Daycare & ECE in Birkenhead
14 licensed early childhood services across 4 service types in Birkenhead, Auckland.
Composite = our 0–100 ECE quality score (weighted average of six ERO dimensions, normalised within Equity Index band). 20 Hours ECE & ERO coverage are counts of the 14 licensed services in Birkenhead.
Estimate your costs: our FamilyBoost + Childcare Subsidy calculator stacks 20 Hours ECE, the means-tested Childcare Subsidy, and the IRD FamilyBoost rebate to show net weekly cost.
Services in Birkenhead, by type
Education & Care — 9
Next Generation Infant Care
Next Generation Infant Care is an infant care service in Birkenhead with 20 children on roll. The ERO review in December 2023 did not assign an overall placement. Our analysis of the ERO report found the service graded B for children's wellbeing, with a calm environment supporting exploration and emotional safety systems in place, and B for health and safety, with legal compliance confirmed.
Childspace Preschool
Childspace Preschool is an education and care service in Birkenhead with 37 children on roll. Our analysis of the ERO report shows strong practice in children's wellbeing, with a calm, nurturing environment supporting belonging and transitions. Health and safety compliance was attested, though our analysis noted limited integration of te reo Māori and tikanga in bicultural practice.
Mariposa Kids
Mariposa Kids is an education and care service in Birkenhead with 50 children on roll. Our analysis of the ERO report identified bicultural practice and leadership & governance as areas where the service is developing foundational approaches, with te reo use evident and governance plans in place, though further strengthening is needed to better link improvement planning to learning outcomes.
Lollipops Birkenhead
ERO assessed Lollipops Birkenhead as Not well placed in 2017. Our analysis of the ERO report found strengths in children's wellbeing, whānau partnership, and health and safety practices, but identified areas requiring development: curriculum planning lacked systematic teaching strategies, bicultural practice was emerging, and leadership systems needed clearer strategic direction.
Birkenhead Point Montessori Pre-school
Birkenhead Point Montessori Pre-school is an education and care service in Birkenhead with a current roll of 30 children. Our analysis of the 2022 ERO report found the service achieves grade B in health and safety, meeting regulatory standards, and grade B in leadership and governance, with clear management structure and qualified leadership and staff training.
Next Generation Childcare
Next Generation Childcare is an education and care service in Birkenhead with a roll of 30 children. Our analysis of the ERO report shows children display confidence and a strong sense of belonging in a well-resourced environment that supports active exploration. Te reo and tikanga integration is beginning but remains emerging rather than embedded, and leaders are developing their internal evaluation systems.
Next Generation Birkenhead
The service met legal health and safety requirements with systems in place. Our analysis of the ERO report found the curriculum offered effective integrated learning experiences, with intentional teaching development as a focus area.
Precious Years Learning Centre
Precious Years Learning Centre is an education and care service in Birkenhead with a current roll of 44 children. Our analysis of the ERO report (August 2023) identified areas for improvement: whānau partnership and parent engagement need strengthening, bicultural practice requires greater depth beyond current aspects, and leadership and governance processes need re-establishment. Health and safety systems were assessed as meeting legal requirements, with previously identified non-compliance addressed.
KidsCo Early Learning Centre
KidsCo Early Learning Centre is an education and care service in Birkenhead with 35 children on roll. Our analysis of the ERO report grades Children's wellbeing and Health & safety both as B, noting positive adult-child interactions, emotional and physical safety systems, and staffing ratios that exceed standards.
Kindergarten — 3
Birkenhead Kindergarten
ERO assessed Birkenhead Kindergarten as Not well placed in its 2017 review. Our analysis of the ERO report identified strengths in children's wellbeing, whānau partnership, and leadership, with B grades across these areas. Bicultural practice was identified as an area for development, receiving a C grade, with ERO noting te reo Māori promotion could be strengthened through more intentional curriculum integration.
Kauri Park Kindergarten
ERO assessed Kauri Park Kindergarten as Not well placed in 2017. Our analysis of the ERO report identified B grades across curriculum and learning, children's wellbeing, whānau partnership, bicultural practice, and leadership and governance.
Chelsea Kindergarten
ERO assessed Chelsea Kindergarten as Not well placed in 2015. Our analysis of the ERO report indicates children's wellbeing was graded B, with children demonstrating strong social-emotional outcomes and positive peer relationships. Health and safety was also graded B, with sound systems established for health, safety and legal compliance requirements.
Explore Birkenhead & Auckland
Schools in Birkenhead
When they age out of daycare, check schoolsnearme.co.nz for every NZ school with audited financials + ERO reviews.
Frequently asked
- How many daycare and ECE centres are in Birkenhead?
- There are 14 licensed early childhood services in Birkenhead, Auckland: 9 education & care, 3 kindergarten, 1 playcentre, 1 te kōhanga reo. Combined enrolment 551 children.
- Is there childcare near me in Birkenhead?
- Yes — Birkenhead has 14 licensed early childhood services, every one of them listed below with its address, service type and 20 Hours ECE status. To rank them by walking or driving distance from your exact address, use our find-by-address radius search.
- What's the largest daycare in Birkenhead?
- Lollipops Birkenhead is the largest licensed centre in Birkenhead with 60 children enrolled (education & care). See the per-centre listing below for size details on every centre.
- Which centres in Birkenhead offer 20 Hours ECE?
- 0 of 14 centres (0%) in Birkenhead participate in 20 Hours ECE, which subsidises up to 20 hours/week of care for 3-5 year olds. The 20-Hrs pill on each centre card below shows participation.
- Are there kindergartens in Birkenhead?
- Yes — 3 kindergartens in Birkenhead. Free Kindergartens typically charge little or nothing for 3-5 year olds because of 20 Hours ECE.
- Is there a kōhanga reo in Birkenhead?
- Yes — 1 kōhanga reo (te reo Māori medium of instruction) in Birkenhead. Look for the "Kōhanga reo" service type in the listing below.
- Which operator chains have centres in Birkenhead?
- 4 operator chains with centres in Birkenhead: Auckland Kindergarten Association (3), Lollipops Educare (1), Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust (1), Playcentre Aotearoa (1). Plus 8 independent centres.
- How much does daycare cost in Birkenhead?
- Costs in Birkenhead follow the NZ national pattern: education & care centres typically $280-$360/week for under-2s, dropping to $0-$100/week for 3-5 year olds at 20-Hours-participating centres. Free Kindergartens charge little or nothing for 3-5 year olds. FamilyBoost (25% IRD rebate, $75/week cap) applies on top. See our /cost-of-daycare/birkenhead/ page for the per-age × per-type breakdown.
- What government support is available for childcare in Birkenhead?
- All 14 licensed centres in Birkenhead are eligible for the three stackable supports: 20 Hours ECE (universal for 3-5yr olds at 0 participating Birkenhead centres), the means-tested Childcare Subsidy from MSD, and FamilyBoost (25% rebate up to $75/week from IRD, phased out from $140k-$180k household income). Use our /familyboost-calculator for your specific net weekly cost.
- How much is childcare per week in NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Birkenhead.
- How much does Winz pay for childcare subsidy?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Birkenhead.
- How many hours is free daycare NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Birkenhead.
- Who is eligible for childcare subsidy NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Birkenhead.
Understanding NZ ECE — topic guides
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.