BestStart Styx Mill provides quality education and care in a specially designed centre in Northwood. Our teachers do more than just care for tamariki, we focus on supporting their development and learning. We work with families to support their hopes and dreams, to ensure their child's individual routines are supported, helping create a smooth transition into centre life.

Our Vision - To Be The Best We Can Be

What makes us different?

• All our environments are designed to be age appropriate and stimulating
• Both our under two and over two year old outdoor play spaces are very large making them fantastic spaces for physical development and exploration
• The centre also has a gym where children can do physical activities within small groups supported by a teacher
• Our team of qualified and experienced teachers provide and maintain a respectful centre where you will be happy to leave your children, knowing they will receive the highest quality care and education
• We will inquire about your hopes and dreams for your child as well as their routine to make a smooth transition into our centre
• Centre will surprise the whanau with special days and events that the children can be part of. Special celebrations are supported within the centre
• Nutritional morning and afternoon teas as well as providing breakfast
• Ample off street parking

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.

Playcentre is unlike any other early childhood education organisation. At Playcentre, both children and their parents / caregivers attend. At Playcentre children get the opportunity to learn and explore in a fun and safe environment. The curiosity and creativity of our tamariki is nurtured in a way that allows them to learn about themselves and their world.  

Your child will be given a chance to explore, create, climb, read, sing, experiment, play music, wear costumes, have their face painted (or do it themselves!), garden, do carpentry with real tools, bake and cook, build sandcastles, swing, slide, dance, spend time in nature and get messy.  

The activities change every day. Playcentre parents all bring different skills, interests, and cultural backgrounds to add to the rich learning environment. We welcome families with children aged 0 – 6 years. Mixed age play allows your children to engage with others older and younger than themselves.  

Pre-schoolers learn how to communicate, share and negotiate with empathy for their younger peers. At Playcentre, families come together and lifelong friendships are formed. We welcome you to visit any time during the year. You are entitled to three free visits so come and check out what we do – we would love to meet you and your family!

Nestled within Sheldon Park and connected to Belfast School grounds, Kidsfirst Kindergarten Belfast is conveniently located just past Belfast School, with ample parking for easy access. The kindergarten boasts a beautiful, expansive backyard that serves as a haven for exploration, discovery, and cultivating a sense of wonder. Set amidst a natural environment, it encourages tamariki to take risks, engage in physical activities, and collaboratively set their own challenges. With a focus on environmental stewardship and the concept of kaitiaki, children are taught to care for their surroundings as guardians of Papatuanuku. Kidsfirst Belfast prioritizes building strong relationships to empower children's learning, fostering confidence, respect, and connection among akonga (learners). The kindergarten aims to cultivate a spirit of exploration, curiosity, and creative thinking, equipping children with the necessary attributes to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.