BestStart Mount Eden

As you walk through our doors you will see, feel, and hear the Aroha (love), Whakaute (respect), Whakawhirinaki (trust), Tākarko (play), and Koa (joy) that are the foundations of our interactions with children, parents, and whānau.

Our ‘Meadow’ is our touch of nature right in the heart of Auckland Central, where we have a vegetable garden, mud pit, fruit trees, a compost area, a worm farm, and a fire pit during Winter. Here, children experience the true essence of learning through nature where they can make mud pies, forage for bugs, and help in the vegetable patch. Natural learning is so important to us at BestStart Mount Eden - we teach our tamariki to take care of the earth which strengthens our connection to Papatuanuku, our Māori earth mother.

We take pride in our core foundations and believe our tamariki are capable and competent learners who benefit from engaged kaiako (teachers) as well as engaging in real-life experiences and using practical resources. We inspire creativity and independence through open-ended resources or "loose parts", meaningful activities, and a challenging learning environment where tamariki can take risks in a safe space.