Igniting the passion that lets your child shine

What's on offer at Bright Sparks...
A Christian philosophy, quality education and care in an attractive well resourced environment are just a small part of what we offer here at Bright Sparks Childcare centres. Look behind the scenes and you'll find there's a lot more. We provide a nutritional menu, nappies, weekly active movement sessions, centre and room outings, a fun and stimulating educational programme. We cater for each individual child. Rest assured all children at Bright Sparks Childcare centres receive the best in quality care and education from qualified, passionate and committed teachers. You can read about us in the New Zealand Herald, and more recently this Herald article.

Airport Oaks and Henderson childcare centres 
We now have two great childcare centres to choose from - Bright Sparks Childcare Airport Oaks in Mangere or Bright Sparks Childcare Henderson in West Auckland. The locations differ but our philosophy and high standards remain constant.

Open hours
Our childcare centres are open 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday. We close only for statutory holidays. Enquiries are most welcome - click here to contact us.

People who care
The Bright Sparks teams are passionate about children and their learning. All our childcare staff are carefully selected for their outstanding skills, warm personalities and, of course, their strong affinity with children. You'll find we're a friendly team, which no doubt contributes to the centre's welcoming, homely feeling.

Quality care & education
We follow the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum - Te Whāriki. The Reggio Emilia philosophy is incorporated into our programming; which develops children's thinking and learning. You can find out more about this philosophy at www.reggiochildren.it. Each child has an individual development portfolio which documents their learning and development throughout their time at the centre. We focus on identifying your child's interests, and we encourage them to shine in their own unique way.

Free nappies & formula
To keep things simple for busy parents, we provide free nappies and S26 Step 2 formula for babies 6-12 months. That's two things you don't have to think about - we take care of it all and it doesn't cost you a cent extra.

Cooked nutritious meals
Good nutrition is essential for optimal brain development in the early years. We provide beautifully cooked, well-balanced meals for your child. These meals were developed in close consultation with the Heart Foundation, gaining us a Healthy Heart award.

Annual trips for the whole centre
Our annual trip involving the whole centre is something we all look forward to. Each year the trip is different. Last year the Airport Oaks centre visited Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World which was great fun, very interactive and educational. The Henderson pre-school class visited Sue the Dinosaur at the Auckland Museum. The annual trip is one of the highlights of the year and definitely a day not to be missed! Our trips for the whole centre are in addition to the trips we organise for each of our rooms every year.

Active movement sessions
Both childcare centres offer weekly active movement sessions for all children two years and over. Activities and specially selected equipment are used to promote the development of strength, balance, loco motor and co-ordination skills. Creative movement, music and group games are also incorporated to make each session a fun and exciting experience.

Active movement sessions at Bright Sparks Childcare centre in Airport Oaks Mangere are facilitated by Kane Hancy, Active Movement Director for both centres. Kane has a Bachelor of Health and Science and a Bachelor of Physical education. His Active Movement sessions are loved by all the children.  Bright Sparks Childcare centre in Henderson also has Active Movement sessions facilitated by Kane Hancy and his sessions are just as popular there. 

Free swimming lessons (Airport Oaks only)
Swimming lessons take place during the first and last terms of the year. These are provided free of charge for all four year olds attending the Airport Oaks childcare centre. Your child will receive a lesson once a week for one term, at the Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Leisure Centre. We travel there by taxi.

We start with a swimming lesson and finish with enough time to play and have a swim. A variety of fun activities are included, as well as teaching basic skills to help the children on their way to becoming confident swimmers. It's a great way to gain confidence in the water and learn about water safety.

Open-door policy
We have an open-door policy that allows parents and whanau to drop in at any time to play with their child. We believe Bright Sparks truly is the nicest place to work and grow for children and staff alike. If you would like to find out more about how Bright Sparks meets the needs of your family, please feel free to contact us. We always have time for a chat and you are most welcome to visit us at a pre-arranged time, for a complete tour of the centre.

WINZ subsidies
Bright Sparks supports families receiving WINZ subsidies, and in some cases CYFS payments. Go to our Policies page to find out more or click on www.workandincome.govt.nz to find out if you are eligible to receive a benefit.

Plunket visits
Through the Ministry of Health, every child in New Zealand is entitled to eight free "Well Child" checks. This is where your child's health, development and wellbeing is assessed. Plunket also provide ongoing parent education and support. Once a term, a Plunket nurse visits Bright Sparks and parents can choose to have their "Well Child" checks at the centre. This is particularly helpful for busy, working parents. For further information on Plunket and their services visit www.plunket.org.nz.

20 hours ECE
All three and four year old children attending our centre are entitled to receive 20 hours ECE. This is provided by the Government and can commence as soon as your child turns three. If you choose to use the 20 hours you will not be entitled to the 50% deduction off the normal rate of fees if you take holidays. For more about this, and to calculate the amount you would save, please check our fee schedule - Airport Oaks fees; Henderson fees. You'll also find more information on the Government's 20 hours scheme please at www.minedu.govt.