Childcare options in Naenae

BestStart Naenae is proud to provide awesome opportunities for children and their whanau to learn and grow with us. We're conveniently located adjacent to Rata Street School, and have recently extended our centre so we can better meet the needs of our community by caring for children aged 0 to 6.

Building supportive relationships in our community

At BestStart Naenae we embrace the diversity of our Naenae community, building meaningful connections that provide children with rich learning opportunities and create a sense of belonging for them and their whanau.

Community at heart: We’re a community focused centre and work collaboratively with our families to build trusting relationships to support them to achieve the very best outcomes for children. The established relationships we have built with other community agencies means we can provide a true wrap-around service for our whanau. We’re regularly out and about in the community, being part of what’s happening locally as well as inviting community role models into our kindy to share their knowledge with the children.

Whanau (Whanaungatanga): We value our children and whanau, providing them with a strong sense of belonging. We encourage and welcome whanau to be a part of their child’s learning journeys and encourage them to work alongside their children and teachers to provide children with quality education, care and learning outcomes.

Celebrating culture: Our team of passionate teachers, many from the Naenae community, are as diverse as the children we are privileged to spend our days with. We uphold cultural practices and inspire children to be proud of their heritage. We celebrate various language weeks alongside the local primary schools, learning cultural dances, exploring cultural foods and engaging in cultural learning experiences. We communicate using a range of languages including sign language, visual language and communication folders for children who struggle to communicate verbally.

School connections: We have close relationships and regularly visit Rata Street, Naenae Primary and St Bernadettes schools which sees our children develop the Tuakana-teina relationships between school children/older siblings and themselves. This allows the children to familiarise themselves with the school environment and supports smoother transitions to school.

Ngahere Tamariki (Children of the Forest): We offer a natural forest experience rich in learning for our four-year olds. Once a week we explore the Rata Street bush and learn about sustainability and the natural life cycles of trees, insects etc. Focusing on Kaitiakitanga, we encourage children to be guardians of the environment. This means insects, trees and bushes must be respected and unharmed.

Exciting learning opportunities happen for children all day, every day.  We provide experiences that the children are interested in, going above and beyond to extend the children’s learning and encourage them to become curious thinkers.  See some of our great learning moments in our stories below...

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.

Ao Kids | Pasifika Early Learning is an early childhood family owned organisation in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Te Whāriki curriculum is embedded through our cultural values and is an important part of our practice here at Pasifika Early Learning. We are fostering a love for learning, innovative thinking, building and moulding strong leaders for future generations to come and with this we are ensuring our children are confident within their own ethnic heritage here in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

About us

Tiny Nation is home-based care and education with a difference.

We believe that children have the best chance to flourish when they have secure attachments and a strong sense of belonging in their early years. This foundation is key to emotional, physical and mental growth and wellbeing. From this nourished beginning, happy, healthy and well-adjusted young adults can grow.

Enquire today

We would love to match you with the ideal educator in your area so send us an enquiry here and we’ll be in touch to provide you with all the information you need to make the best choice for your family.

How we look after our families

• High quality education and care using only trained educators and qualified teachers

Because we believe in quality, not quantity, we only work with trained educators and qualified teachers, who by completing their training have proven their commitment to nurturing and caring for children. We find the best trained teachers and educators and support them to deliver their own unique early learning programmes in their own homes. We hand-pick them for their passion, commitment, experience and qualifications. We know that qualifications are an indicator of quality when it comes to early childhood education and we’re proud to represent 100% qualified educators and teachers.

• Family and educator self-matches

When you enquire with us as a family, we support you to self-match with a Tiny Nation educator of your choice. The choice factor is huge here – you get to choose the person you leave your child with when you can’t be there. You will choose your educator based on the needs of your family and child, your values, your own early learning philosophy and, most importantly, your connection with them. This allows you to find the perfect educator for your family – someone who will become a part of your support village and who will advocate fiercely for your child when you can’t. Isn’t this what we all want as parents?

• Small ratios of no more than four children to one educator

By choosing home-based early learning, you are choosing small groups and responsive relationships. Tiny Nation educators have no more than four pre-school children in their care at any given time, with no more than two under the age of two. This allows them to engage with their care children in meaningful ways, dedicating time to support their development and getting to know them deeply. Having small ratios of children per educator enables respectful interactions and authentic connections. Your child is not just a number at Tiny Nation.

• Nurturing, natural and familiar home environments

Home environments stir up comforting memories for all of us. We make personal connections with this kind of environment because it represents our childhood. It provides a strong sense of security and safety as we are able to seek comfort through the familiar. Early childhood education in home environments provide a calm and settled foundation for learning to occur. Children have the space to explore the community around them in real and authentic ways.

Our vision

To empower a nation of children to reach their full potential

Our guiding principles

Leadership / Ārahitanga

We encourage, empower and inspire our educators and teachers to contribute to our thinking and re-define what leadership looks like in early childhood education.

Relationship / Whanaungatanga

We are founded on consistent, familiar and nurturing relationships. It’s vital to take the time to understand, relate to and acknowledge each other as relationships are the soil from which everything else grows.

