What ages does KidsCo take?

KidsCo is licensed for children aged 3 months to 5 years. We're a small Birkenhead early learning centre with a maximum of 35 children across the whole centre where every child's name, interests and passions are known.

What are your opening hours?

We're open Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6:00pm. We're closed on weekends and public holidays.

Where is KidsCo located?

We're at 21 Park Hill Road, Birkenhead, on Auckland's North Shore. We have onsite parking and we're easy to reach from Birkenhead, Birkdale, Northcote, Beach Haven, Glenfield and across the wider North Shore.

We're licensed for 35 children in total, while most early learning centres in Auckland take 50 to 150 children. We've kept KidsCo small because it means teachers can genuinely know every child, every family, and every learning journey.

How is KidsCo different from kindergarten?

Kindergarten is a great option for some families, but it's not the same as a small early learning centre like KidsCo. We're open longer hours, we take younger children from 3 months, and our smaller numbers mean teachers know every child individually. Our school readiness preparation is delivered through our Kura Programme for our 4 year olds, which we believe stands up to anything kindergarten offers.

How long have your teachers been at KidsCo?

Our teaching team has an average of 7+ years of experience and many have been at KidsCo for 5+ years. That's unusually low turnover for the early childhood sector, and it means the team your child meets on day one is the team they'll grow up with.

How do I enrol my child at KidsCo?

The best first step is to book a visit so you can see the centre, meet the teachers, and get a feel for whether KidsCo is the right fit for your family. After that we'll walk you through the enrolment paperwork. The full process is on our Enrolment page.

What documents do I need to bring to enrolment?

You'll need your child's birth certificate (or passport), emergency contact details, and any relevant medical or allergy information. We'll provide the enrolment forms and walk you through everything you need to fill in.

Do you require immunisation records?

We don't require immunisation records as part of enrolment. We do ask if your child has any specific health needs so we can support them well.

How does settling in work?

Before your child's official start date, we invite you to visit with them so they can begin to explore the environment and meet the teachers, all with you by their side. Some children need just one visit before they're ready. Others need two or three, and that's completely fine. We follow your child's lead.

What if my child cries at drop-off?

Some separation anxiety is completely normal, especially in the first few weeks. We'll work with you on a settling routine that suits your child. Most children settle within a few minutes of you leaving. If a child is genuinely distressed for an extended time, we'll contact you and adjust our approach together.

What do I need to bring on the first day?

Spare clothes, any comfort items they need (a special toy, blanket, or dummy), nappies, and a hat. We provide wipes, sunscreen and all meals and snacks.

Can I visit the centre before enrolling?

Absolutely, visiting is the most important step. We offer visits between 10am and 11am weekdays so you see the centre as it really is. Book a visit through our Visit Us page or call us on 09 480 0088.

What do you provide vs what do parents need to bring?

We provide all meals (morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea), wipes and sunscreen. Parents need to bring spare clothes, a hat and any comfort items.

What food do you serve?

Every meal at KidsCo is prepared fresh daily by our in-house cook. Nutritious food, made with care, accompanied by daily fresh fruit. We cater for allergies and dietary requirements, and mealtimes are social and genuinely enjoyable.

How do you handle allergies and dietary requirements?

We cater carefully for allergies and dietary requirements. Talk to us when you enrol about your child's specific needs and we'll plan accordingly. Our cook prepares meals with this front of mind. We're nut-free, so no nut products should be brought into the centre.

How do you communicate with parents during the day?

We use Storypark, a free downloadable app, to keep you connected to your child's day. You'll receive daily news with photos showing what's been happening, your child's learning stories documenting their progress and next steps, and centre-wide community updates. It's not just a communication tool, it's a window into your child's world at KidsCo.

Do you do toilet training?

Yes, we support toilet training when your child and family are ready. There's no rush. We follow your lead and use consistent approaches between home and centre. Accidents are part of learning and we support these without any fuss.

What happens if my child gets sick?

We follow Ministry of Health exclusion guidelines and will contact you if your child develops symptoms during the day. Keeping unwell children at home protects everyone, and we'll work with you to make the process as easy as possible.

How do you handle behaviour and conflict between children?

We see challenging behaviour as communication, children are usually telling us something. Our team uses positive guidance, helps children name their feelings, and supports them to find solutions together. For ongoing challenges, we partner with families to find what works.

How do children learn at KidsCo?

Our programme is child-led and play-based, which means we start with what your child is genuinely curious about and build rich learning experiences around that. Children learn best when they're interested which is backed by decades of research into how young brains develop.

Do you teach children to read and write?

We build the foundations for early literacy, maths and science through play-based activities, reading aloud, conversations, environmental print (labels and signs), and children's self-initiated writing. By the time children leave KidsCo, many recognise letters, write their names, and understand that print carries meaning. Our Kura Programme for 4 year olds adds more structured literacy and numeracy activities to prepare them for school.

How does KidsCo prepare children for school?

KidsCo follows Te Whāriki, New Zealand's national early childhood curriculum, and tamariki join our School Readiness Programme (Kura Programme) when they turn 4. This builds the whole child across five areas that primary school teachers say matter most: learning to learn, independence and self-help skills, social competency, early literacy and numeracy, and bicultural identity. You can read more about it on our School Readiness page.

What if my child has additional needs?

Every child deserves to thrive. We have experience with diverse learners and work closely with families and specialists to create an inclusive environment where every child can participate fully. Talk to us about your child's specific needs and we'll discuss what support looks like at KidsCo.

