My nephew comes here and he absolutely loves it. The standard of childcare in New Zealand is high…read moreand this is one of its best centres. It's a Reggio centre whose principles concentrate on a child's development and many childcare centres in New Zealand are based on this. The children are catered for, getting a morning/afternoon tea and lunch. The parents of the children are emailed out an update every day on the activities of the children at the centre - this is great for parents and really keep them in the loop. The teachers in the school are all passionate about childcare and each child is given a lot of attention and care. I think what attracts a lot of young couples to come live in New Zealand is the emphasis on children and a child friendly environment. There are many good centres in Auckland but this is, by all accounts one of the best.

My daughter only got to spend one term here as our circumstances changed and the short sessions…read morewere no longer possible. It was such a shame because it's a lovely kindy and she made some really good friends. Many of those friends went on to the same primary school as her which was a real bonus in terms of making her feel more secure and confident when she started school. When I was researching the public kindergartens available in my area, Lady Cobham was by far the best with wonderful caring teachers and a great community network of parents. The downside of course with any public preschool is that it feels like you just dropped them off before you have to go back and pick them up again as sessions are either morning or afternoon. Also, most people with preschoolers will know there are lengthy waiting lists but as long as you are ON the waiting list, the oldest children take priority, hopefully giving all the kids at least a couple of terms before they turn 5. Kindies are a great option if you can make the timings work with your routine and Lady Cobham is one of the best.

My eldest went to Epsom South Kindergarten (formerly known as Lady Cobham) and my youngest is on…read morethe waiting list to attend. Although we now live outside the local area, it was and is easily the best kindy I have visited. The staff there are supportive and welcome all cultures with open arms. I really enjoyed all the celebrations shared with the kindy community (children and families) and they have a great open door policy with parents wanting to help out.

I really love the flow of the Northcote Community Crèche, the outdoor play area flows almost…read morecompletely around the crèche, allowing the children to spend lots of time playing in the sand pit, riding a scooter or pushing a cart. The staff are also wonderfully calm and helpful, and always attentive with the children. My first visit here was to have a look around and see what I thought about enrolling my child. Didn't take me long to realize, that the kids were happy, and there was so much to learn from and play with. A routine session, gave your child- indoor and outdoor play time, a sit down group meal, group book reading, and sing along/dance time. Organised and cheerful, this community crèche is a favourite of mine.

Best little kindy out West. My nieces and nephews attended here and they all took to it like ducks…read moreto water. The teachers are really lovely and on the day's I have been a visitor the welcome is so friendly. The facility itself feels like a home away from home, very comfortable for the preschoolers as they get used to routines and a more disciplined form of learning. There is lots of unstructured play interspersed with mat time and projects done together. Outside the playground is a great avenue of endless exploration and games. Being right next to Oratia School would make the transition from 4 to 5 years and start of school an easy one.

This is where both my children spent (and one is still spending) their primary years. It has long…read morehad a reputation as being one of the best schools in the central Auckland suburbs, so much so that house prices, including rentals, in the area are a good hundred dollars more (per week, rental or add three zeros for purchase) than those just over the boundary. All parents in Auckland come up against the bloody school zone dilemma because opinions are like arseholes - everyone has one. In the end I think that you can never know what a school is like for your particular child and family until you try it yourself. Our first few years here were great, although it's important to note that this is a "learning" school for teachers which means there's a good proportion who are just starting out in their careers. This has proved to be a positive and a negative - it just depends on the teacher. After a really great three or so years things things began to slide and choices were being made that many parents were questioning. The outcome of this is that the school is currently under a temporary principal (who seems to be doing a great job under the circumstances) and the hope is that the new permanent principal will start in Term 2 2013. The school community is very much looking forward to this as big decisions regarding the way forward will once again be possible so if you are thinking of this school for your child, keep your ear to ground and see what happens.

I never actually went to Maungawhau, but I had friends who did. They turned out alright. My…read moreintroduction to this place was years after primary school, when I was inducted into the illicit, underground cricket ring that operated out of here. Illicit and underground might be overstating it a bit. Basically we would just play little games of cricket on the courts here in the afternoons sometimes. For a school grounds after hours it's nice how much use it gets. Quite apart from us wrecking our shoulders pretending we know how to bowl, you often see other people throwing balls around, or small children on roller blades and bikes being trailed by weary, obliging parents. This school is a focal point of the community not only because it's a school, with everything that entails, but also because of the space itself and the use people make of it. This is really nice to see, and we're happy to donate several tennis balls to the cause (we've left most of them on the roof, and a couple lodged in that big tree).

I will always have a soft spot for Mt Eden Kindergarten. As the kindergarten I attended as a child,…read morethis place has been around for decades and still attracts hundreds of locals. Conveniently situated on Milton Road off Dominion Road, this kindy offers all sorts of fun games and activities for kids. Painting, dress ups, miniature houses, puzzles, building blocks, picture book, a sandpit, swings, lots of balls and a whole playground are part of this place. The children I babysit both went to this kindergarten, so while I haven't been enrolled there for over 16 years, I have visited in regularly in the past few years and the feedback from the kids has always been brilliant. The staff that work at this kindy genuinely love children and are very good at teaching them the basics - reading, writing, sharing - in a fun and innovative manner. Mt Eden Kindy is a small community - everyone there knows each other, and I actually found myself recognising many of the parents and being included in their conversations. An extremely friendly, welcoming kindergarten that I would happily send my own kids to!

I finally got around to checking out my local Kindergarten for my son to be wait listed at by the…read moreage of two. Located just off the busy Onewa road on Nutsey Ave, is Northcote Kindergarten. The front door, leads you by the head teacher and administration office, where they greet you, and give you some pamphlet information on the center, and an enrollment form should you be interested. I asked lots of questions such as what age does my boy start, whats the transition like, do they proceed on to adjoining schools nearby, etc. The staff are all very helpful, and I was super pleased with the organisation. I was welcomed in, to look around and let my child play outside in the sandpit/playground with a group of children a year and a bit older; he absolutely loved the play time, the sand and water pit, the playground with hammock, and tunnels, and I was really pleased to walk out convinced I will be happy to have him learn in such an environment come 32-36 months of age. Its always great to look around, as North Shore really does have an abundance of fantastic kindergartens, and this one is a winner in my books.

Sunnynook's newest early childhood education centre is the creation of Michelle and Nikki who have…read moreyears of experience in their industry and have a passion for children's learning. What is really different about this childcare centre is how much the aesthetics have been considered, it is a beautifully laid out environment. They purpose built the modern centre is actually an architectural design showcase, each of the infant and toddler rooms are beautifully crafted with bright colours and streamlined furniture, there are stunning landscaped playgrounds adjoining the Sunnynook reserve. Happy kiddies go about their business of play in the calm and considered centre. Here is somewhere I would definitely send my preschoolers, they take 0 to five years, if I lived on this side of town. If you are shopping for a childcare and are lucky enough to live close by, pop in to visit and share in the innovation.