Education & Care Service 20 Hours ECE

Stepping Stones Early Childhood Education

Okato

Ages

1–5 years

Roll Size

57 children

Subsidies

20 Hours

Rating

5/5

About Stepping Stones Early Childhood Education

Stepping Stones Early Childhood Education is a education & care service in Okato, with children currently enrolled aged 1–5 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 Stepping Stones Early Childhood Education, it is best to ask the centre directly how they apply 20 Hours ECE.

Community Profile

Roll & age distribution

Stepping Stones Early Childhood Education currently has a roll of 57 children tamariki , with most children enrolled in the 1–5 years age band.

Ethnicity profile

European tamariki are the largest group (83% of the roll), alongside māori 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

Michelle Moulden

September 2025

“Our two boys love their teachers. They enjoyed the songs and play times. Inside and out. Our oldest boy loved puddle time and playing on the swing and big slide. Our youngest loved banging on tins and boxes. Singing songs and play boo. The awesome teachers taught them so much. Highly recommend little steps and stepping stones”