BestStart Opihi

BestStart Opihi, formerly known as First Steps Opihi, is a semi-rural childcare centre in Temuka with strong community connections. We’re focused on providing safe and nurturing learning environments for children from 3 months to 6 years of age in partnership with parents and the community.

We have friendly and passionate staff that love working with tamariki and celebrate their learning journey. We believe in empowering children to develop skills, positive attitudes and knowledge to support their life long love of learning.

Embracing the concept of ‘tuakana teina’, BestStart Opihi acknowledge and respect the reciprocal partnerships formed between children and with the teaching team.  This practice creates a community where the leadership role within the learning environment for social, emotional and educational learning is shared.

Our environment fosters warm respectful relationships where we empower children to gain independence and confidence to view themselves as competent and capable. We give children the opportunities to make decisions and discover that they are capable through reciprocal relationships as they develop the tools to succeed. We work on a high trust model with our tamariki and view them as willing and able to take risks and know their own boundaries.

Our outside area reflects our community. Designed to enhance and extend children’s learning and understanding of themselves and the wider world. Children enjoy caring for the vegetable garden from planting to harvesting and especially eating the end results.