Cost of daycare in St Albans
14 licensed centres in St Albans, Canterbury — modelled weekly fees by age band, with 20 Hours ECE (0% of centres participate) and FamilyBoost net pricing.
Modelled weekly cost in St Albans, by service type + age band
Per the OECE 2026 NZ funding rates. Net column shows out-of-pocket after FamilyBoost rebate (25% capped at $75/week).
| Service type | Under 2 | 2-3 yrs | 3-5 yrs (w/ 20 Hrs) | 3-5 yrs (net w/ FB) | In St Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education & Care | $360 | $280 | $65 | $48.75 | 12 |
| Kindergarten | — | $180 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| Playcentre | $20 | $20 | $20 | $15 | 1 |
Modelled weekly cost assumes 25 hours/week of care. Real fees vary by centre, family circumstance, and term — confirm with each centre directly. Per-centre fee scraping is a Phase B item; this page shows national medians until live per-centre fees are ingested.
How to reduce your weekly cost in St Albans
NZ families can stack three forms of government support — all available at every centre in St Albans.
For 3-5 year olds at participating centres. Up to 20 hours/week funded directly to the centre. 0 of 14 centres in St Albans participate.
Means-tested. From MSD. Hourly subsidy based on household income, hours of work or study, and number of children. Apply via Work and Income.
25% rebate on weekly fees, capped at $75/week per family. From IRD. Phases out from household income $140k to $180k. Claim quarterly via myIR.
All 14 centres in St Albans
Listed by service type. 20-Hrs pill indicates participation in 20 Hours ECE.
Education & Care (12)
BestStart Montessori St Albans
ERO assessed BestStart Montessori St Albans as Not well placed in June 2020. Our analysis of the ERO report identified strong Montessori curriculum delivery and effective whānau partnership (both grade B), but noted that bicultural practice requires further development (grade C), and Te Whāriki incorporation could be expanded. Health and safety systems and leadership were assessed as grade B.
Minerva House
Minerva House is an education and care service in St Albans with 57 children on roll. Our analysis of the ERO report from August 2022 shows the service received a B grade for children's wellbeing, with strong relationships and engagement evident. However, bicultural practice received a C grade, with limited te reo and tikanga integration identified as needing improvement.
St Albans Nest
St Albans Nest is an education and care service in St Albans, Christchurch, with a roll of 50. Our analysis of the ERO report indicates strengths in whānau partnership and health and safety systems (both graded B), with bicultural practice and leadership and governance identified as areas for further development (both graded C).
BestStart Cranford Street
ERO assessed BestStart Cranford Street as Not well placed in June 2018. Our analysis of the ERO report identified strengths in curriculum and learning, children's wellbeing, whānau partnership, and leadership and governance (all grade A), with bicultural practice graded B. The overall placement reflects concerns beyond these individual dimension grades.
Sancta Maria Montessori Preschool (Sherborne)
Our analysis of the ERO report identifies strong support for children's wellbeing and sense of belonging. However, a significant health and safety concern was noted regarding unsecured furniture that poses injury risk, requiring urgent attention.
Montessori STARS
Small World Preschool and Nursery
Small World Preschool and Nursery operates as an education and care service in St Albans with 37 children on roll. Our analysis of the 2023 ERO report identified strengths in children's wellbeing and whānau partnership, with areas for development in leadership and internal evaluation capability.
Learning Curves Montessori Nursery Ltd
Learning Curves Montessori Nursery Ltd is an education and care service for 18 children in St Albans, Christchurch. Our analysis of the ERO report from August 2022 found the service graded B across children's wellbeing, health and safety, and leadership and governance, with positive interactions supporting infant and toddler wellbeing and suitable systems established for health, safety, and monitoring.
Learning Curves Montessori Abberley Park Ltd
Our analysis of the ERO report found the service received a B grade for whānau partnership, with positive relationships and regular opportunities for whānau contribution. Health and safety also received a B grade, with physical and emotional safety systems maintained in compliance with legal requirements.
Forfar Nursery And Preschool
St Albans Community Preschool
St Albans Community Preschool is an education and care service in Christchurch with a current roll of 35 children. Our analysis of the ERO report identified strong parent partnership with good communication and family responsiveness, and legal compliance in health and safety with no concerns noted.
BestStart St Albans
ERO assessed BestStart St Albans as Not well placed in its 2018 review. Our analysis of the ERO report identified bicultural practice as a developing area, with te ao Māori integration noted as requiring greater prominence in the service's approach.
Playcentre (1)
Frequently asked about daycare costs in St Albans
- How much does daycare cost in St Albans?
- Daycare costs in St Albans vary by service type and the age of your child. Modelled national medians: education & care centres charge around $320-$360/week for under-2s and $0-$65/week for 2-5 year olds depending on 20 Hours ECE participation. Free Kindergartens charge little or nothing for 3-5 year olds due to 20 Hours funding. Of 14 centres in St Albans, 0 (0%) participate in 20 Hours ECE.
- Which centres in St Albans offer 20 Hours ECE?
- 0 of 14 centres in St Albans participate in 20 Hours ECE, which subsidises up to 20 hours/week for 3-5 year olds. See the per-centre listing below for participation status.
- Can I get FamilyBoost for daycare in St Albans?
- Yes. FamilyBoost is a 25% IRD rebate on weekly fees, capped at $75/week per family. Available at every licensed ECE service in NZ (including all 14 centres in St Albans). Phases out from household income $140k to $180k. Claim quarterly via IRD myIR.
- What's the cheapest daycare option in St Albans?
- In NZ, the lowest-cost ECE options are typically Free Kindergartens (3-5 year olds, ~$0/week with 20 Hours ECE) and Playcentres (parent-led, ~$20/week). For under-2s, all centre-based options charge fees — Childcare Subsidy from MSD plus FamilyBoost from IRD can substantially reduce out-of-pocket cost depending on household income.
Full directory with safety + demographics
Your exact net weekly cost
Per-region cost comparison
Data sources & freshness (4 sources · last refresh 12 July 2026)
Service type, address, roll, ethnicity, Equity Index, 20 Hours, Takiwā, lat/lng
Annual financial returns (community-based + umbrella orgs)
Per-centre review reports + 6-dimension letter grades (curriculum / wellbeing / whānau / bicultural / health & safety / leadership)
Safety score, crime/1k, 2023 Census demographics
Last build refresh: . See full methodology + data sources pages for licences, refresh cadences, and known gaps.