Testimonials

Working alongside the friendly kaiako at Bowen ECE is an absolute pleasure. They genuinely care about bridging the gap between early childhood and primary education. I love how their mixed-age setting allows younger children to watch their older siblings transition, making the school environment feel familiar before they even step foot in a classroom. The team’s willingness to connect, share insights, and engage in cross-sector professional development makes a massive difference. You can see the result of their amazing work in the children who graduate from Bowen ECE; they enter school as kind, curious, and highly engaged learners who are set up for a beautifully strong transition.
Judith Urry (NE Teacher at Northland School)

My 10‑year‑old daughter and I love coming to Bowen ECE every Friday to read storybooks to the children. Each visit reminds us what a truly special place this centre is. The children are a wonderful audience, always engaged, curious, and full of buzzing questions and fun. The staff are consistently loving, caring, and professional, with a warm approach that makes every child feel valued and supported. Everyone is genuinely friendly, helpful, and kind. The children are always treated with real affection and genuine care. Bowen ECE is an exceptional centre. L Kubikova

Thank you for everything you’ve given our family while looking after Mia, and before that Erika. You’ve been an extension of our family from the start —  the wins, the wobbles, and everything in between.  Bowen has been a second home and beyond that an amazing learning environment for our girls.  The care, thoughtfulness and energy you all put into each and every day is something incredibly special.  We feel so grateful to have been part of this for the last 10 years. Norman family

We are incredibly grateful that George has had the opportunity to attend Bowen. The staff at Bowen put tamariki at the center of everything they do and this translates to a safe, fun and excellent learning environment for Tamariki. The Bowen centre thrives on a collaborative and community environment with Kaiko, parents and tamariki. Matthews family

Bowen has been the best decision we made for our kids and whānau. The teachers are consistently delightful and kids are supported, challenged, guided and stimulated. We count ourselves incredibly lucky to have been part of this community. Monaghan family

The care, thoughtfulness and attention given to understanding her as a unique human being and then working collaboratively with us to support her growth and learning was phenomenal. I genuinely doubt we would have experienced that in many other centres and it has had a material impact on her resilience, strength and self confidence.

My child flourished. He was nurtured and encouraged to follow his interests and develop himself. I was particularly impressed with the support given to help with his (slightly delayed) speech. The care and thoughtfulness of the Kaiako was so appreciated. He was also treated with warmth and kindness, so important to him having these characteristics!

Our family struck gold when we found Bowen ECE. The kaiako are fun, professional, and totally committed to helping children learn and develop at their own pace in an inclusive, play based, and enriched learning environment. We would 100% recommend the integration of the under and over 2’s. Our children loved being together in the mixed age environment and benefitted from close interaction with both older and younger tamariki. We all formed strong, lasting friendships with families over the past few years, and our boys still miss their Bowen whanau. A & M Allen

We have had the privilege of having both of our boys attend Bowen ECE in Wellington, and our experience there was nothing short of exceptional. Had we not relocated to Napier, our youngest would still be attending this wonderful daycare. When we enrolled our children, it was clear that Bowen ECE was a special place. The teachers are not only incredibly caring but also quick to respond to any concerns we had. They truly became an extension of our family, providing a nurturing and supportive environment where our boys could thrive. The dedication and passion of the staff at Bowen ECE are unparalleled. Their commitment to creating a safe, engaging, and loving space for children is evident in everything they do. Our boys always looked forward to their days at Bowen, filled with learning, fun, and friendship. Since relocating, we have experienced other daycare settings and now realise how exceptional Bowen ECE truly is. The contrast has only deepened our appreciation for the incredible care and attention our children received at Bowen. We are immensely grateful for the positive impact Bowen ECE has had on our family. We highly recommend this daycare to any parents seeking a nurturing and exceptional early childhood education experience for their children. H & G Pocknall

The staff at Bowen were open and welcoming and we were consistently amazed that all of the teachers seemed to know what our son had been up to all day. The outdoor space is excellent and the whole centre has a warm, fun atmosphere. J. Van Hattum

Bowen staff are affectionate and caring. It has an excellent environment for children, which involve all types of activities. We have had two children at Bowen and can not speak highly enough of the centre and its staff. H. Bockett-Smith 

I believe that Bowen provides our two boys with the best day-care in Wellington. Unlike the big commercial chains, Bowen is a small, friendly, non-profit community centre that is run by a well organised parent committee in close relationship with its exceptional team of staff. At Bowen you don’t just drop your kids off in the morning, you become part of the Bowen family, and we have formed great relationships with all the staff and other parents. I can’t imagine sending our boys anywhere else! S. Pope

All three of our gorgeous boys have attended Bowen over the last 8 years – you could say that the Bowen team are part of our family!! The love and attention given to my boys by the team has always been outstanding. I’ve never found it easy to leave my wee people so that I can work …but it’s made much easier by feeling so safe in the knowledge that they are loved, cared for and happy! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Bowen to any family! R. Simpson

I was really nervous about the decision to send my kids to a daycare centre. The thing that attracted me to Bowen was the feeling that we were part of a small daycare that had a strong connection with it’s families.  This is still the case, and we are so pleased we chose Bowen. We now send both our kids here, and I love that Bowen doesn’t separate kids by age group – this means that our kids can interact with each other throughout the day if they want to – and it really adds to that overall sense of family that Bowen projects. B. Smith

Going back to work when our daughter was 8 months old was a hard decision to make, as is choosing a centre where your child will spend so much of their time. But we have had absolutely no regrets with joining the Bowen family. From the moment you walk in the door and are greeted by the teachers, children and other parents you feel welcome. The teachers are excellent at spending time with the children to identify their interests and provide them with opportunities to learn and explore. We have seen leaps and bounds in our daughter’s development and really like that she is learning to interact with other children and adults. We would absolutely recommend Bowen to others. K. Uerata