care centre howick auckland

Where small steps lead to big discoveries

Providing a nurturing and enriching environment for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in Howick, East Auckland.
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ABOUT

Two individual centres, one convenient site
— Infants & Toddlers and Preschool.

At Small Steps, we focus on personalised care tailored to each child’s unique interests. We create a foundation for lifelong learning and social competence.
Our dedicated Infants & Toddlers Centre and Preschool Centre allow children to learn within smaller, developmentally appropriate groups, while maintaining familiar relationships and a gentle pathway as they grow.
kindergarten

Nurturing Curiosity, Building Foundations

At Small steps, we believe in the power of curiosity. By observing and engaging with your child’s interests, we tailor our learning experiences to foster growth and development.

Our approach is inspired by the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whāriki, which emphasizes building on a child’s natural interests and encouraging them to take an active role in their learning journey.
About Us
  • Based in the heart of Howick
  • Purpose built centres, grouped by age
  • Open Monday – Friday 7.30am – 5.30pm
  • Homemade meals prepared daily

Our Spaces

infant care

Infants and Toddlers

Our dedicated space for infants and toddlers up to 3 years old provides a safe, nurturing environment where your little ones can explore and grow. With a teacher-to-child ratio of 1:4, we ensure that each child receives personalized attention and care.
More Infants & Toddlers
preschool

Preschoolers

For children aged 3 to 5 years, our preschool area offers a stimulating environment designed to encourage independence and creativity. With a teacher-to-child ratio of 1:6, our experienced educators support children in their journey towards school readiness.
More Preschoolers

Our Program

Design for Learning

Our curriculum is flexible and responsive, allowing children to pursue their own ideas and develop their working theories. By creating a stimulating environment, we encourage children to explore, initiate play, and feel comfortable in their surroundings.
pre-school care
kindergarten

Fostering Social Competence

We believe in the importance of developing social competence. Through observing, modeling, and practicing social skills, children learn to navigate interactions with their peers, solve conflicts, and develop empathy. 

Our program supports children in becoming confident, respectful, and cooperative individuals.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
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 Maggie Law profile picture 
 
 
 Maggie Law 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
My son has been at this day care for nearly a year. The owner Angela has been very helpful, responsive and caring. She's so kind, knowledgeable and have great sense of humor. You can talk to her about anything. Even better all the teachers here are like Angela too, great mixture of young and mummys teachers. They have all been very kind and you can always feel the happy warm environment when you go to the centre!
The daycare has been operating for a long time under leadership of Angela. The centre is Angela's another baby which she brought up.
  
 
  
 
 
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 Neriza Keet profile picture 
 
 
 Neriza Keet 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
We couldn’t be happier with our experience at Small Steps. From day one, the staff has been warm, welcoming, and incredibly attentive to our child's needs. They’ve created such a safe, and nurturing environment.

The caregivers are not only professional but genuinely loving—it's clear they truly care about the kids. The daily activities are thoughtful and fun, encouraging both creativity and learning. We especially love the updates and photos we receive throughout the day—they give us so much peace of mind and let us share in those little milestones.

Our child has blossomed socially, and emotionally since starting here. Highly recommend to any parent looking for exceptional care.
  
 
  
 
 
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 Shanelle Meyer profile picture 
 
 
 Shanelle Meyer 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
We absolutely love this daycare! The staff is warm, caring, and truly passionate about the children they care for. Our child has blossomed in such a positive and nurturing environment. From the engaging activities to the friendly atmosphere, we feel confident that our little one is in great hands. The communication with parents is excellent, and we appreciate how they keep us updated on our child's progress and daily activities. Highly recommend this daycare to anyone looking for a safe and loving place for their child.
  
 
  
 
 
 Google 
 Steph Chaney profile picture 
 
 
 Steph Chaney 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
This place felt like home when we walked in. We've had children attending for the past 4 years and they both absolutely love it. Teachers are amazing and they foster a supportive and caring learning environment. Will be sad when the girls go to school and we have to say goodbye!
  
 
  
 
 
 Google 
 Emma profile picture 
 
 
 Emma 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
My son has been going here for over 2 years now. Due to our circumstances we needed somewhere quickly. We are so glad we chose Small steps.

We were going through a difficult time when he started due to his sister being in the hospital for months. The team made sure Daniel felt at ease there, he settled in well and the love and care they gave him and showed us was amazing and made him forget about everything happening at home. He loved it from day 1!

