BestStart Tawa South

Our kaiako have strengths in music and use this as a wonderful settling tool. We sing songs and play music from different cultures (including Māori, Samoan, Indian, Sri Lankan, Pilipino and Chinese) to help children feel at home.

In our Pikopiko Room we have a beautiful, open plan space with fantastic indoor-outdoor flow, along with a covered patio area as well as outdoor space for children to explore.  Children enjoy a range of fun resources and support to develop independence, build on their physical skills, learn how to positively interact with others and learn both verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

Our special outdoor environment is set up for our youngest children to start their gross motor development. They can easily see into the Mahuri Room and love watching and interacting with the big kids. We have lots of music time outside for the infants and toddlers and they love moving to their favorite songs. The infants and toddlers love exploring a range of sensory experiences, we do sandpit painting, finger painting , bubbles, gloop and much more. 

Our Māhuri Room is spacious and open plan where children learn while they play. Children make their own choices, while building on their current knowledge, interests and skills. They are supported by our qualified and experienced teaching team to develop their independence, build relationships with others and be curious learners. 

We are lucky to have a large outdoor area that provides our children with a wide range of learning experiences. Children enjoy lots of gross motor experiences, climbing, sliding, balancing and fun on the monkey bars. We have a large water play/ messy play area next to the sand pit. A recycled greenhouse to grow veges in and a large vegetable garden. The children play an important role in maintaining this and adding plants. They especially love when they get to taste the finished product!

We understand the importance of ensuring children are ready for school. Children practice skills that they may need at school as well as learn to develop their independence skills, problem solve, taking responsibilty and looking after themselves and caring for others. We also provide experiences that promote literacy and numeracy. We work closely with Redwood School and go for visits to assist children in the transition to school, this is on top of the visits they do with their parents, through this the children gain an idea of what things they may see or may do when they get to school. eg sitting at tables doing group work or doing work together on the mat.

To give our older children a sense of responsibility and to build their independence and life skills they can choose to take turns at setting up the dining room for lunch times, making the tables look nice, setting them with food and drinks.