Active Explorers

Ellerslie

75 Ballarat Street, Ellerslie, Auckland
Monday- Friday 7:00am - 5.30pm
09 579 4991

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Chat to us about Half Price Fees

Valid for new enrolments only. T&C's apply.

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Centre Benefits

Lunches/Food
3 Rooms
Nursery
Nappies Included
Excursions
School Transitions
Storypark
Large Outdoor Area
ECE Hours
Extended Hours

Kia ora

My name is Suzy, and I am the Centre Manager at Active Explorers Ellerslie. I originally come from China and have been proud to call New Zealand my home since 2008. I came here to study Early Childhood Education and graduated from MIT with a bachelor’s degree in ECE, followed by a Postgraduate qualification in Education from the University of Auckland.

I have over 12 years of experience working in early childhood education here in New Zealand. I am passionate about creating a warm, nurturing, and engaging learning environment where every child feels valued and supported to reach their full potential.

I look forward to getting to know you and your tamariki and working together to make their learning journey a joyful and meaningful one.

Ellerslie's favourite local daycare

We’re a warm, welcoming early learning centre that families know they can rely on. Many of our families return to us with their second and even third children, a reflection of the strong relationships and trust we build over time.

What makes us special

Our Centre

About Active Explorers Ellerslie

We make everyday life easier for parents by providing free nappies and three nutritious meals each day, including breakfast for early starts before 8.00am and a late snack after 5.00pm. With plenty of on-site and street parking, drop-offs and pick-ups are simple and stress-free.

Located in a quiet, safe, and secure setting, our centre offers a calm environment where children feel comfortable and confident. We proudly celebrate diversity, with children, families, and teachers from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, creating an inclusive space where everyone belongs.

Community connection is at the heart of what we do. We regularly visit the local library, playgrounds, and retirement village, and we love welcoming parents, whānau, and community services into our centre to share in learning experiences alongside our tamariki.

Our People

Our Team

Our team is passionate about early childhood education and creating a caring, supportive space for children and families. With years of experience and a strong focus on working together with families, our educators ensure that every child receives the attention and care they need.

Administrator

Susan

Assistant Manager

Joan

Head Kaiako - Nursery & Toddler Rooms

Yitong

Head Kaiako - Preschool 2 Room

Lily

Our Rooms

Active Explorers Ellerslie offers vibrant, thoughtfully designed spaces where children are encouraged to explore and create.

Nursery & Toddler Environments:
Our nursery and toddler environments offer rich sensory experiences, including messy play, water play, and sandpit exploration, within a shared outdoor area.

Children enjoy a wide range of bikes, including small trikes and push carts, supporting physical development and shared play. This shared space encourages tuākana–teina relationships and allows children to become familiar with all teachers, supporting their sense of security and belonging.

Preschool Environments:
We offer different seasonal views, allowing children to observe and learn from nature throughout the year. Children care for our garden, where kūmara, corn, strawberries, and carrots are grown, and explore the playground with pōhutukawa and cherry blossom trees.

We provide hands-on experiences such as obstacle courses and carpentry, along with opportunities to build confidence and responsibility through our monitor system, Star of the Day, Star of the Week, and regular news sharing.

We also support children’s independence through toilet training and daily self-care routines, including learning to apply sunscreen independently.

0-2 years

Nursery 1 & 2

Nursery 1: Features its own dedicated sleep room that is dark, quiet, and safe for babies. We work closely with parents to provide respectful care based on each baby’s individual needs.

Nursery 2: Includes an indoor wooden slide that children love. We encourage autonomy at this stage, such as supporting older babies to wash their own hands.

2-3 years

Toddler Room

We hold more in-depth mat times where children begin learning about the calendar, greeting friends, and developing social skills. Toddlers share a spacious outdoor playground with Nursery 1 and 2.

3 - 5 years

Preschool Room 1 and preschool 2

Preschool 1: Although this room has our largest group of children, it is managed exceptionally well, and the children are well settled. We enjoy celebrations and experiments, and children learn through play and working alongside others. Each term, we set different goals to support children’s learning, such as developing respect and independence. We also have a weekly lunchbox day with Preschool 2 to help children prepare for school life.

Preschool 2: This room shares the playground with Preschool 1, where children enjoy the sandpit, cycling, running, and using the monkey bars. We run the Transition to School (Fantastic Four) programme in Preschool 2. Three times a week, preschoolers over the age of four gather for group learning, supporting their transition to school through literacy, numeracy, social-emotional learning, fine motor skills, and more.

Our Gallery

Our Fees

Under 3 years of age

Fees Payable

Morning/Afternoon Session

$12 per hour

6 Hour Session

$12 per hour

Full Day

$12 per hour

Full Week

$425 per week, capped

Over 3 years of age

Fees payable after 20 Hours ECE*

Morning/Afternoon Session

$12 per hour*

6 Hour Session

$12 per hour*

Full Day

$12 per hour*

Full Week

$305 per week, capped*

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My child attends daycare here, and he is very happy. The teachers here are very kind, and there are excellent teaching facilities. They have good ratio, and he often learns new things. He really enjoy...

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