How do you celebrate cultural diversity?

KidsCo is proudly multicultural and we mean that genuinely. We want your family's traditions, celebrations and language woven into your child's experience here. Whether that's celebrating Diwali, Lunar New Year, Eid, Matariki or any other celebration that matters to your family, we'd love to include it. Tell us what's important to you.

Do you use te reo Māori at KidsCo?

Yes, we use te reo Māori naturally throughout the day in songs, greetings, kai time and karakia. New Zealand's bicultural identity is part of our programme so every child feels grounded and connected.

How much does KidsCo cost?

We share fee details when you visit so we can talk you through what applies to your child's specific schedule and any subsidies you may be eligible for. Book a visit and we'll cover everything.

What is 20 Hours ECE and how does it work?

20 Hours ECE is a government subsidy that gives all 3, 4, and 5 year olds in New Zealand up to 20 hours of early childhood education per week. KidsCo participates in 20 Hours ECE, so this subsidy is available for our preschool children. We'll talk you through exactly how it applies to your child's days when you enrol.

Do you accept WINZ Childcare Subsidy?

Yes, families receiving certain benefits or studying may qualify for additional subsidies through Work and Income. We can help you understand the process when you enrol.

For 3 to 5 year olds

Birkenhead Kindergarten & School Readiness

Starting School Confident, Capable and Ready

The years before school shape how your child feels about learning for life. Our Birkenhead kindergarten and early learning programme is built to help your child arrive at school confident, capable, and genuinely excited, with full day and flexible session options to suit your family.

Learn more

Preschool child sitting at table writing name

Our kindergarten programme

More than Letters and Numbers. The Whole Child.

When families ask us how we prepare our kindergarten aged children for school, the answer might surprise them. It's not just about letters and numbers. Research consistently shows that the qualities which determine how well a child settles into school go far deeper than academic skills.

Across the kindergarten years, we build the whole child, growing the confidence, curiosity, and capabilities that help learning feel natural. And in your child's final year before school, our dedicated school readiness programme makes that big step feel like a natural next move. Find out how to enrol.

Hours & Funding

20 Hours ECE. Hours That Fit Your Family

Every child aged 3 to 5 is eligible for the New Zealand Government's 20 Hours ECE funding, and you can use it right here at KidsCo. It covers up to 20 hours a week of early childhood education.

What makes KidsCo a great choice is the flexibility around those funded hours. We offer full day and flexible session options, so your child gets a rich kindergarten and early learning experience that also works around your week, your job, and your family life. For any hours beyond the funded 20, our fees are straightforward and competitive, and we're always happy to talk them through with you.

The result is the best of both worlds: the warm, school-readiness focused learning you'd want for these important years, with the dependable hours a busy family actually needs. See enrolment.

What We Focus On

Five Things That Are Essential for Lifelong Learning

Learning to Learn

Curiosity, courage, persistence, and resilience. These are the qualities that shape how a child engages with learning for the rest of their life, far more than whether they can write their name early. We build these capabilities every day through the challenges and experiences we set for the children.

Independence and Self-Help Skills

Can your child manage their own lunchbox? Hang up their bag? Get themselves ready after the toilet? These everyday skills build real confidence and independence. We work on them deliberately, with plenty of encouragement and without rushing.

Social Competency

Life asks us to collaborate, negotiate, listen, take turns, and resolve conflicts. We give children real practice at all of these every day, in a safe environment where making mistakes is simply part of learning.

Early Literacy, Maths and Science

We weave early literacy and numeracy into meaningful, hands-on experiences. Not drills, not worksheets. Real contexts where numbers and letters make sense because they're connected to something your child genuinely cares about.

Confidence and Positive Learner Identity

Perhaps the most important thing of all. Children who believe they are capable learners approach everything new with an open, curious mindset. Every experience we offer is designed to build that belief.

The Final Year

Getting Ready for School

In your child's final year with us, alongside everything above, we add a few special things to help them step up to school feeling confident and prepared. Here's what that looks like.

Lunchbox Day

Once a week our final-year children bring their own lunchbox, just like they will at school. It sounds small, but it builds familiarity and confidence with a routine that will be completely new to them.

School Visits

We visit local Birkenhead primary schools with our final-year children so they can see the environment, meet teachers, and walk the grounds before their very first day. Familiarity makes an enormous difference to how settled children feel when they start.

Transition Documentation

When your child is ready to leave KidsCo, we send a detailed transition document to their new school covering where your child is at across all areas of learning. Their new teacher hits the ground running from day one.

A Learning Journey Book

Each child builds their own Learning Journey Book through their final year, documenting their growth and the milestones along the way. It's something families treasure long after school begins.

Graduation

When your child is ready to move on, we celebrate with a Graduation Ceremony. Families and whānau are warmly invited. It's one of our favourite days of the year at KidsCo.

Parent Voices

What Families Say

"He started school feeling confident, comfortable, and excited about learning. We can clearly see how... the KidsCo team played a big role in this."

Lakshmi D

KidsCo Parent

★★★★★

"They set up different activities that help children develop in all areas. My daughter is now making a smooth transition to primary school. Highly recommend this kindy!"

Jiangtao L

KidsCo Parent

★★★★★

"Our daugther developed lots of skills that helped her to transition to primary school, while guided by her awesome teachers."

Lakshmi D

KidsCo Parent

★★★★★

Ready to See KidsCo for Yourself?

Book a visit, or just ask us a question. We'll be in touch soon.

Prefer to talk? Call 09 480 0088 or 027 266 1530