Childcare options in Hei Hei

At BestStart Hei Hei we have a strong focus on respectful and meaningful relationships where tamariki (children) have the opportunity to explore their wider world around them. We are situated in Hornby and provide exceptional care and education for children from 3 months to 6 years of age. We have four wonderful classrooms and have a friendly and passionate teaching team that love working with tamariki to support their learning journeys.

Growing Together With Aroha

We have a lovely outdoor environment with lots of fruit trees, we have a special secret garden where we spend a lot of time growing fruit and vegetables and tend to our worm farm, teaching children about sustainability. We are also lucky to have different animals throughout our centre that the tamariki enjoy taking care of. All four of our class rooms work closely together and have a strong focus on tuakana teina relationships. We aim to provide a transitioning practice where tamariki and whanau are supported, well informed and involved in their child's transition.

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.

Located next to Wycola Park and across from the Hei Hei Community Centre, Kidsfirst Hei Hei Kindergarten is deeply rooted in the vibrant Hei Hei community. The entrance is marked by a proud waharoa (gateway) that tells the story of the kindergarten. Inside, children aged 2-5 years have access to a thoughtfully designed array of resources that stimulate their thinking and exploration. Learning takes place at each child's individual pace, fostering their mana, wairua, and mauri (essence). The environment promotes mindfulness, awe for the surrounding world, and respect for the space they learn and play in. The kindergarten is characterized by a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with natural light and children's artwork adorning the walls. Outside, the playground offers a lush and green natural landscape, complete with physical challenges and activities that ignite children's curiosity and encourage exploration. The kindergarten community takes pride in their vegetable garden, which the teachers and children have cultivated together, fostering sustainability and eco-awareness among the young learners.