BestStart Papamoa Plaza

BestStart Papamoa Plaza is a new early learning centre in Papamoa Plaza providing quality education and care for children aged between 3 months to 6 years old. Part of the award winning BestStart family, voted Most Trusted childcare provider, we’re open from 7am to 6pm weekdays - only closing for public holidays - we also provide nutritious food everyday for all our children.

Growing Young Kaitiaki

At BestStart Papamoa Plaza we empower our tamariki to become kaitiaki/guardians of our environment with genuine Manaakitanga relationships.

Our environment is a place of beauty both inside and out. Our learning spaces are enriched with love and the atmosphere is calm and nurturing. Our indoor spaces are built to support the learning and development of every age group with high quality resources designed to spark curious minds. We have an expansive outdoor playground where children challenge themselves, building their independence and self-confidence. 

Learning through nature - We foster the innate tendency children have to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. This happens through taking learning out of the classroom, re-introducing the outdoors whilst enhancing all areas of their development through a natural discovery approach.

Exploration - Children enjoy the freedom of leading their own learning, exploring and discovering uninhibited in our environment. Children learn most effectively when they are connecting deeply with nature through play experiences. This is about creating interactions with people and the places where they play, being a kaitiaki of the land, learning to care for nature and the world in which we live.

Connection to nature - The concept of sustainability is introduced through experiential learning. Being outdoors in a natural setting enables children to develop a connection with the natural world that can lead to long-term environmental awareness and understanding as well as positive outcomes for their developing views of the world.

Our Centre Whakatauki

Ko au te whenua, ko te whenua, ko au. I am the whenua, the whenua is me. The land defines my quality of life. Land is our place to stand, our tūrangawaewae, and it is what makes Aotearoa New Zealand home

Our 0-2 year olds The nursery provides a calm, safe and inviting play space which empowers the children to be who they are. By offering the children space, time, and the support to be themselves they learn to explore and discover the world in their own unique way. We use effective respectful communication to encourage positive interactions and talk to children throughout the day during activities and transition times to reassure and help them.

Our 2-5 year olds Our children are respected and trusted for their inner potential and celebrated for who they are and where they have come from. They are valued for their meaningful work and purposeful child-led play – being active participants in their own learning journey. Our children are celebrated and respected for their capacity to investigate, explore and maintain curiosity in the world around them. We offer BestStart’s Be School Ready initiative for our preschool children, which is incorporated into everyday practice, assisting with the next step in their learning journey. The initiative encourages children to use their developing self-help skills and provides a range of opportunities to extend their independence.

Our teachers work alongside children and remain true to their role of nurturing, encouraging and inspiring the holistic development of all children. Our teachers thrive through their respectful engagement with children, sharing and celebrating in their moments of unplanned, unexpected and unlimited experiences. 

We'd love for you to come and visit us to see our wonderful and find our what we can offer your child. Contact us to book a tour or just drop in whenever suits. We look forward to meeting you.