BestStart Parton Road

In our He Kakano Room our kaiako have created beautiful environments and activities to delight and inspire children’s development, creating a sense of wonder. You’ll see play of all types as it is such a valuable part of every child’s growth. Our babies natural curiosity leads their play and supports the creation of positive and respectful relationships.

We encourage child-led play and exploration and encouraging all our pēpi to get involved. Our pepi love waterplay during the summer - experiencing different colours and textures and of course splashing with delight. They love digging for days in the sandpit and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Sensory play is definitely a favourite, there’s nothing like the feeling of paint and moon sand squishing through your fingers. And of course, our babies are always ready to move and groove to the music - spinning poi to the beat and having a giggle.

In our Pihinga Room children continue to learn and develop through play. We encourage exploration, relationship building and self-help skills which supports their social, emotion and physical wellbeing. The environment is set up to allow children to lead their own learning and be independent with access all the resources they require. The room is alive and buzzing with the movement and sounds of children busy in play and building relationships with each other and the teachers.

When you enter the room you will see role play in our kitchen as children prepare meals with their friends, they’ll be dressed up as fire fighters, princesses and pirates. You’ll see little teachers hosting their own mat times and loads of imaginative games happening in a different time and place.

Children are developing their mathematics and science skills through construction of ever-increasing towers and towns, whether it be with blocks, playdough or outside in the sandpit where messy play also provides an enticing area children love to explore.

Literacy is also seen through different mediums and activities such as painting, drawing or collage, role play and reading. And you will of course hear the busy chatter as children play on bikes, sing songs, giggle with laughter and challenge their gross motor skills on the climbing equipment. All the while they’re developing their communication and negotiation skills – skills they’ll continue to develop throughout their lifetime.

In the Pohutukawa Room children experience an environment where play, imagination and curiosity are encouraged. As you enter the room you will be surrounded by the sounds of play, whether it’s a mummy or daddy caring for their baby, a farmer feeding his animals, children exploring with dinosaurs, or a group of children playing with magnetics tiles, blocks or playdough and using their imaginations to problem solve to be anything they want. Children will be doing puzzles and reading books whether alone or with a group of friends. Teachers will be engaged alongside the children supporting and extending on their ideas.

Creativity is encouraged with art activities, painting, drawing, chalk, collage, a seemingly endless array art resources, and using scissors which children can access and experiment with themselves. Literacy and maths is evident everywhere in conversations, singing, storytelling, music and movement, books, building with blocks, doing puzzles, learning patterns and lots of other colourful and interesting activities, which change with the children’s interests.

Environments are set up around the room reflecting the children’s interests and allowing them to play where and with whom they choose, and to learn what they need.