BestStart Onslow Road

Water play
Onslow - whare
rain drops
Onslow - face paint
Teacher holding child
Onslow - sandpit
BestStart is one of NZ's leading early childcare providers. BestStart Onslow Road in Papakura offers affordable, high-quality education and award-winning childcare for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

At BestStart Onslow Road, we nurture every child’s potential!

We embrace the vision of "Ma te huruhuru ka rere te manu" – adorning each child with feathers so they may soar. Our curriculum integrates elements of Reggio Emilia and Montessori approaches, fostering curiosity and independence.

Nestled in Papakura, our centre enjoys a central location near parks and community amenities, fostering a sense of connection and engagement. Families appreciate our convenient proximity to the town and train station, ensuring easy access for daily drop-offs and pick-ups. Our spacious indoor and outdoor environments provide ample room for exploration and play, including dedicated areas like covered decks and expansive playgrounds designed for each age group’s developmental needs.

Centre life at BestStart Onslow Road, is enriched by our community-focused approach and commitment to holistic development. Children actively engage in hands-on learning experiences guided by our supportive team of educators. From nature walks and garden-to-table initiatives to cultural celebrations honouring Te Tiriti O Waitangi, every day is filled with opportunities for growth and discovery. Our multicultural community values inclusivity and mutual respect, creating a warm and nurturing environment where every child feels secure, loved, and encouraged to explore their potential.

Our Team

Our dedicated team at BestStart Somerset includes experienced educators who bring over a decade of commitment to our centre. We have long-standing members who have been with us for more than 10 years, along with two international teachers from Fiji and South Africa. We pride ourselves on fostering a warm, loving environment where collaboration and feedback are valued, both in and out of the centre.

What we offer:

  • Healthy and nutritious meals and snacks
  • Set for School programme
  • Regular community excursions
  • Qualified, experienced teaching team
  • 20 hours free for 3-5-year-olds
  • WINZ subsidies available* if required

Our Spaces

Unique to our centre, each classroom is named after native birds like Tui’s Nest, Kea Forest, and Kiwi Cove, tailored to specific age groups to support their developmental milestones. Our rooms are designed to reflect important values such as aroha, manaaki, whanaungatanga, tuakana-teina relationships, ako, and Te Whare Tapa Wha, guiding our daily activities and interactions.

Tui's Nest

Under 2's

Kea Forest

2-3 years old

Kiwi Cove

4+ Years

Video Gallery

Centre Tour
Quality Service Award 2023

kind words from our parents

Parent

I’d just like to say how much I love seeing the big photos of our babies all around the babies centre. The centre is looking absolutely amazing. I love sending my boy to you guys and I really love seeing all the photos you take of him doing different activities. For a mum that feels like she’s missing out on a lot of milestones and moments, it really does mean a lot. They look amazing and it really gives me a buzz seeing.

Jordan-Lee Turei

Kendrick has been at Best start Onslow road for almost 3 years. From his first day, he was a very shy boy but as the years have gone on, I have noticed a huge change in Kendrick. He has become more confident and comfortable with his environment and I put this down to the teachers. The teachers have been nothing but amazing, they are always helpful and encourage Kendrick in everything he does. When I drop Kendrick off to the centre, all the teachers greet him with a smile. They are so welcoming and make me feel at ease dropping him off. I could not recommend this centre enough.

Peter & Jessica Kim

Jessica, and I would like to say a big thank you for providing an amazing experience for our boy Leo! It is so good to see the excitement on Leo's face when we drop him off in the mornings, and how he no longer cries, but reaches out for Anna and Suchetna with a big smile on his face! We were hesitant at first to take him to any daycare, but after the very first day, we were so pleased with how everyone was so nice and caring. Leo quickly settled, thanks to everyone's loving care, and the fun activities he experiences every time. We love seeing the photos online while at work and seeing his progress as well as how much fun he is having with different activities. We would also like to thank the team for greeting him in Korean, as well as the warm welcome from everyone when we come to pick him up. We really appreciate the care you provide for Leo and the other children. Thank you to the amazing team at BestStartOnslow!

Amy & Karl Johnson

Odin has been coming to BestStart Onslow for 3 years now, and naturally his sister Lydia has joined him, she turns two tomorrow. She has been coming for 11 months now. We love our kids being at daycare, especially Best Start Onslow - they enjoy coming to daycare and seeing their friends and teachers and all the different things they learn every day. They have been taught so many different things and it is a joy to hear stories from the teachers and how far our kids have come since joining. There are too many teachers to name, but special thanks to Annie, Sadhna, Anna, Tina, Marie, Shannon, Avery, Lisa for everything you do for Odin and Lydia, your teaching is above and beyond and we're very grateful for the day to daycare you provide.

What we're proud of

Read our latest ERO report Read our latest ERO report e-portfolio e-portfolio Most Trusted Childcare Most Trusted Childcare Quality Service Award Quality Service Award Set for School Set for School BestStart Educare Governing Organisation Report BestStart Educare Governing Organisation Report

LATEST STORIES FROM OUR BLOG

Kiwi Cove - Cultural Learning

Within our Kiwi Cove Room, the children have been celebrating their cultural differences and diversity. We believe this is important as it reinforces acceptance and confidence in our children for when they are ready to transition to school.

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Tui's nest exploration

​In our Tui's Nest, our children have been busy exploring

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Environment that encourages learning through play

In our Kea Forest and Kiwi Cove rooms, our children’s learning is encouraged through play. Our fun-filled, stimulating environment encourages children to grow and develop a healthy sense of self.

READ MORE