Childcare options in Stokes Valley

Stokes Valley Community Childcare Centre is an all day, mixed age service.

The centre's philosophy outlines a warm, fun and safe space for children, where Māoritanga and Fa'a Samoa are valued. Children and their families represent a diverse range of cultures.  

Welcome to Kidz Planet Preschool 

Kids Planet Preschool is a privately owned and operated preschool since 2010. It provides education and childcare for children aged 0-5. Kidz Planet Preschool provides families with high quality childcare and education.  

We are located at 2 Kennedy Grove, off Stokes Valley Road. It is situated near a primary school and within walking distance to the shopping centre and public library.     

We aim to provide a warm, nurturing and stimulating educational environment with a homely atmosphere. Our passionate teachers have a wealth of knowledge and experience. They are committed to providing an environment that is supportive, trusting, empowering and enhances the holistic way children learn.  

Kidz Planet Preschool prides itself on encouraging children to experience new challenges and opportunities, allowing them the freedom to explore, build independence, self-confidence and their self-esteem.  

Kidz Planet Preschool operates with two classrooms, one for 2-5 year olds and the nursery area for under 2 year olds. The Centre is licensed for 10 under 2’s and 30 over 2’s.  

At Kidz Planet Preschool we believe in providing the highest standard of care and education for your child during their Early years. Kidz Planet Preschool embraces and values whanaungatanga in our teaching practices. We are committed to promoting positive, respectful, reciprocal relationships with children, families/whanau, and the local community.

BestStart Stokes Valley early learning centre is tucked away in a quiet residential street within walking distance of the local library, parks and schools. We offer quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 6. We are a fun, creative and community orientated centre that celebrates individuality and cultural diversity.

Together we enrich the lives of others

Out and about in the community

Here at BestStart Stokes Valley we are committed to building strong relationships with children, whanau and the community we live in.

• Once a week a group of children from each room visit the local library, for a Baby Bounce session and a Story Time session.
• Through the help of a personal trainer the older children are taken for an Active Movement session once a week at the local rugby club gym and park.
• As part of our Be School Ready Initiative the 4 year olds are involved in regular visits to the local schools (Koraunui, Tawhai and Tui Glen) in preparation for them starting school.
• We also operate a Pay It Forward sharing and caring initiative, where the children make and take food to the foodbank, make meals for families in need and make and deliver morning tea to a local community group, for example, Plunket, The Library and The Stokes Valley Community House.
• We are currently developing a community garden, so that children and community can work together to support each other and learn about the benefits of growing our own healthy produce.

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.

Thinking about Home Based childcare with Home Grown Kids?

All of our Educators are carefully selected and screened including Police Vetting, identity checks, an interview that assess their attitudes and values toward children and an overall assessment of risk.

Enquire today and we’ll be in touch with you soon to provide the perfect option for your family.

Choosing the Best Educator for Your Child

We stand strong alongside our Educators. We care about them and we’re committed to the work they do, supporting and communicating with them every step of the way. We understand that engaged, fulfilled Educators make for happy families and even happier tamariki who thrive in these small group settings.

Small Group Setting

Our Home Based childcare groups are capped at a maximum of four children under the age of six, including Educators’ own children. This means we can offer each child the individual attention they need to flourish.

The best fit for your whānau values

Our Educators offer a range of different programmes based around their beliefs, values, culture, background and philosophies. Over 90% of our Educators hold a recognised ECE qualification. Some of our Educators are mothers and grandmothers with fantastic life skills, experience and knowledge. We’ll listen to your needs and then offer, where possible, a range of Educators. You will get to choose an Educator that you and your whānau connect with and trust.

Exceeding educational standards

An education programme that reflects New Zealand ECE curriculum - Te Whāriki. We are a Ministry of Education approved and licensed Early Childhood Education provider. Regularly reviewed by the

Education Review Office to ensure all our Home Based environments not only meet, but exceed the Ministry of Education’s Licensing Criteria for Home-based Services (2008).

Subsidies available

We’re an approved Work and Income provider and can support you to access a childcare subsidy if you are eligible.

20 hours ECE scheme

The Government subsidises all children aged 3-5 years (or 6 if not enrolled in school) who attend an ECE facility, making access more affordable for all.

Leaders in development practices for each child

All our Educators are supported and guided by our Visiting Teachers who are Qualified certificated ECE teachers with many years’ experience and expertise in early childhood education. Our Visiting Teachers regularly attend professional development to keep up-to-date with current research and theory for best practice for Education and care for under fives.

Our philosophy, vision and mission

• Our Vision– The why – The reason we exist:

To provide a family friendly wrap around support service that enables all tamariki/whanau to learn, grow and thrive in a home-based setting. Investing in cultivating kindness, strong and professional relationships, in all our people to continue growing as lifelong learners

• Mission Statement – The How -How are we going to achieve the Vision?

We will achieve our Vision through ensuring that every team member is emotionally invested in the well-being of our people including tamariki, whanau, Educators, communities and our Edubase family. We value successes and that these are not ours alone, the greatest success comes from the strengths of many. Our passion, knowledge and commitment will be the catalyst that enables everyone to learn, thrive and achieve.

• Philosophy Statement

Edubase is a Home Based Early Childhood Education service that is committed to providing nurturing learning environments where tamariki thrive as individuals through an authentic play-based, natural learning education and care programme, in a home setting.

To enrich the learning of each tamariki we form strong community connections, developing links within the home and the learning environments of our Kaiako. Tamariki learn respect for people, places and things, shaping Aotearoa and developing an appreciation of New Zealand’s dual heritage. We continually strive to develop knowledge and an understanding of the cultural heritages of both partners to Te Tiriti o Waitangi – supporting a holistic approach to learning which is guided by our NZ Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whāriki.

Educators and Nannies offer comfortable, small group sizes, fostering respectful and reciprocal relationships, promoting tikanga Māori within their practice.

As an Organisation, we pride ourselves on cultivating strong, professional relationships, strengthening capability in all our people to continue growing as lifelong learners.

Edubase celebrates the diversity and uniqueness of each tamaiti, whanau and Kaiako and the gifts they bring. They are taonga, a treasure or gift. All things cultural are affirmed and celebrated, aiming to support children in gaining a positive awareness of their own and other cultures.

Tiaki nga tamariki – take care of the children

Koraunui Te Tohunga Reo Early Learning Centre is across from Koraunui Marae, Stokes Valley.

The guiding principles of Te Tohunga Reo acknowledge the Treaty of Waitangi, children's language, culture and identity and working in partnership with whānau, hapū and iwi. A major goal is that the language spoken at the centre will be te reo Māori.