About
Magic Sparks provides a home away from home in our early childhood centres in Palmerston North, Paraparaumu and Petone
Magic Sparks owner Angie Stead has always been passionate about education and early childhood in particular – wanting to help set children on the right path to lifelong learning and development.
Angie opened her first centre, Discovery Care and Learning, in Milson, Palmerston North in 2011. This was later rebranded to Magic Sparks when she opened a second childcare centre in Petone, followed in 2016 by another childcare centre in Palmerston North CBD. Magic Sparks Kāpiti opened in 2018 and the newest centre, Magic Sparks Nature Preschool, next to Terrace End School, opened in 2023
Children and their family and whānau are at the heart of all our centres. We follow an ECE play-based learning philosophy that treats children as individuals and seeks to light their spark – whatever that may be.
We have a passionate team of Kaiako in each of our four centres with a high percentage of qualified teachers and teacher:child ratios that exceed minimum Ministry standards. Our Kaiako work closely with parents, caregivers and family members to ensure we are offering he very best of care and learning for each and every child.
We look forward to welcoming your family into our care. Enquire about enrolling at one of our pre-schools today or get in touch if you have any questions.
Nutritious meals to help your child stay focused and develop healthy habits
Our Kāpiti, Cuba and Petone centres have a full time cook on site to provide nutritious meals for children. Dependent on enrolled hours children are offered morning tea, warm lunches, afternoon tea and snacks.
All meals served are inspired by the Healthy Heart guidelines and we introduce children to a variety of flavours, tastes and textures, encouraging them to try a variety of foods, educating their palate for a lifetime of healthy choices.
If your child has any dietary needs for medical reasons (allergies, intolerances etc) or for religious purposes these will be happily catered for. Please ensure you let a team member know at your local centre when your child starts and write the information on your enrolment form.
Transition to school programme for confident school starters
We know how challenging moving on from daycare to school can be and how important it is for children to get a good start at school. So we offer all four-year-olds at our early childhood centres the chance to take part in our transition to school programme.
Working in partnership with local schools, we have developed a deep understanding of school-ready skills and weave these into your child’s everyday learning experiences. This includes early literacy and numeracy skills such as recognising letters and numbers and beginning writing, alongside the practical skills that help children thrive at school — managing their belongings, maintaining concentration at mat time, handling their lunchbox and self-care routines.
Equally important to us are the social and emotional skills that set children up for success: the confidence to speak up, advocate for themselves, and form positive relationships with peers and teachers. Our aim is that every child leaves Magic Sparks feeling capable, connected, and truly ready for school.
Enrolling at our centre
When you enquire about enrolment someone from your local early childhood centre will be in touch to talk about the hours and days you’d like to enrol your child for and whether they have any special requirements.
Often we are able to offer your child a space as soon as you want it but on some occasions we may have to delay the enrolment.
We believe in a gradual transition, especially if your child is young or has never attended daycare before. So we usually recommend starting with some shorter visits to allow your child to settle in and get used to new routines before working up to full hours.
You are welcome to stay for these initial visits. However if you cannot stay, or you feel your child would do better without you there, you can leave them in the capable hands of our teachers. The transition process takes as long as it needs for your child to feel comfortable and happy at the centre.
Fees and subsidies
- All of our centres offer the 20 ECE Hours scheme for 3 and 4-year-olds.
- All new enrolments get the first 4 weeks of childcare FREE.
- A 5% discount is applied to the eldest child when you enrol a younger sibling.
- We can also help you apply for a WINZ Childcare Subsidy if you qualify.
- For more information on our fees or to find out more about our centres, get in touch.
Our Difference
Not all early childhood centres are the same.
At Magic Sparks, we combine warmth with professionalism — creating environments where children feel safe and inspired, and families feel confident in their choice.
What sets us apart:
We don’t simply supervise. We thoughtfully extend learning through play, guided by Te Whāriki.
Our smaller group sizes allow deeper relationships and more personalised support.
Strong, experienced leadership ensures consistency, high standards and a culture of continuous improvement.
We nurture emotional intelligence, social confidence and independence not just academic readiness.
Extended hours, nutritious meals and clear communication make quality care accessible.
We invest in early years because they matter most.
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