Childcare options in Frimley

Nau mai haere mai - Welcome

You are always welcome to come in and, get a feel for our environment, philosophy, and ask any questions. We are community focused and we strive to walk in partnership with whānau/family to best meet the needs and aspirations of all children.

We recognise children learning through play unlocking their interests and emotions in creative ways as scared ways of self-expression. We facilitate a calm, positive and homely atmosphere for children to socialise and learn from each other (tuakana/teina). We have key teacher approach (individual planning) which means each child, has one teacher tracking and documenting their learning in a journal book and online through Storypark. This is to ensure consistency and strong communication between whānau and the key teacher. Our group planning values/pou, are manaakitanga, resilience and ako. We collaboratively plan for this throughout our programme and within our teaching practices.

Our teachers have a range of levels of te reo Māori and we are committed to engaging in all aspects of Te Ao Māori. Tikanga practices such as waiata, kapa haka, rongoā, rakau Māori, te reo Māori and pūrakau are all dynamic aspects to our programme and environment.

We share a very strong connection with the Frimley Primary School, as they are located right next to our kindergarten. We often visit the school grounds and embrace the whānau feel that has developed through our relationships with the older children and the teachers. We are community!

Nau mai haere mai. 

At BestStart Omahu Rd we offer flexible and affordable childcare for children from 0 to 6 years old. Open from 6.45am to 5.30pm throughout the year, we offer a wide range of full day and part time options to suit our families needs. We are able to accomodate changing work hours as required. We are here for your family.

My Place, Your Place, Our Place

Tō Tūranga, Tōku Tūranga, Tō Tātau Tūrangawaewae

Aroha and kindness are at the heart of everything we do at BestStart Omahu. Our warm, friendly and inviting space is where everyone feels welcome and supported. Building strong and trusting relationships with our children and families is the heart of centre life. When we work together it supports our children to be the best they can be.

At BestStart Omahu we celebrate the wonderful diversity of our families, acknowledging every child’s culture, language, and identity. Kaiako empower our children’s mana every day, encouraging them to become capable and confident learners, who know just how precious they are.

We have 5 adjoining rooms, with 3 outdoor spaces designed for children as the grow and develop, catering for our children’s creative and curious minds. Within each room, Kaiako support children in a nurturing manner, through identifying their individual interests and developmental stages. Our culturally rich spaces support holistic, acknowledging, and engaging tamariki in their individual mind, body, and spirit.

Teaching approach

Our passionate Kaiako at BestStart Omahu value the importance of aroha and connection for every child. When a child’s emotional state is nurtured, they are able to engage meaningfully and confidently, which is why relationships are at the forefront of all that we do. Our teachers engage with tamariki and whānau in a calm and welcoming manner, as we establish a sense of whanaungatanga and manaakitanga throughout the centre.

Our teachers come from diverse cultural backgrounds which further promotes their in-depth understanding about the wider world and uniqueness of each child. Kaiako meaningfully notice, recognise, and respond to each child’s learning and development in an empowering and intentional manner.

Our learning environments

Within each of our 5 rooms we have created welcoming, engaging learning spaces to stimulate our children’s imagination and curiosity. Kaiako plan experiences based on the age, stage and interests of each child that reflects their individuality and interests.

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.

Nau Mai, Haere Mai Ki
Busy Bees Frimley

At Busy Bees Frimley, we value every child and see them as unique and a special taonga. We understand that your child’s education and care is a priority and that choosing the right centre can be a big decision. We would be delighted to share in your child’s learning journey. You’re welcome to call or visit anytime.

We are open 7.30am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

Environment

Pōtikī (under 2s) at Busy Bees Frimley embraces āhuru (cosiness and comfort). Tuākana (2-6 year olds) focuses on tūhuratanga (discover and investigation). Both rooms have their own outdoor space providing endless opportunities to explore the natural environment. We communicate, engage and work in partnership with parents and whānau regarding all aspects of children’s learning, interests, goals and holistic development. Parents love the rich sense of community at Busy Bees Frimley, and our curriculum reflects our philosophy for strong relationships.

Passionate Teachers

We have a talented group of kaiako who have been selected based on their experience and passion within the Early Learning field, their professional knowledge of teaching and nurturing tamariki as well as their philosophy of education and knowledge of child development. We recognise parents/caregivers as the child’s first educators and through a supportive and collaborative approach we work together to develop shared goals and aspirations for children.

Our Rooms

Pōtikī (up to 2 years)

Our Nursery environment is based on building aroha and trusting bonds between infants and teachers, who structure the day according to individual needs. Teachers work closely with families to understand infant cues and develop a routine that supports children’s natural rhythms. Teachers utilise sensory play, outdoor exploration, music and movement to create a fun, interactive atmosphere whilst maintaining a focus on the aroha and care that infants need to thrive.

Tuākana (2-6 years)

Our Preschool provides a rich learning environment focused on the tuākana (older children) of our centre ensuring they have the opportunity to develop confidence, independence and self-management all of which align with Te Whāriki (Early Childhood Curriculum) and the pathways to kura (school). Children are encouraged to care for others, taiao (the environment) and their own belongings and are supported to understand their growing sense of responsibility for themselves and the world around them. While reading and writing materials are available to explore, the curriculum is emergent and discovery-based, with teachers observing and conversing with children to develop learning based on their interests.

Community

At Busy Bees Frimley, we believe that as an Early Learning Centre, we have an important part to play in our local community and a very special opportunity to positively impact the lives of our young tamariki in their early stages of development. We love to explore our local environment and are fortunate to be a short walk from Frimley Park and Frimley School. We encourage people in our community to come into our centre and share their talents and knowledge with us.

Hauora

Health and wellbeing are essential aspects in childrens lives. By placing intentional focus on each of these areas, we are providing tamariki with opportunities to gain the skills and habits to take with them into a healthy future.

By focusing on the 4 key pillars of Hauora (Tana Tihana: physical, Taha Hinengāro: mental and emotional, Tana Whānau: family and social and Taha Wairua: spiritual wellbeing) we weave key aspects into the everyday curriculum with our children.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the holistic wellbeing of tamariki, we have researched and developed programmes focused specifically on the two key areas of Physical Activity (Move) and Nutrition (Nourish).

Our Centre Cook lovingly prepares morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea four days a week. All menus are dietitian approved and have been thoughtfully designed following the New Zealand Food and Nutrition Guidelines and the Ministry of Health Healthy Eating for Babies, Toddlers and Children. Tamariki bring their lunch boxes on a Friday.