BestStart Allenton

Our Ruru and Takahe Rooms provide a warm, nurturing nursery environment for pēpi and young tamariki, with two dedicated spaces designed around their different ages and stages. Ruru supports our youngest pēpi aged 0–18 months, while Takahe is for tamariki aged 18 months to 2.5 years.

Our dedicated nursery team takes the time to get to know each child and their individual needs, creating a calm and familiar place where they feel safe, settled and at home. We value unhurried routines, trusting relationships and learning through play, allowing every child to develop at their own pace.

In our Ruru and Takahe Rooms, we provide experiences that support each child's early learning and development, including:

• Start with Heart: We build strong, trusting relationships through responsive care and meaningful everyday interactions. By getting to know each pēpi and working closely with whānau, we help children feel safe, secure and supported.

• Individual care and routines: We work alongside whānau to understand each child's routines, preferences and needs, providing familiar and consistent care throughout the day.

• A gentle transition as children grow: With two dedicated nursery spaces, we can support tamariki as they move from the infant room into the next stage of their early learning journey.

• Learning through play: We follow each child's interests and provide age-appropriate experiences that encourage curiosity, exploration and the development of new skills.

• Calm and nurturing relationships: Our consistent nursery team builds close connections with pēpi and young tamariki, helping them develop trust, confidence and a sense of belonging.

Together, our Ruru and Takahe Rooms provide a caring and unhurried start to early learning, where every child is known, valued and supported as they grow.

Our Kereru Room is a welcoming preschool space for tamariki aged 2.5–3.5 years, where they can build friendships, grow in confidence and develop their independence. With low teacher-to-child ratios, our kaiako provide plenty of individual attention and support as children explore their interests, express their unique personalities and discover new skills. We encourage tamariki to make choices throughout the day and take an active part in their own learning.

In our Kereru Room, we provide experiences that support tamariki as they grow and develop, including:

• Growing independence: Encouraging tamariki to make choices, try new things and develop everyday self-help skills at their own pace.

• Building friendships: Supporting children to develop social skills, form positive peer relationships and learn to play and work together.

• Learning through play: Offering enjoyable and engaging experiences that follow children's interests, encourage curiosity and inspire discovery.

• Expressing individuality: Valuing each child's unique personality, ideas and interests while helping them develop confidence in themselves.

• Supportive relationships: Our caring kaiako take the time to understand each child and provide encouragement and guidance as they navigate new experiences.

Our Kereru Room is a place where tamariki can explore their growing independence, develop meaningful friendships and feel confident in who they are.

Our Pukeko Room is a welcoming space for tamariki aged 3.5 years and over, where they can build confidence, strengthen their independence and develop the skills they need as they prepare for school. Our kaiako encourage a love of learning by following children's interests, celebrating their achievements and recognising the unique ideas and strengths each child brings. We also nurture tuakana-teina relationships, where older and younger tamariki learn from and support one another.

In our Pukeko Room, we provide experiences that support tamariki as they prepare for their next big step, including:

• Set for School: Our embedded programme helps tamariki develop confidence, independence and everyday skills for a positive transition to school. We focus on self-help skills, communication, problem-solving and becoming confident learners.

• School connections: We work alongside our local primary school to build familiarity and support tamariki as they get ready for the transition from early learning to school.

• Thinking and problem-solving: We encourage tamariki to ask questions, share ideas and explore different ways to solve problems through meaningful play and learning experiences.

• Growing independence: Supporting children to take responsibility for themselves, make choices and develop the self-help skills they will use at school and beyond.

• Tuakana-teina relationships: Creating opportunities for tamariki to learn from and support one another, building confidence, kindness and a sense of responsibility.

• Celebrating individual strengths: Recognising each child's achievements, interests and contributions, helping them develop a positive sense of themselves as learners.

Our Pukeko Room helps tamariki become confident, capable and curious learners, ready to take their next steps into school.