Daycare & ECE in Melville
9 licensed early childhood services across 3 service types in Melville, Waikato.
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 9 licensed services in Melville.
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 Melville, by type
Education & Care — 7
BestStart Jones Crescent Kindy
ERO assessed this service as Not well placed in 2017. Our analysis of the ERO report identified strong children's wellbeing (A grade) alongside B grades for curriculum and learning, bicultural practice, and leadership and governance. The review noted effective teaching interactions and positive relationships, with opportunities to extend outdoor learning and local iwi engagement.
Jack and Jill Educare
Jack and Jill Educare is an education and care service in Melville with a current roll of 75 children. Our analysis of the ERO report from May 2023 found Health & Safety practices at grade B, with management assurance on legal requirements met and systems reviewed during the visit.
Playworx Kindy
Playworx Kindy is an education and care service in Melville with a current roll of 20 children. Our analysis of the ERO report (June 2024) found the curriculum is play-based and inclusive, though assessment and planning links to Te Whāriki could be strengthened. Children demonstrate a strong sense of belonging with positive relationships between the service and whānau.
BestStart Bader Street
ERO assessed BestStart Bader Street as Not well placed in their 2019 review. Our analysis of the ERO report identified strengths in bicultural practice and curriculum, with effective health and safety systems, though assessment and planning practices were noted as an area for development.
Active Explorers Melville
Active Explorers Melville is an education and care service in Melville with a current roll of 100 children. Our analysis of the ERO report from March 2021 found the service achieved a B grade for children's wellbeing, with positive interactions evident, and a B grade for health and safety, meeting regulatory standards.
Sunny Side Early Educare
Fountain City Montessori Tawa Street
Fountain City Montessori Tawa Street is an education and care service for 107 children in Melville, Hamilton. Our analysis of the ERO report found the centre demonstrates sound bicultural practice with te reo and tikanga integrated into the programme, and has established health and safety systems in place.
Te Kōhanga Reo — 1
Explore Melville & Waikato
Schools in Melville
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 Melville?
- There are 9 licensed early childhood services in Melville, Waikato: 7 education & care, 1 te kōhanga reo, 1 kindergarten. Combined enrolment 504 children.
- Is there childcare near me in Melville?
- Yes — Melville has 9 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 Melville?
- Fountain City Montessori Tawa Street is the largest licensed centre in Melville with 107 children enrolled (education & care). See the per-centre listing below for size details on every centre.
- Which centres in Melville offer 20 Hours ECE?
- 0 of 9 centres (0%) in Melville 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 Melville?
- Yes — 1 kindergarten in Melville. Free Kindergartens typically charge little or nothing for 3-5 year olds because of 20 Hours ECE.
- Is there a kōhanga reo in Melville?
- Yes — 1 kōhanga reo (te reo Māori medium of instruction) in Melville. Look for the "Kōhanga reo" service type in the listing below.
- Which operator chains have centres in Melville?
- 3 operator chains with centres in Melville: BestStart Educare (2), Active Explorers (1), Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust (1). Plus 5 independent centres.
- How much does daycare cost in Melville?
- Costs in Melville 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/melville/ page for the per-age × per-type breakdown.
- What government support is available for childcare in Melville?
- All 9 licensed centres in Melville are eligible for the three stackable supports: 20 Hours ECE (universal for 3-5yr olds at 0 participating Melville 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 hour NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Melville.
- Who is eligible for 20 hours free childcare NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Melville.
- Who is eligible for childcare subsidy NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Melville.
- What age can babies go to daycare in NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Melville.
- How much does Winz pay for childcare?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Melville.
- How many hours is free daycare NZ?
- See the centre listings, methodology, and our FamilyBoost calculator on this page for daycare in Melville.
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.