Question 1

What ages does KidsCo take?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

What are your opening hours?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

Where is KidsCo located?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

How big is KidsCo?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

How is KidsCo different from kindergarten?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

How long have your teachers been at KidsCo?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

How do I enrol my child at KidsCo?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

What documents do I need to bring to enrolment?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

Do you require immunisation records?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

How does settling in work?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 11

What if my child cries at drop-off?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 12

What do I need to bring on the first day?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 13

Can I visit the centre before enrolling?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

What food do you serve?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 16

How do you handle allergies and dietary requirements?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 17

How do you communicate with parents during the day?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 18

Do you do toilet training?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 19

What happens if my child gets sick?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 20

How do you handle behaviour and conflict between children?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 21

How do children learn at KidsCo?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 22

Do you teach children to read and write?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 23

How does KidsCo prepare children for school?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 24

What if my child has additional needs?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 25

How do you celebrate cultural diversity?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 26

Do you use te reo Māori at KidsCo?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 27

How much does KidsCo cost?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 28

What is 20 Hours ECE and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 29

What is FamilyBoost and can we use it for KidsCo fees?

Accepted Answer

FamilyBoost is a government rebate from Inland Revenue (IRD) that refunds part of what you spend on early childhood education, and our fees qualify. You claim it yourself every three months through myIR, using the invoices we provide, and IRD pays it into your bank account. How much you get back depends on your household income. For the details and a calculator, see ird.govt.nz/familyboost, and just ask us if you need help with your invoices.

Question 30

Do you accept WINZ Childcare Subsidy?

Accepted Answer

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.

Visit KidsCo Birkenhead or Ask a Question

What to Expect When You Visit