Childcare options in Rotorua Central

BestStart Herewini Street has an amazing natural outdoor environment. It's designed to encourage children to use their motor skills and give them opportunities to explore nature, grow flowers and vegetables, search for insects and bugs, and learn to care and respect animals.

The Heart of our Community

He Taonga to Mokopuna, Kia whangaia, kia Tipu, Kia re

A child is a treasure, to be nurtured, to grow, to flourish.

Nau Mai, Haere Mai, Welcome to BestStart Herewini.

There is nothing like feeling at home when entering a place of learning, to know that you belong. Our community feel this the moment they walk through our gate.

The smell of fresh, healthy, and nutritious meals fills our learning environment and sit side by side with our silver healthy heart award.

We welcome visitors at any time and encourage whanau to stay and immerse themselves in our community of learning. We empower our tamariki to explore their learning environment at their own pace, in their own time.

Kaiako create learning experiences that allow for all tamariki to showcase their own special skills and then grow them.

Our indoor-outdoor flow allows for many learning opportunities to happen with teachers guiding along the way. The natural environment is essential to our learning community creating pathways of learning that are authentic, simple but challenging.

Once a month we have a Librarian from Rotorua Library visit us to share stories, songs, dance and art, which our tamariki look forward to. Our kaiako enjoying getting out in the community with our tamariki, exploring and investigating the things that interest them. We enjoy getting together with our tamariki and their whanau with special evenings created just for them, where they can get to know other families and share a meal together.

We have strong connections with our wider community to support our whanau with diverse needs. We can help with referrals, Work and Income support paperwork, Early learning process paperwork and anything else you may need us to help with.

Our Kaiako can see and discover potential in all tamariki so attend professional development, and really listen to the needs of the whanau to help guide this.

We welcome you to come in, sit down for a while, let you and your child explore and meet our amazing team. Push the big red door open and come on in to your second home.

We have two learning spaces designed to meet the needs of our tamariki as they grow.

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.

Children’s individual needs are met with the implementation of Te Whaariki – Early Childhood Curriculum. Staff and children are aware of cultural practices which are unique to the dual heritage of Aotearoa Central City Quality Edu-Care is a happy environment where children can learn and prepare for life.

Our aim is to make a positive input into the lives of children who come here. We are an early childhood education centre contracted to parents and the Ministry of Education to provide a quality service.

Children’s individual needs are met with the implementation of Te Whaariki – Early Childhood Curriculum. Staff and children are aware of cultural practices which are unique to the dual heritage of Aotearoa Central City Quality Edu-Care is a happy environment where children can learn and prepare for life. Our aim is to make a positive input into the lives of children who come here. We are an early childhood education centre contracted to parents and the Ministry of Education to provide a quality service.

The Ole Schoolhouse is situated in the central Rotorua suburb of Victoria. The Centre is privately owned education and day-care centre that operates on a full day basis. The children who attend the centre are pre-schoolers aged between 0 and 5 years.

The Ole Schoolhouse childcare offers a creative and homely learning environment within a heritage setting. Our educational philosophy draws on current international research and best practice. We develop our curriculum through observation of children’s interests with the aim to enhance opportunities for social development and to foster a love of learning.

The Ole Schoolhouse is a homely childcare where children up to the age of six and their parents/caregivers can share in programs and activities designed to give children a healthy and strong foundation.

We bring together in one location early learning and information about children’s services and programmes in the community.

Te Kōhanga Reo o Tārewa Pounamu is a centre-based kōhanga reo located in Rotorua and provides for up to 30 tamariki. Book a visit today to connect with our kōhanga reo and to learn more about the options for your whanau.

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.

Te Kōhanga Reo o Pipiwharauroa is a centre-based kōhanga reo located in Rotorua and provides for up to 40 tamariki. Book a visit today to connect with our kōhanga reo and to learn more about the options for your whanau.

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.

Te Kōhanga Reo ki Pukeroa Ōruawhata is a centre-based kōhanga reo located in Rotorua and provides for up to 34 tamariki. Book a visit today to connect with our kōhanga reo and to learn more about the options for your whanau.

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.

Our philosophy is based upon the principle “Help me to do it myself” and encourages all children to: 

• Be an active learner
• Be able to communicate 
• Accept challenges
• Develop independence 

Why choose Montessori Rotorua Preschool?

Our children are all special. They each have individual talents. We want to develop their attributes to best advantage. At Montessori Rotorua Preschool we believe the Montessori method of education provides the best opportunity for each child to fulfil his/her potential. Montessori education is unique. It places emphasis on the child’s individual needs. The self paced curriculum offers opportunities for independence, exploration, discovery and creativity. In a Montessori program, a child gains an early enthusiasm for learning by pursuing his or her own individual interests according to personal abilities. It is this approach that gives the child the foundation from where he/she can develop to his or her fullest potential.

Rotorua Childcare was established in 1996 as a Community Centre for public service families and the Rotorua Council gifted the land to the centre.

Within our centre, we have three rooms

Nursery birth to 2 years

Little Learners 2 years to 3 ½ years

Pukeko Corner 3 ½ years to 5 years

Each of our rooms provide a different stage of learning

Nursery

Our philosophy promotes respectful and trusting relationships with infants. Teachers provide opportunities for freely-initiated movement, attachment based learning and a healthy nurturing environment where infants can grow and develop early independence. Our environment allows infants to discover as much as possible on their own, with the comfort of knowing that their teacher is close by. Infants have opportunities to share the outside play area with the little learners and also a play area of their own.

Little Learners

Our toddler centre is inspired by learning through play. We strengthen children’s sense of independence by allowing the child to explore, create and extend their knowledge. Teachers build strong relationships between both children and adults and value the involvement of parents in their children’s learning. Teachers work alongside the children encouraging them to take responsibility for their own learning by making decisions, choosing their own materials, problem solving, and developing their language and social skills.

Pukeko Corner

Children are encouraged to share their ideas, inquire and research with the support of our teachers who will use effective teaching strategies to guide and extend children’s learning. We encourage children to be independent, capable and confident learners who are able to achieve and reach their full potential so they are ready for their next learning journey.