He looks forward to going there every day and is always disappointed at the weekend when he has to stay home! He comes home each day with exciting tales of what he has been upto and wakes up every morning eager to go there again!

We couldn't of asked for a better centre & teachers for him! We will be so sad when he leaves for school later this year! ❤❤
  
 
  
 
 
 Google 
 Claudia Botha profile picture 
 
 
 Claudia Botha 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
My boys absolutely love Small Steps - they are always happy when I drop them off and pick them up. The love, care and attention they receive is fantastic and as a parent, seeing the way that they smile when they see their teachers in the morning speaks volumes about the relationships that the teachers build with the children. 100% recommend.
  
 
  
 
 
 Google 
 Samantha Wilson profile picture 
 
 
 Samantha Wilson 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Both my children have attended this centre and we have been so happy with the level of love and care they have received. The centre is homely and inviting, with teachers who go the extra mile to create strong relationships with children, their families and make every day fun!
  
 
  
 
 
 Google 
 Jessica Higgison profile picture 
 
 
 Jessica Higgison 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Such an amazing daycare. I sent all my babies here, the staff are so caring, you just know your children are in great hands.
  
 
  
 
 
 Google 
 Klara Balogh profile picture 
 
 
 Klara Balogh 
 
 
 
 Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Very pleased to have found this place for my baby. Loving safe environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Two individual centres, one convenient site — Infants & Toddlers and Preschool.
Our dedicated Infants & Toddlers Centre and Preschool Centre allow children to learn within smaller, developmentally appropriate groups, while maintaining familiar relationships and a gentle pathway as they grow.

Small Steps offers two individual early childhood centres on the same site: our Infants & Toddlers Centre and our Preschool Centre. This allows children to learn and play in smaller, developmentally appropriate groups while still being part of one connected Small Steps community.

Yes. We have two individual centres located on the same site. Our Infants & Toddlers Centre provides a dedicated environment for our younger children under approx. 2.5years old, while our Preschool Centre is designed specifically for older children. This helps us maintain smaller group sizes, age-appropriate environments and a calmer pace for each stage of development.

Small Steps was established in 2007 with a purpose-built Infants & Toddlers Centre designed specifically for children under three years of age. As our children grew, we wanted them to be able to continue their learning journey with us while moving into an environment created for their next stage of development. In 2011, we converted an existing bungalow on the same site into our dedicated Preschool Centre.

Today, our two individual centres allow infants and toddlers to enjoy a nurturing, age-appropriate environment while older children transition gradually into a dedicated preschool setting. Because both centres are on the same site, children can move into preschool while remaining within the familiar Small Steps community, helping make the transition feel natural, secure and connected.

Because both centres are located on the same site, transitions can be gradual and familiar. Children are able to become comfortable with the Preschool environment, teachers and children before moving across. We work closely with each child and their whānau so that transition happens in a way that supports their individual readiness and sense of security.

Yes. One of the benefits of operating two individual centres is that children are not all grouped together in one large mixed-age environment. We value smaller group experiences because they support stronger relationships, more individual attention, calmer learning environments and meaningful teacher-child interactions.

Our programme is guided by Te Whāriki, New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum. Children learn through play, exploration, relationships and intentional teaching. Teachers observe children’s interests, strengths and developing skills and provide experiences that support language, early literacy and numeracy, social development, problem-solving, creativity and physical development.

We understand that starting early childhood education is a significant transition for both children and their families. We work closely with whānau to understand each child’s routines, comfort needs, sleep patterns, feeding and individual cues. Familiar teachers and a smaller, dedicated Infants & Toddlers environment help children develop strong relationships and a sense of belonging.

Families are kept involved in their child’s learning through regular communication, learning stories and updates. Teachers document children’s interests, progress and learning and link these to Te Whāriki. We also value parent and whānau aspirations and include these when planning future learning experiences.

Yes. Eligible children can access 20 Hours ECE from their third birthday, in accordance with Ministry of Education requirements and their enrolled hours. Please contact us for our current fee information and to discuss how 20 Hours ECE applies to your child’s enrolment.

Yes. We encourage families to visit Small Steps so you can meet our teachers, see both of our individual centres on the same site and get a feel for our learning environments. We are happy to discuss your child’s needs, current availability and our enrolment or waiting-list process.

Join the Small Steps Whānau

We welcome you to visit Small Steps and experience our warm, inclusive environment firsthand.
Contact us to schedule a tour and discuss how we can support your child’s early learning journey.
Contact
Address
14 Botany Road, Howick
Auckland, 2014

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