Contact Info
Community Ownership: Parents likely have a strong say in how the service operates and what happens to children, all money earnt stays within it, and teachers may be paid better and childcare charges may be lower compared to most (but not necessarily all) private and corporate owned services. (Ask: Is it an Incorporated Society? Does it also have charitable status?)
Small Boutique Centre: Centres with 50 or fewer children make it easier for staff to provide a warm and nurturing environment, for children to have their individual needs met and skills, knowledge, and competencies extended. (Ask: For continuity of care and relationships, do children stay with the same group of children and teachers throughout their time at the service?)
100% Qualified Teacher Funded: All staff counted toward meeting the minimum adult-child ratio requirement must hold a practising certificate as a teacher if the service receives this level of Ministry of Education funding.
(as at last year):
Men Included on Teaching Staff (as at last year): There are strong benefits of having both men and women on the teaching team for the quality of care and education a service provides to children. Additionally, gender bias in staff recruitment and employment is not generally acceptable in society today. (Ask: How many teaching staff are employed and what proportion are men?)
(last year and year before):
Clean Licence Record (last year and the year before): To be licensed a service must comply with regulations that help ensure children’s safety, care, and a suitable standard of education. When requirements are breached the Ministry of Education may downgrade a service’s licence to provisional or issue a suspension. Check the lists of services placed on a provisional or suspended licence https://oece.nz/public/information/standards/
Recommended Highly by 80% or More Families: The service is recommended by at least 80% of families, based on results from the independent OECE parent survey. To qualify, the survey must have a response rate of at least 51% of enrolled families and have been completed within the past three years.
17 Reviews on “Little Magpies Childcare Centre”
We absolutely love Little Magpies.
Our children have flourished in each age/stage and classroom. Tamariki are encouraged to give new things a go, all the while under the caring guidance of their kaiako. The curriculum is both dynamic and stimulating, with a broad range of topics and themes covered. The kaiako are approachable, responsive and go the extra mile in understanding what makes each child tick. The back-office team are extremely competent and ensure that everything functions smoothly. We cant recommend Little Magpies enough.
Can not say enough good things about the Little Magpies centre. All 3 rooms are great. Very approachable, lovely staff throughout the whole centre and my kids love it there. Always greeted with a warm welcome, kept well informed of how our children are going and the space is so fun, inviting and joyful. Love the mix of fun play and learning also. Always recommend this centre to friends.
Little Magpies Daycare Centre has been an absolute dream for our family. From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed, supported, and completely at ease. The staff are incredibly nurturing, professional, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They create a safe, stimulating, and joyful environment where children thrive.
The daily activities are thoughtfully planned, blending creativity, learning, and play in a way that keeps the kids engaged and excited. Communication with parents is excellent, we always feel informed and involved in our child’s development.
The best thing about them is their kind and caring teachers and staff. They provide a safe and fun environment for learning and development, and always live up to their values. A fantastic centre and our 2 kids love it!
We have put all 3 of our children through Little Magpies with 2 still attending. I love all 3 learning environments which cater perfectly for each age group. The staff are amazing and I love how they care, teach and help them grow individually working alongside the families. The support we have received throughout the years from them has been amazing. They are amazing with communication and I would highly recommend to anyone looking for childcare in Hawkes bay.
My daughter has been been through both the Kiwi and Magpies rooms at Little Magpies and is about to head to school.
She has had beautiful relationships with kind caring staff along the way.
I am always amazed by what she learns, and the creativity off the teachers when creating activities/ learning experiences for the children.
I really like the diversity of the teachers and other families who attend the centre. I feel this reflects our diverse community.
The play spaces and gardens are lovely
Absolutely love the service we have received since our son was 8months old and continue to receive from Little Magpies today. Our son has absolutey thrived in their care and has learnt so much in his time there so far. Every staff member is amazing and friendly and put 1000% into caring and teaching the children.
Our daughter has been attending since she was 1. Staff are amazing and supportive. So kind and caring. Can confidently recommend the Gecko Room. Our daughter has absolutely thrived there and has learned so much from coming out of her shell to learning new words and phrases and exploring the world around her. It’s been amazing to see her grow and develop. She loves going to daycare 💖
As a first time mum, the thought of putting my little one into daycare on my return to work was daunting. Little Magpies took all the worry away! Always feel welcome and comfortable in their space. They really care for the kids like their own. The communication is great! They have high expectations for the kids, enforced in an independence promoting environment. Love that they make the most of learning outside and the range of different learning opportunities they scaffold. So glad we found little Magpies!
Wouldn’t send my children anywhere else in Hawkes Bay! All 4 of my children have been through Little Magpies, 2 are still currently attending the centre and our Niece and Nephews having attended / and are still attending. Our whānau have always felt welcomed into the centre, supported with our tamaiti and appreciate the effort the teachers go to acknowledge and teach in the Te Ao Māori spaces. We appreciate all the teachers and the connections that are made with our children to ensure they have a home away from home. Ngā mihi Little Magpies!
Little Magpies has cared for five of my grandchildren over the past three years, and each of them has truly thrived in their care.
We are always well informed about their learning and regularly invited to share our aspirations and contribute throughout the year. The management and teaching team foster a beautiful culture of respect, support, and inclusion—something you can genuinely feel every time you walk through the door.
I just love how much fun and meaningful learning my mokos experience there. We are so grateful for the care, passion, and commitment the Little Magpies team brings to their early years.
Our son started at Little Magpies Childcare at just six months old, and it’s been a fantastic experience. The team is warm, caring, and made us feel welcome right from the start.
They treat our son with love and have been really keen to know about our aspirations and work hard to meet them.
The centre is safe, clean, and full of things to explore. Our son has made great progress socially and emotionally, and it’s lovely to see him happy and excited each day.
We’re really grateful to the staff for giving him such a strong start in life.
Such a welcoming, caring environment, I am glad to have sent my daughter here from 6 months. I appreciate everything the staff do to help her grow and feel just as loved here as she is at home.
Great safety standards for my little one from 6 Month’s old. Great teachers and take great care in the learning development of each age group for that child.
Awesome events and allowing us parents to par-take in the events as well.
Always following ministry standard protocols and more.
Love how they go by my child’s learning abilities to excel in their development
We’ve had such a positive experience with Little Magpies. Both of our children have attended, and we’ve always found the team to be warm, approachable, and highly professional. They’re great at keeping us in the loop and genuinely care about working with families to support each child’s growth. It’s clear they value parent aspirations and put them into practice. A fantastic centre we’re proud to be part of.
Little Magpies has been an incredible centre for both of my children. The staff are consistently friendly, caring, and professional. They communicate well and genuinely listen to and implement our aspirations as parents. I’ve always felt that my children are safe, supported, and thriving in their care. We feel so lucky to be part of the Little Magpies whānau!
We’ve had a wonderful experience at Little Magpies over the past four years. Both my son and granddaughter have absolutely loved their time here. The teachers are kind, nurturing, and really know how to bring out the best in each child.
The centre is well-resourced, spacious, and full of opportunities to learn and play. Most importantly, the staff genuinely adapt to the needs of your whānau, creating a supportive and inclusive environment that feels like a second home.
Wonderful Centre – 3 rooms, teaching team are amazing. Fabulous learning programme provided, and curriculum experienced with varied activities, including community trips. Very learning focused and parents are included in everything.