Early Connections Childcare

Welcome to Early Connections! Based in Beachlands, our centre is a warm and welcoming home away from home for your children. As a family-owned and run centre, we are passionate about nurturing and enriching the little lives that we are trusted with, providing a safe and fun environment for them to play and learn.

We believe in building a sense of belonging and acceptance for each child in our care, and we are proud to have a beautiful array of cultures and families within our community.

At Early Connections, we maintain low ratios of 1-3 in our under 2's space and 1-7 in our over 2's, ensuring that each child feels seen and nurtured while they explore and play.

Respect for the children is at the core of everything we do, ensuring that they feel understood and have a strong sense of belonging with us.

Our learning spaces are carefully designed, with quality resources indoors and large natural outdoor spaces, allowing children to freely explore our inviting environment.

We understand the importance of nutrition, and our centre chef, Christine, prepares a nourishing menu of snacks and meals. We cater to all allergens, intolerances, specific diets, and cultural requirements, ensuring that every child's needs are met.

Guided by Te Whariki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, Early Connections cultivates a sense of belonging and respect right from the start. Our tamariki (children) are provided with an enriching and stimulating home away from home, where they can explore, play, and learn in a calm and unhurried way while feeling nurtured and respected.

But don't just take our word for it. Here's what some of our parents have to say:

"Our three-and-a-half-year-old started at Early Connections when she was around eleven months old. Since then, Early Connections have become her 'home away from home' in a true sense. So much so, our daughter wants to spend time there, even on weekends! All the teachers are not just caring and empathetic but go that extra mile to make your child comfortable and confident in their skin. We are so glad we chose this special place, and the personalized care our child has experienced has been par excellence. We highly recommend this place to other parents looking for a similar experience for their little ones."

Early Connections has been part of our family for nearly 5 years with 2 of our children attending the centre. The staff have treated our children with love and care, always looking out for their best interest. I cannot speak highly enough of the teachers, some amazing gems who will always have a big space in our hearts. Knowing that my children are happy and enjoying their days exploring, doing a variety of activities makes it a lot easier to leave each morning seeing them happily waving goodbye. I couldn't ask for a more safe and supportive environment for my children to learn and grow.

We would highly recommend Early Connections Beachlands! We are so grateful for the love and care the Early Connections whānau show to our tamariki! The team is always working hard to give our children fun, new experiences, and our children are excited to go to daycare in the mornings! They make a real effort to get to know our whole whānau. We are so grateful our kids have a daycare that makes them feel at home.

Early Connections has been our home away from home for AJ since he was 11 months old. The kaiako (teachers) welcomed our whole family into their care, and AJ is now so excited to see his daycare whānau on the mornings he attends. The values that Loren, Renee, Rach, and the whole Early Connections whānau hold are fundamental for our children's well-being and development. Their focus on individuality, as well as the variety of play areas available at the centre, has helped AJ feel safe and secure. It is rare to find such an elaborate outdoor play area with REAL grass and mud. He is always in his element in their enormous sand pit and is so excited to tell us about his day with diggers, paint, mud, and water, to name a few of the hands-on activities available. We know it is a great day when his pockets are full of sand or mud. AJ can be his creative individual self with the guidance and love from his kaiako.