BestStart Queenstown

We have recently combined our 2 youngest classrooms, but they have kept their own names. Our Tahuna tamariki are typically 6 months - 18 months, and we have a beautiful wooden nest area for these children to have a safe space to explore. This area is full of sensory experiences, and opportunities for our youngest tamariki to move and explore at their own pace. Our Manata tamariki are our movers, typically 18 months - 2 years, and they love to be outside on the bikes and in the sandpit, exploring! Our kaiako encourage a love of stories, singing and dancing, and provide wonderful creative art opportunities. This classroom is all about introducing new experiences to the children, and letting them explore at their own place in a safe and comfortable environment.

This classroom is all about introducing new experiences to the children, and letting them explore at their own place in a safe and comfortable environment. We have routines flowing smoothly through the day, with the team communicating effectively together to make sure all the children's needs are met. We use Helen Armstrong's approach of seeing routines as rituals - opportunities to build stronger relationships with our tamariki, and these interactions are respectful, calm and meaningful.

This is a smaller classroom, (around 16) 2-3 year olds. While the outside space is shared with the 3-5 year olds, this classroom provides a safe space for our 2 year olds to explore. There is a big focus in this classroom on supporting children to grow their social and emotional competencies, and develop their communication. Children are also encouraged to develop their independence, e.g. putting their belongings away, cleaning away their bowl/plate etc after kai time, and we support children with toilet-training.

This room is full of independent learners, who are engaged in what they are doing. They love to explore and be creative! We provide resources so children can choose independently what they want to play with, and we encourage self-care skills and responsibility, so children tidy up after themselves.

We have a rolling kai time, to give children ownership over when they leave their play and come to eat with their peers. We have 3 mat-times, 1 for 3 year olds, 1 for 4 year olds and 1 for everyone in the afternoon. These are an opportunity for children to come together, share in some learning experiences. Inspired by Vygotsky and Reggio philosophies.