350 Papanui Road, Merivale, Christchurch 8052
Our programme recognises and follows children’s individual and group interests, and we provide daily experiences to extend children’s learning and knowledge, as well as providing a rich core curriculum that allows children to choose and drive their own learning.
We have very large outdoor play spaces, which provide a variety of challenges for children to run, jump, bike, play and learn. We provide a seasonal, nutritional lunch, as well as morning and afternoon tea, all created here on site. We are happy to cater to any dietary requirements.
We have a comprehensive transition programme, for all aspects of transition – from settling in, changing rooms and leaving to school, so children are confident and well prepared. We also liaise with local schools as part of our Be School Ready initiative, as well as provide plenty of experiences that help grow literacy, numeracy, language and group work.
What makes us different:
We’d love you and your family to come join us at BestStart Merivale. Please feel free to call us for more information or simply drop by for a visit.
Relationships with Whanau (Whanaungatanga) – We as Kaiako understand that parents and whanau are the most important people in their life. We respect parents as first teachers and work with you to guide your child through their learning journey. Therefore, we take pride in communication and consultation with our Whanau, collaborating to ensure we are providing a home-like, secure, loving and developmentally appropriate environment and curriculum. As a centre we ensure that we take time to celebrate each and every milestone that our tamariki achieve.
Inclusion – As Kaiako we believe in Cultural Appreciation. As a team we celebrate such events as Chinese New Year, Matariki and Language Weeks within our centre. We also take part in nationwide events such as raising money for Plunket and the Cancer Society.
Community Involvement - We as a team believe it is important to be a part of our community. Our kaiako (teachers) support our parents and tamariki with transition to school, where the kaiako organise visits to our local schools. We also complete other adventures around our surrounding neighbourhood so that our tamariki learn an appreciation for their wider environment.
The team were amazing with our baby's transition from staying at home with mum to the nursery. The separation wasn't easy but the BestStart team handled it like pros and helped one very nervous mum get back into the workforce with regular updates and amazing communication.
