You can trust that your child will receive the very best education and care at BestStart Wairakei Road. Located in Burnside, close to the Bishopdale shops, Christchurch Airport and the Airport Business Park, we have a specially designed learning environment and a dedicated, multicultural teaching team committed to making a positive difference in the lives of children.

Children, families, teachers; building relationships for learning

Tamariki whānau kaiako; e hanga whanaungatanga mo te ako

Our relationships - Our team is passionate about building positive, trusting reciprocal relationships - we pride ourselves on the warm, lasting relationships that we form with children and their families. We are proud of the positive feedback we receive from families of children who are currently in our care as well as those who have transitioned smoothly to school.  We value parent contribution and we celebrate the diversity of all our families.  This is reflected in our broad and rich curriculum, on Storypark and cultural events, as well as in our on-going daily communication.

Learning – we know that children learn best when they are engaged in learning that follows their interests and passions and when they have a strong sense of wellbeing and belonging.  We view children as confident and competent learners, they are given the time and space to direct their own learning and development.  We support the tuakana/teina relationship and we value the practice of ako, learning with and alongside others.

Our environment - Our environment plays a vital role in the learning and development of our children. We provide a warm, nurturing, caring, home-like environment that always feels welcoming. Our learning spaces are bright, interactive and engaging.  We are striving to be sustainable and we include children and families in this journey.

Education Review Office Report

We have a fantastic Education Review Office (ERO) report, achieving the very best grade for all early childhood centres in New Zealand. They have rated us in the top New Zealand childcare centres providing positive learning outcomes for children.

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.

The Enchanted Garden Early Childhood Centre Christchurch 

We are a local, boutique early childhood centre that focuses on creating a wonderful environment for children to learn, grow and explore in. 

With both a Preschool and Nursery, we provide expert, loving care to your children, engaging them in exciting activities and rewarding playtimes. We also cater for international community events and involve everyone within our loving community. Our centre is built on love, a passion for teaching and the knowledge that our children are the future and deserve the best education possible. We encourage our children to play to their heart's content while the teachers support and extend their learning.

Our Vision

“To provide a small preschool in the heart of the Papanui community that ensures children receive high quality care and education.”

​We welcome you wholeheartedly to our Preschool and Nursery. We are proudly situated in Papanui, Christchurch. We are a family owned business and are proud to provide high quality care within our preschool and nursery environments.

As a preschool family we live and breathe our play- based approach to learning. Its always hands on, filled with nature experiences and warming natural resources often created by our teachers themselves.

​When your child spends time with us his/her learning experience is one of wonder, imagination, discovery and friendships.

What is Play Based Learning?

We are child centered with a strong focus on providing for the specific needs of each as an individual. We value real life experiences with children having choices, ownership and taking pride of their learning. 

As teachers carefully guide, interact and collaborate with children through their purposeful play, a love of learning though discovery, wonder and inquiry develops. 

At Papanui Preschool and Nursery we provide an unhurried environment that supports your child in revisiting and reflecting on learning experiences here.

Our Philosophy - What we believe

Here at Papanui Preschool and Nursery we believe that:

It is vital that our preschool and nursery offer warm and welcoming environments in which all children, parents and whānau feel respected, accepted and have a sense of belonging.

All children are unique and our programme will respect and reflect on the individual child's interests, providing all children with equal opportunities to reach their full potential.

All children will be given support through gentle, sensitive and informed guidance. This will encourage self regulation, effective thinking and self help skills.

The building of relationships with the child, parents, and whānau is a vital part of our family based centre. We recognise the importance of linking home and centre life as we recognise that learning begins at home and that the child's first teacher, for this reason we invite and encourage parent/whānau participation.

Play is an important part of learning. We understand and support the freedom for children to explore and grow at their own pace. Our environment will reflect this and will allow for self directed learning.

Cultural diversity is valuable and we acknowledge the importance this has on each child and their family, acknowledging that learning begins at home.

When children leave Papanui Preschool and Nursery they will be capable, confident and independent learners.

Aratupu is a place where children play, learn, and explore their unique passions and strengths. It’s a place where parents, whānau, and kaiako gather to chat, laugh, and problem solve. It's a place where anything is possible.

