BestStart Riverbend Road

Our Infant Room practices a Pikler inspired approach to education and care. We have a specially designed, nurturing infant nest for our youngest babies with secure indoor and natural outdoor discovery spaces. Infants have their own cherished area for sleeping. Every child has a Primary Caregiver, one teacher responsible for their important care moments like bedtime and nappy changes and who is a key contact for each family. Our calm, nurturing teachers develop strong, intimate relationships and attachments with each child and family.

This is where tamariki explore and learn using all their senses. Together with our families we develop individual plans for each child supporting aspirations, learning and development. Our large playground offers opportunities to wonder at nature as well as to develop the physical skills that are so important for learning. We create a rich social learning environment that promotes independence, cooperation, friendship, exploration and curiosity in our children.

In our Totara Room, our Set for School initiative helps us to prepare children for the next step in their learning journey. Through play, teachers support children to develop communication and social competence, maths and literacy, science and technology skills, as well as physical skills and knowledge about how to keep safe and healthy. Our visits to local schools also support children in their transition to school, they become familiar with the environment and the activities they will experience in the classroom. Our teachers take a project approach to learning that encourages children to become confident learners through research and investigation.