Childcare options in Springlands

BestStart Springlands offers quality care and education in Blenheim. Our centre is purpose-built with a wonderful playground for children to explore and have adventures in. We are well-resourced with committed, caring and experienced teachers.

Our learning spaces are designed for children in similar age groups with environments and resources that best meet their age and stage of development.

We have close relationships with our parents, sharing information in many ways so they always know what is happening at the centre. Every day, our parents know what their child is doing and learning.

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.

Springlands Kindergarten is an environment where akonga - learners, nga kaiako- teachers and whanau come together as a community to share in knowledge, understanding, play and exploration.  It is a place of learning and discovery, an inclusive and equitable environment where we build connections and understandings in partnership with family and whanau; where open ended relationships between akonga, nga kaiako and whanau are central to learning and growth.  

In this place childhood is sacred, play and exploration are central, akonga respect and support one another – through word, thought and action – awhinatanga.  Ideas flow from our minds, shaped by the trust, respect and peace from our hearts. We work and share freely together – allowing our minds, hearts and hands to share richly in the enjoyment and curiosity in our play.  

At Springlands Kindergarten, we continue to develop our interests, excite new ones, and encourage growth as individuals.  Laughter as well as rich authentic conversation can be heard throughout the kindergarten.  Akonga will be supported and valued. All will be free to be the miracle they are intended to be.  Our rich, supportive, stimulating and inclusive environment reflects who we all are, allows us to take risks, accept challenges, and step beyond our comfort zone – manaakitanga.