Availability can change regularly and often varies depending on your child’s age, the days you’re looking for, and your preferred start time. 

The best next step is to connect with your local Kindercare centre. Our team will talk you through current availability and, if there isn’t an immediate space, they’ll explain your waitlist options and give you a clear sense of likely timeframes for your child’s age and preferred days. 

We’re always here to help you find the right fit and support you through the process. 

Opening hours vary by centre but typically most of our centres are open 7:30am – 5:30pm. 

You can confirm opening hours by checking your centre’s listing or contacting the centre team directly.

All Kindercare centres always meet, and often exceed, the Ministry of Education’s regulated adult-to-child ratios.  

Our approach supports strong relationships, and we know children thrive when they feel supported, known and connected. When you visit or enquire, our centre will be happy to talk you through how ratios are managed in practice and how we support continuity of care for your child.

Yes, please talk to us. We’ll explain what’s needed now and what can be provided later.  

Enrolment often requires proof of your child’s identity/citizenship (for example a birth certificate, passport, or residency document), plus important health information like allergies or medical needs.  

If you don’t have documents available yet, our centre can guide you through the process and what you can do next, so you’re not stuck.

They’re short, gentle visits that help your child settle in before their official start.  

A common approach at our centres is to start with a visit where you stay together in the room, then gradually build up to short separations (e.g., you step out briefly), and then longer visits as your child is ready. 

For detailed information on transitioning your child for the first time, changing rooms and leaving for primary school, you’re welcome to learn more about our Transitions For Children Policy. 

We welcome short-term enrolments where spaces are available. 

If you’re in New Zealand for an extended period of time (for example, visiting family or on an international stay), and would like your child to experience early childhood care or need care, we’d love to support your child with a short-term enrolment where we can. The best way to find out is to contact your preferred Kindercare centre to check current spaces and what dates we can accommodate. 

This is a very normal part of a child’s development.

We understand that separation can feel challenging for some children—and for families too.  

We work closely with you to create a gentle, consistent settling approach that supports your child to feel safe and secure in their new environment. 

Young children often thrive on familiar routines and repetition, so we take time to build trust through predictable daily rhythms, caring relationships, and thoughtful transition visits. Open communication between your whānau and our Teachers plays an important role in helping your child settle with confidence over time. 

We serve meals based on a whole food vegetarian menu, with dairy, eggs and plant-based proteins including legumes. We do this for a few reasons. Firstly we believe exposing tamariki to a variety of fruit and veg promotes healthy eating habits from a young age. It's also environmentally sustainable and as part of our value of keeping children safe, reduces the risk of e-coli bacteria associated with raw meat. Thirdly, we are mindful of our diverse community of whānau; serving vegetarian meals with plant-based proteins is our best effort to ensure there is a place at the table for every child, regardless of their cultural and religious belief, while ensuring our meals have all the food groups needed for a balanced diet. 

At Kindercare, each child will have a daily sleep and rest period, shortly after their midday meal. 

Sleep and rest rituals play an integral role in providing outstanding care for every child. 

We respect the personal choices of whānau in seeking professional advice, including Sleep Consultants, to establish individualised sleep and rest plans for their child, and, in partnership with parents, we will kōrero with whānau on sleep and rest aspirations. However, as we provide centre-based care, not all philosophies and practices around sleep/rest are aligned with the early childhood setting, or our commitment to Best Practice. To ensure optimal outcomes for each child, while they are in our care, our team are not able to accommodate those requests and requirements that do not support our commitment to Best Practice. 

Read more about our Sleeping Children Policy for details on what this looks like practically and supportively. 

After a busy morning exploring and learning through play, a time to pause helps children feel calm, settled, and ready for the afternoon ahead. 

That’s why we provide a consistent 30-minute quiet time after lunch as part of our daily rhythm for children who are at Kindercare for most of the day. This gives children the opportunity to rest their bodies, reset, and recharge. 

For some children, this then becomes a natural opportunity for needed sleep. For others, once they have had time to rest, they can continue with recharge time in calm or low-stimulus activities. We never force children to sleep. Instead, our teachers take a caring, individualised approach—supporting each child to feel safe, settled, and relaxed during this time. 

We acknowledge birthdays in a warm, child-centred way that feels safe and inclusive. 

Birthdays are an important ritual for children at Kindercare. It’s a moment to feel seen, celebrated, and connected with their Teachers and friends. Our centres typically mark birthdays in simple, meaningful ways (for example, a special birthday acknowledgement during the day and a little celebration with the group). Because each centre community is unique, your centre team can confirm exactly what birthday celebrations look like in your child’s room, including any guidelines around food, allergies, and shared celebrations. 

All Kindercare centres share the same heart — a commitment to nurturing, high-quality care and learning for every child. 

This means you can feel confident knowing you’ll experience a consistent standard of care, no matter which centre you choose. 

At the same time, each centre has its own unique feel, shaped by the children, families and communities around it. Our centre teams thoughtfully tailor their environments and learning experiences to reflect what matters most in their local community, and to support each child as an individual. 

This balance allows us to offer both trusted consistency and a genuine sense of belonging — so your child feels right at home. 

A late pick-up fee may apply, however please call the centre as soon as you can if you’re running late on the day. 

Because ratios must be maintained at all times, staffing needs can continue right through to the last pickup. Your centre will explain any late pickup arrangements (and any applicable fees) as part of your fee schedule/enrolment agreement.