Partnership / Whakahoahoatanga

We are collaborative and work in partnership with parents and whānau, educators, the community and other like-minded services so that they can participate in and contribute to our journey.

These are our values

Authenticity / Mana Pono

This means being real and accountable. We partner with people who are aligned with our principles, values and beliefs so that we can all show up for our children in meaningful ways.

Belonging / Nō Konei Hoki

We affirm the identity, culture and language of our community and ensure staff, children, families and whānau know they have a place with us. Our environments and programmes are inclusive and our transitions are thoughtfully planned.

Communication / Kōrero

Reciprocal and responsive communication allows us to express ideas and feelings. We’re as passionate about listening as we are about being heard. We model effective communication so that our children become capable and confident communicators.

Our commitment to families

“Ko te ahurei o te tamaiti aroha o tatou mahi.

Let the uniqueness of the child guide our work.”

When you enrol as a family with Tiny Nation, we make a commitment to you as we journey together to provide your child with the love and care that they need to grow and flourish. For us, early childhood starts with care and ends with education. We know that no significant learning can occur without there first being a significant relationship. Your chosen educator becomes your child’s special person – their ‘go to’ in times of triumph and trouble. Someone who loves them just like you do and an extension of your family.

Conductive Education is a programme developed specifically to improve the quality of life for people with neuro-motor disorders. It is a holistic learning and educational orientated approach. 

Conductive Education treats neuro-motor disorders as a cognitive learning challenge rather than as a primary medical problem. 

Conductive Education teaches children to achieve and retain their maximum potential towards independence in all aspects of their life.

Conductive Education offers a complex programme, which covers all aspects of a child's development: physical, educational, social, emotional communication and language. It offers a positive life style for children with motor disorders, their families and support networks.

Matiti Tokelau Akoga Kamata is a childcare centre in Lower Hutt. 

MTAK is operated as a Tokelau community based centre. We provide childcare and educational services.

Naenae Playcentre is one of more than 400 Playcentres around the country.

Playcentres are parent-led, licensed early childhood education centres, which provide parenting and community support to help parents co-operatively raise and educate their young children, aged from birth to school entry.

Naenae Playcentre was founded in the 1960s and has operated continuously since. The current centre is situated in a former Ministry of Education prefab next to Rata St School and has strong links with the school.

Playcentre values learning through play. We have mixed aged sessions and cater from birth to school age - this is great because it means you can spend time with your baby and pre schooler!

At Naenae Playcentre, we know its hard work being a parent - we support each other, build life long friendships and even run a baby sitting club.

Please come and join us for a session, we would love to show you round. Don't forget a change of clothes - we love messy play!

Te Kōhanga Reo

The kōhanga reo movement is a unique initiative based on total immersion in Māori language and values with the aim of passing on Māori culture to future generations.

Kōhanga reo emphasise the revitalisation of the culture through te reo Māori and are dependent on the active participation of the whole whānau. The kaupapa of kōhanga reo aims to strengthen whānau capabilities in cultural, social, economic, spiritual and political matters. Education, health and wellbeing are inherent within all aspects of the kaupapa. The prime focus is the whānau – its collective development, growth, accountability and wellbeing set within a Māori cultural context.

Kōhanga reo do not regard tamariki in isolation, but as important members of the whānau. The kōhanga reo philosophy is that tamariki will benefit when whānau successfully operate according to the kaupapa. Tamariki are an integral part of whānau development.

The following key goals are the foundation of te kōhanga reo kaupapa established in 1982:

• total immersion in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga in daily operations
• whānau decision-making, management and responsibility
• accountability
• health and wellbeing of mokopuna and whānau.

The key goals of te kōhanga reo assure that there will be:

• security in te reo Māori
• a supportive, caring environment for mokopuna
• whānau (collective) sharing of responsibilities, knowledge and expertise
• greater respect and appreciation of each other.

PLEASE NOTE- This Te Kōhanga Reo is currently not taking enrolments

The kōhanga reo movement is a unique initiative based on total immersion in Māori language and values with the aim of passing on Māori culture to future generations.

Kōhanga reo emphasise the revitalisation of the culture through te reo Māori and are dependent on the active participation of the whole whānau. The kaupapa of kōhanga reo aims to strengthen whānau capabilities in cultural, social, economic, spiritual and political matters. Education, health and wellbeing are inherent within all aspects of the kaupapa. The prime focus is the whānau – its collective development, growth, accountability and wellbeing set within a Māori cultural context.

Kōhanga reo do not regard tamariki in isolation, but as important members of the whānau. The kōhanga reo philosophy is that tamariki will benefit when whānau successfully operate according to the kaupapa. Tamariki are an integral part of whānau development.

The following key goals are the foundation of te kōhanga reo kaupapa established in 1982:

• total immersion in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga in daily operations
• whānau decision-making, management and responsibility
• accountability
• health and wellbeing of mokopuna and whānau.

The key goals of te kōhanga reo assure that there will be:

• security in te reo Māori
• a supportive, caring environment for mokopuna
• whānau (collective) sharing of responsibilities, knowledge and expertise
• greater respect and appreciation of each other.