Typically responds within
A few hours
BestStart Pioneer early learning childcare centre is conveniently located at the Pioneer Recreation and Sports Centre in Spreydon. We pride ourselves on our centre’s family feel which is proven with the strong relationships our teachers have with both the children and their whanau. At BestStart Pioneer we believe in supporting our children to become capable and confident through learning, discovering and exploration.
Our Vision: Being Together, Growing Together
Our learning spaces - The centre has two separate areas, the under two area catering for children aged three months to two years old and the over two area catering for children aged two to five years.
Infants and toddlers - Our teachers pride themselves on the warm, caring atmosphere they have created as well as the strong relationships they have developed with families.
In the under two area teachers follow the children’s cues and routines providing a respectful, calm and unhurried environment to explore at their own pace and in their own time. Our children children explore, discover and challenge themselves while having fun.
Preschoolers - In our over twos area we have a large outdoor space that promotes healthy physical activities. We focus on children developing their confidence and independence as well as the ability to work cooperatively with others.
We provide stimulating learning opportunities that will challenge and extend your child’s learning and development and instill the skills needed for successful lifelong learning. We want children to leave BestStart Pioneer with a love of learning and a thirst for knowledge. We have successfully gained our Silver Healthy Heart Award - Whanau Award - from the NZ Heart Foundation.
Learn, Explore, Discover Akona, Tuhuratia, Rakahaua!
What else you can expect from our childcare centre:
- Small home-like environment with a family feel
- Licensed for 36 children
- Close proximity to the recreation centre
- Large natural outdoor environment
- Strong partnerships with families
- Unique Be School Ready initiative
- Come along and see our fantastic centre today!
Who is BestStart?
BestStart is for families who want more from early-childhood education. Safe, nurturing and educationally focused, we’re committed to growing caring people with curious minds.
Together we teach, learn and nurture.
Our vision is to work in partnership with families, whanau and communities to enable children to achieve their learning potential.
Ko tō mātou tirohanga hei mahi ngātahi i te taha o ngā whānau me ngā hāpori, kia āwhinatia ngā tamariki, kia tū pito mata ai rāatou, hei rangatira mō āpōpō.
We are committed to being a progressive and responsive leader in early-childhood education. We do this by enhancing our services, investing in our people, developing our support structure and continuously improving the educational outcomes and experiences of our children, families and the communities we serve.
Some facts:
- We’re licensed to educate and care for 15,000 full-time children daily.
- 18,000 families use BestStart services annually.
- We have over 270 centres nationwide located from Whangarei to Invercargill.
- Each centre is managed by a Centre Manager who is supported by a local Area Manager. This gives our centre teams ongoing quality training and support.
- Te Whāriki, the world-wide acclaimed national early childhood education curriculum, is used in all centres.
- We have over 4500 permanent teachers nationally. Over 90% of our permanent teaching staff are either fully qualified with a diploma or bachelor of teaching (ECE) or higher, or are in training. These figures are very high by national standards within the ECE sector.
- We provide a two-year Advice and Guidance Programme for all recently certified teachers, providing further mentoring and training. This gives strong support for teachers from provisional registration to full teacher registration with the NZ Teachers Council.
- We regularly spend around $4 million on teacher training per annum.
We’re for children
At our heart is our commitment and passion for children. Central to this belief is our focus on the holistic development of children. We support children to explore the world around them, learning through relationships, creating a love of learning in an ever-changing world. Exploration, friendship and fun are part of the journey.
We’re for good
BestStart is a registered charity owned by the Wright Family Foundation. We support initiatives and programmes within BestStart and the wider early-childhood education sector (ECE) that support good outcomes for all children. We do this because we want to make a positive difference to the lives of all children.
Innovation leads us
At BestStart, innovation guides our thinking. We advocate positive change for learners through our research and practice. We’re proud to be thought leaders within ECE, openly challenging ourselves to think differently to provide the best for our children, families and staff.
We’re responsive
Our centres reflect their children, staff and communities. We celebrate individuality, uniqueness and diversity, encouraging a spirit of empathy, understanding and collaboration. Through our responsive relationships and our curriculum, we support learners to choose their own path.
Our people matter
At BestStart people come first. When we grow and develop our people, everyone benefits. We strive for whakamana/empowerment, nurturing a culture of excellence with engaged, talented professionals. Their commitment, skill and passion light our way.
