BestStart Fendalton

Our Nursery at BestStart Fendalton offers a calm, nurturing environment for pēpi and toddlers, where they can feel safe, build trusting relationships and explore at their own pace. Inspired by the RIE and Pikler philosophies, we respect each child's individual development and encourage freedom of movement, allowing tamariki to develop new physical skills in their own time. Our kaiako provide gentle support and thoughtfully prepared spaces where little ones can discover the world around them.

• Start with Heart: Our Start with Heart programme supports pēpi through warm, responsive and relationship-based care during their first two years. By responding to each child's individual needs and building secure relationships, our kaiako help pēpi feel safe, connected and confident as they learn and grow. These early experiences help lay the foundations for lifelong learning and wellbeing.

• A Special Primary Care Relationship: Before their first visit, every new child is allocated a primary care kaiako who works closely with them and their whānau. This familiar relationship helps children settle into the nursery, supports consistent care routines and allows our kaiako to plan learning experiences around each child's needs and interests.

• Respectful, Unhurried Care: Everyday moments such as nappy changes, meals and settling to sleep are opportunities to connect. Our kaiako take their time, communicate with tamariki and invite them to participate in their care routines, helping them feel respected, secure and involved.

• Freedom to Move and Explore: Our nursery environment is thoughtfully arranged to encourage pēpi and toddlers to move freely, explore their surroundings and develop physical skills naturally. As they grow, tamariki can try new challenges, discover what their bodies can do and build independence at their own pace.

Our Nursery provides a gentle and supportive start to early learning, where pēpi and toddlers can develop confidence, strengthen relationships and enjoy the freedom to explore in a safe, welcoming environment.

Our Preschool at BestStart Fendalton provides a welcoming environment where tamariki can grow in confidence, develop independence and take the lead in their learning. We build on each child's interests and natural curiosity, offering experiences that encourage them to explore, ask questions and discover new possibilities. Our beautiful outdoor environment is a special part of preschool life, giving children space to play, create and challenge themselves.

• Set for School: Our Set for School programme supports tamariki aged four and over as they prepare for their transition to primary school. Led daily by our kaiako Cherill, the programme builds early literacy and numeracy skills, creativity, problem-solving, physical development, social and emotional skills and learner confidence through engaging activities and experiences.

• Learning Through Children's Interests: We observe what excites each child and provide resources and experiences that extend their learning. This helps tamariki develop a love of learning, follow their curiosity and become confident leaders of their own discoveries.

• A Wonderful Outdoor Environment: Our large outdoor space features established trees that provide shade in summer, a giant sandpit for digging and building and plenty of room to move and explore. With equipment that encourages physical challenges and safe risk-taking, tamariki can develop their coordination, strength and confidence.

• Creativity and Imagination: Loose parts and open-ended resources give children the freedom to turn their ideas into reality. Whether they are building, creating or inventing their own games, tamariki can express themselves, solve problems and learn alongside their friends.

• Confidence and Belonging: We want every child to leave BestStart Fendalton feeling proud of who they are and confident in what they can do. Through supportive relationships and opportunities to learn together, tamariki develop independence, curiosity and a strong sense of belonging.

Our Preschool provides a place where tamariki can spread their wings, explore their interests and build the skills and confidence to take their next steps towards school and beyond.