Education & Care Service 20 Hours ECE

Gulf Harbour Preschool

Whangaparaoa, Gulf Harbour
5|
Ages
2–5 years
Roll Size
41 children
Subsidies
20 Hours
Rating
5/5

About Gulf Harbour Preschool

Gulf Harbour Preschool is a education & care service in Gulf Harbour, Whangaparaoa, with children currently enrolled aged 2–5 years. It’s well suited for families needing flexible full-day or part-day childcare with a balanced, mainstream early learning programme. This centre offers 20 Hours ECE funding.

About Education & Care Service

Education & Care Services are mainstream early learning centres that offer full-day or part-day care with a structured curriculum, qualified teachers, and a focus on learning through play. They cater to families needing flexible childcare options and wanting a balanced approach that supports social, physical, and early academic development in a diverse environment.

What Is 20 Hours ECE funding?

20 Hours ECE is a government-funded initiative that helps reduce the cost of early childhood education for families with tamariki aged 3–5. Eligible children can receive up to 20 hours of funded care and education each week at participating services. Centres can set their own enrolment patterns and may ask for optional charges, but the funded hours themselves should be free of compulsory fees. If you are unsure how this works at Gulf Harbour Preschool, it is best to ask the centre directly how they apply 20 Hours ECE.

Community Profile

Roll & age distribution

Gulf Harbour Preschool currently has a roll of 41 children tamariki , with most children enrolled in the 2–5 years age band.

Ethnicity profile

European tamariki are the largest group (58% of the roll), alongside māori, asian, other children.

Roll and demographic figures are based on data supplied by the Ministry of Education and were last updated on 01/07/2024.

Parent Reviews

Google Verified
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Baillie-Kate Goldfinch
September 2025

“We feel incredibly lucky to have found Gulf Harbour Preschool. The love, care, and dedication the team has shown both our girls has been nothing short of amazing. Cleo thrived during her time there. She grew in confidence, curiosity, and independence, and was more than ready for school thanks to the thoughtful and nurturing environment the teachers created. Now, watching Tia follow in her sister’s footsteps and blossom under the same care has been such a joy. We’re so grateful for the genuine passion the teachers have for what they do, it truly makes all the difference. Thank you, Gulf Harbour Preschool, for giving our girls such a beautiful start 🩷 Baillie and James”

JL
Jayne Lee
September 2025

“I cannot say enough wonderful things about this preschool! The teachers are incredibly kind, caring, and attentive - you can truly feel the love and compassion they put into everything they do. The teacher-to-student ratio is excellent, and I especially appreciate the dedicated 1:1 time for arts, as well as phonics and math for children over 4, helping prepare them beautifully for school. The teachers have a wonderful understanding of each child’s strengths and focus on bringing out the very best in them. My two boys were constantly engaged, always learning, and excited to come back every day. The curriculum is thoughtful and educational, with themes that change often so the children are always exposed to fresh knowledge. They would come home surprising me with big words and new facts I’d never expect from preschool-aged kids — and most importantly, they enjoyed learning. Watching them grow more confident, curious, and happy each year has been such a gift. For the last five years of daily drop-offs and pick-ups, my kids have always come out smiling and full of love and joy. The centre is always clean, organised and welcoming. The consistency, care, and positivity at this preschool are truly unmatched. If you’re looking for a preschool where your children will be nurtured, challenged, and valued, this is the place.”

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Sarah-Jane Christensen
May 2024

“Gulf Harbour Preschool is second to none! We were fortunate enough to discover this centre when we moved to the area a few years ago and have watched our boys absolutely thrive under the care, love and attention of the team. Linda and Marianne lead an excellent team of teachers who put their absolute all into every child, every day. The learning environment is outstanding, with incredible, high quality resources both indoors and outdoors. A quick glimpse inside and you'll be blown away the colourful, fun and creative spaces provided - absolutely above and beyond any minimum requirement as an early childhood centre. The preschool is maintained impeccably and is always clean and tidy. There are numerous opportunies for the children to learn both independently and collectively. Tables with tailored activities and themes connected to the curriculum focus are set up ready for the children to explore in a self directed way. It is so clear to see how invested and passionate the team are in providing rich learning experiences for the children, this is also reflected in the love our boys have had for their teachers! The preschool follows a carefully curated curriculum where the children are encouraged to discover and discuss topics together. I'm always so impressed at the facts my almost 3 year old remembers and contributes to our dinner table discussions. The older children spend some time each week working on early literacy and numeracy with a qualified teacher, ensuring they are confident and competent learners when it comes time to transition to school. The outdoor play opportunities are amazing and the art techniques learnt and practiced are phenomenal and so impressive. I'll be keeping the art folders forever, that's for sure. Gulf Harbour Preschool is a real treasure. It is a beautiful community and I know that we've given our boys the best possible start by sending them here - it truly is the best.”

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Alfred Gu
February 2024

“We are blessed to have our child attending this preschool. She settled in very well from day one even though we came from another country. I can tell from a lot of details that this is a loving and caring place. Educators are passionate to work here and kids here and their parents are lovely. A wonderful experience for all of us.”

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Rosie Deans
May 2023

“Marianne and Lynda are absolutely phenomenal and certainly have your children’s best interests at heart. They are genuinely interested and invested in ensuring your children get a head start by proactively teaching the basics at a young age using a teacher-led approach. Always friendly and so welcoming, I highly recommend this beautiful pre-school for your children. High quality teachers and a high quality learning environment. 10/10! X”

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Contact Details

79 Alec Craig Way, Gulf Harbour, Whangaparaoa

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