BestStart Rongotai

0508 BESTSTART

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Phone (04) 387 7348
Email rongotai@best-start.org

Where we are

178 Rongotai Road Kilbirnie Wellington 6022

Opening hours

Monday7.30am - 5.30pm
Tuesday7.30am - 5.30pm
Wednesday7.30am - 5.30pm
Thursday7.30am - 5.30pm
Friday7.30am - 5.30pm

BestStart Rongotai is an early learning centre for 2 to 6 year olds in a cosy renovated house in the heart of Rongotai. Our team of experienced teachers delight and inspire children to reach their next stage and achieve their goals.

At BestStart Rongotai we value kindness, resilience and belonging!

Our centre is a beautifully converted old villa, providing a unique environment for children to explore. With dedicated spaces such as our Library, Art Area, and Carpentry zone, children have opportunities for creativity, discovery, and learning. Nestled in the heart of Kilbirnie in the eastern suburbs of Wellington, we enjoy a prime location close to both the airport and the harbour, with easy access to the main city.

Our values—Atawhai (Kindness), Aumangea (Resilience), and Whanaungatanga (Belonging)—are woven into our daily practices. We draw inspiration from the local pūrākau (story) of Ngake and Whātaitai, the taniwha of Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington Harbour). Whātaitai's body is said to rest on the land where our centre stands today. This story is a guiding force in our curriculum, teaching us the importance of pushing beyond our comfort zones, growing through new challenges like Ngake, and finding support and nurturing in our learning environment until we’re ready to take flight.

In consultation with local schools, iwi values, and our centre whānau, we’ve identified key priorities for our tamariki, focusing on building social and emotional skills, developing oral language abilities, and fostering self-care and healthy habits.

Our Team

Our dedicated team is passionate about creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for every child. Together, we are committed to supporting neurodiversity, embracing te ao Māori, and fostering social-emotional growth. We believe in empowering children to develop a strong sense of independence and a sense of contribution to their community.

Our kaiako bring a diverse range of expertise, from teaching self-help skills and emotional regulation to inspiring creativity through art and exploration. We believe that the environment is a powerful teacher, and we work to create spaces rich in learning opportunities that encourage children to discover the world around them.

With a love for reading and play, our Kaiāwhina Kaiako ensures that children find joy in books and engaging activities. Our Pūkenga Tao Kai, with a focus on promoting healthy eating, helps children develop a love for nutritious food. And our Hēkeretari is always available to support families, ensuring they have access to the best care and resources for their children. Together, our team is dedicated to nurturing a love of learning and growth in every child.

What We Offer

20 hours free for 3-5 year olds and WINZ subsidies available* if required
Fresh, healthy, nutritious meals and snacks provided throughout the day
Regular community excursions for tamariki
Extra Curricular Game time classes
Get Set for School Programme
Gold Healthy Heart Award - nutrition and health is important to us

Our Spaces

BestStart Rongotai is a mixed aged centre, caring for children from 3 months to 5 years of age in one encouraging environment. With pockets of play perfect for both individual and group learning, tamariki have areas of busy and loud fun and calm thoughtful spaces. The mixed age model has many benefits for teachers, children and their whanau.

Tuakana Teina

Our mixed age classroom

Video Gallery

Quality Service Award 2023

kind words from our parents

Parent

It has been a great time well spent with all of you. Reaia has definitely enjoyed spending time with her friends and has nothing but good things to say when she is at home. I know she will definitely miss coming into kindy and will miss her best friend Ian just as much. Hadassah also has had many great memories with her sister Reaia at kindy and continues to share them with all who can hear.

Parent

I always felt safe leaving my daughter at the centre. She always had stories to tell me when she got home. I was very impressed that the children were included in prepping/cooking meals for their lunch, she loved doing this and would always tell me about what she made. I also love how her suggestions/opinions were listened to, this shows a great respect for the children’s thoughts and feelings.

Parent

Thank you so much for being there for us during a difficult transition year in our lives. I deeply appreciate you r support. You have been so wonderful with Hannah and Lucy! I have always felt completely comfortable leaving them, you are professional, caring, perceptive and kind. You create such a welcoming environment for families and have such a strong connection with the local community. We will definitely be popping back in in the future.

Parent

Thank you all so much for the love and support you have given Harlem and I over the last 3 years. I know Harlem has really enjoyed his time there and if we weren’t moving so far away we would be keeping him here until he is ready for school. We will certainly visit when we can.

Parent

Our child started with Beststart Rongotai 3 weeks ago and we are overwhelmed by the care and support the teachers have shown our child. Our son has moderate to severe developmental delay due to a genetic syndrome. It has been amazing to see him adapt and be accepted into his new daycare. He is an active member of his peer group, and teachers enable him to participate in all activities. Unfortunately his previous daycare, where he had been for 3 years was unable to carry on his care, however with such wonderful teachers who can adapt to meet the needs of children with additional needs we feel we've made a grate choice.

Parent

We love BestStart Rongotai!! Che, Jan and the team are so enthusiastic and passionate about the care and learning of their children, I couldn't wish for a better place to start my daughter's education journey.

Parent

Our son is thriving at BestStart Rongotai, we feel so lucky that his days are spent with such a dedicated, skilled and caring team. The children enjoy a constantly refreshed wide range of daily activities which are also culturally diverse and inclusive - every day he seems to learn a new skill or 3! The carers notice each child's interests and skills and encourage these. They have fun educational routines and familiar structure, breathing games for calming at the end of the day, and they understand the importance of building the children's emotional vocabulary. Couldn't recommend more.

Parent

We moved our daughter here at the start of the year after losing confidence in another commercial franchised operation. Needless to say we have never looked back. The leadership at BestStart is clear as is reflected in the spirit of the teachers who put a smile on the kids faces everyday. Activities are well planned, teachers are engaged and passionate and the care & communication with parents is exceptional. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend BestStart Rongotai. For anyone looking to place their precious kids in a caring, nurturing & creative environment - look no further!

Parent

BestStart Rongatai has wonderful teaching and support staff, fun play equipment and is a great environment for children. I could not recommend BestStart more highly.

Parent

I have a very shy girl but BestStart Rongotai has brought her out of her shell with such caring and involved teachers.

Cenoy

We are incredibly grateful to the amazing team at BestStart Rongotai for their warmth, care, and dedication in helping our daughter settle into the center. From day one, the teachers have been so understanding and supportive, making what can be a challenging transition so much easier for both parents and children. Their personalized approach, patience, and nurturing environment truly eased our minds, and it has been heartwarming to see how quickly our daughter has grown comfortable and happy in their care. We couldn’t be more thankful for the peace of mind they’ve given us as parents and the wonderful start they’re providing for our daughter

Natasha and Sumit

The teachers are so friendly and supportive, I am stress free whenever my child is in school because I know she's in good hands. My daughter never wants to miss school, she loves going to BestStart every day, she really loves the teachers and other friends that she has there.

Eva

I am so pleased to see how much my daughter has grown up, her vocabulary is amazing, she can interact with adults and ask lot of questions. Overall it has been a great journey.

Vaishali and Prajesh

They have been very good with our son’s overall development. They put great effort in taking care of our little one and make sure he is safe.

Xuan and Thi Lan

I feel it is right to choose BestStart as a great place for my child's development and integration. It's great to have teachers who are extremely friendly and love my child. BestStart is a very good learning environment.