are happy to support the toilet training process together with you at home and kindergarten.

Yes! While kindergartens are busy places and nap times may be shorter or different from home, we have quiet/rest areas or sleep rooms to support your child's needs as best as we can.

All our teachers are 100% qualified early childhood educators. This is higher than many early childhood centres, which require a minimum of 50% qualified staff.

We use Storypark, a private platform for families and teachers to share stories and photos. Group stories may be visible to other families in the group. Photos taken on personal devices by kaiako (teachers) are deleted once uploaded. For any public sharing of images with children’s faces, we will always ask for your permission first.

You can attend both, as long as they aren't booked at both places for the same day and time, but fees and funding for Playcentre and kindergarten are separate. Please check with your Playcentre and our kindergartens for specific details on how this may affect your family.

No. While many children begin school at 5, some may benefit from starting a little later. This decision is made together with your child’s school to ensure the best fit for their learning and development.

Our kindergartens are part of the Nelson Tasman community and feed into a variety of local primary schools. We can provide details specific to your area.