At BestStart Johnstones Road Kindy, our early learning and childcare centre in Ōtara, we're helping tamariki take confident steps towards primary school. From classroom visits to literacy games and lunchbox routines, our Set for School programme makes learning fun, familiar, and meaningful.
At BestStart Johnstones Road Kindy, we are proud to support our tamariki through our Set for School programme, helping children build the confidence, independence, and skills they need for a successful transition to primary school.
Recently, our older tamariki visited Mayfield Primary School, strengthening their connection with the local school community. They met teachers, explored classrooms, and took part in real learning activities, helping them feel more confident and familiar with their new environment.
Regular visits to Ōtara Library encourage a love of books, strengthen oral language development, and help children build confidence in community learning environments.
We encourage independence through routines like lunchbox practice and self-care, and we develop early literacy and numeracy through name writing, letter and number recognition, storytelling, counting games, and group discussions.
Tamariki also build important social and emotional skills such as turn-taking, problem-solving, and expressing their feelings.
We believe strong partnerships with families, local schools, and our wider community are key to a successful transition to school. By working together, we create a supportive learning journey that helps every child feel confident, capable, and ready for the exciting adventure ahead.
Our goal is to create confident, capable learners who are excited to begin their school journey. Together, we set the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.