To teach and to learn

In te ao Māori, the concept of ako recognises that everyone in a classroom brings knowledge with them from which others can learn. It describes a teaching and learning relationship where the kaiako is both teaching the tamariki and learning from the tamariki. The result is a holistic, inclusive learning community where both kaiako and tamariki feel empowered to participate to their full potential.

At Aratupu, our education practices are informed by the latest research. Every child is on their own pathway to growth and our kaiako focus on developing a natural curiosity and passion for discovery. Every day, Aratupu tamariki are encouraged to explore their unique passions and strengths through play and evidence-based education.

This holistic approach supports each child to develop and grow at their own pace while sowing the seeds for lifelong learning.

We are a community based, not for profit, early childhood centre with a Christian philosophy.

We are committed to providing a warm, caring and supportive environment. We recognize the importance and the God given task of parents as first teachers.

Our intention is to encourage partnership with parents / caregivers / whanau in the spiritual and educational formation of all children in our care.

At Footsteps Community Christian Preschool our aim is to nurture children to grow in the love of Christ, to help them become all that God would have them be; safe in the knowledge that they are loved by God; valued, respected and loved as the person they are and the gifts they have.

Our aim is to offer a programme that is child centred, God honouring and developmentally appropriate.

• Importance of God given task of parents as first teachers
• Nurture children to grow in the love of Christ
• Provide a semi structured environment
• Build life long, competent and confident learners to be joyful, fulfilled and respectful
• Respecting diversity of and increasing familiarity of all cultures
• Inclusive, loving, enabling of all children, of all needs
• Teaching biblical principles, valuing and becoming familiar with God's word
• Strong emphasis on our bicultural heritage/nation
• Child lead interests and activities

Learning Bee Montessori Preschool is licensed for children aged between 0-6 years of age. We operate four separate classrooms, catering for the unique needs of children between these ages. Children can be enrolled anywhere from two to five days per week, either short or long days, with a maximum of 75 children attending each day. 

 In our Montessori classrooms there is a special atmosphere of cheerful orderliness, calmness and purposeful work. The Learning Bee Montessori environment provides children with materials and activities which are especially suited to their intellectual, emotional, physical and social needs at each stage of development. 

 Learning Bee Montessori Preschool offers an enlightened pre-school experience. Children are supported to develop independence and every-day life skills using Montessori-specific equipment as well as other high quality early childhood materials and resources.  

The Preschool's program includes a combination of self-directed and group activities including music and movement, art and craft, and languages.

“Every child’s individuality is acknowledged and celebrated. Our Pre-school programme ensures that all children are encouraged to explore their world, knowing their curiosity and wonder is valued and nurtured.”

In the bright, modern learning environment at St Andrew’s College Pre-school, children can freely explore their individual interests with lots of support and encouragement. Our Pre-school’s biggest asset is our warm, friendly, fully registered teachers. They have a genuine love for the children, and are dedicated to providing a nurturing, safe environment in which the children can thrive.

A brand new Pre-school with bespoke playgrounds opened at the start of 2018. A vibrant classroom area provides a colourful backdrop for inquiry based learning, imaginative play and creative pursuits. A love of the natural world is encouraged, with the philosophy that supporting the children to care for plants and animals (such as a vegetable garden, life cycles of butterflies and frogs, and tropical fish) helps them to discover things about themselves and to develop their sense of Wairua, or spirit.

The Pre-school collaborates closely with the Preparatory School to develop the curriculum, share resources, and implement exciting transition to school initiatives to ensure the children are well prepared for school. Numeracy and literacy skills are enhanced in the Pre-school’s extension room, which is equipped with Montessori resources.

The St Andrew’s College Pre-school accepts children aged from two years and offers 20 hours of ECE funding.

Kidsfirst Kindergartens Papanui is nestled in the heart of a bustling neighborhood, offering a warm and inviting learning community. The kindergarten boasts a spacious and vibrant environment, thoughtfully designed to cater to the needs of children aged 2-5. With a focus on inquiry-based learning, the program is both engaging and stimulating, tailored to each child's unique interests and requirements. Respect for the environment is deeply ingrained, as the kindergarten fosters a sense of value for Papatuānuku (Mother Earth), creating a cherished space where children feel appreciated and inspired. Inside, the open and luminous spaces encourage quiet reflection, creative expression, and imaginative play. Outside, the expansive backyard features lush trees, gardens, a mud kitchen, and a sandpit, all equipped to facilitate children's exploration, physical development, and growth.