Little Cubs Early Learning Centre is an early childhood centre on Ensors Road in Waltham, Christchurch, that follows the Thrive by Five programme, guided by Te Whāriki, New Zealand's early childhood curriculum. The centre says it is designed to build confidence, empathy, focus, early literacy and independence through play, and it has a school-ready programme. Families can receive up to 40 hours of free ECE, with extra hours at $5.00 per hour (as at 2026). Places are limited, and enrolment is flexible. The centre is open from 7:30am to 5:30pm, and families are invited to send a message or contact the team to start the enrolment process.
Parents say the centre is welcoming and nurturing, and that the teachers are caring. One parent says their son's social skills and development grew noticeably while he was there, and another says the centre has built a strong reputation in the community. A family whose son attended from two to three and a half years says the teachers worked with their approach through the different behavioural stages, which gave the child consistency between home and preschool. Among nearby childcare centres with ten or more Open Locally reviews, BestStart Huntsbury, one kilometre away, has the most reviews, and none of them rates higher than Little Cubs.