BestStart Palmerston North 1  

BestStart Palmerston North (formerly First Steps Palmerston North) is conveniently located close to the central city and local attractions including Te Manawa. Since opening in 1989 we have been the centre of choice for literally thousands of families.

Experienced teachers - We have very experienced teachers, some of whom have been educating and caring for infants and young children at this centre for over 20 years. Others have been in the team for more than a decade. Our teachers are specialists in various areas of early childhood education to support your child to reach their full potential.

Music Specialists - Music sessions with our professionally trained teachers are fun and we have fantastic resources. Your child will enjoy songs, actions and dance with rhythm and movement. By being part of our music sessions your child will develop mathematical understanding through repetitive patterns, counting and spacial awareness as well as building their fine and gross motor skills. Click here to read more about our music programme.

Artist in Residence - Our specialist shares her skills across the complex so no matter where your child is, they will have the opportunity to enjoy this experience. Awesome art work is created using different mediums and techniques. Art supports early literacy skills and ignites your child’s imagination and creativity.  Click here to read more about our programme.

Foundation Skills - These skills support your child’s fine and gross motor skills and are the beginnings of sport and physical activity, using for example, balance and hand-eye coordination. When children have strong upper body and strong hand and arm muscles, it enables them to concentrate during reading and writing. In other words, these skills support early literacy.

Cultural Group - Our cultural group ignites recognition of all cultures by providing learning and experiences of customs, art, music and food. We recognise the culture of every child and by doing so this we give them a sense of identity and belonging.

Diverse Learners - We have specialist teachers who are post graduate trained in both gifted and talented children and early intervention. Karen MacKay (our Curriculum Manager) is well respected in Early Childhood Education circles and her specific focus is on supporting teachers to provide quality education and care in line with the New Zealand Curriculum. In addition, she ensures that our warm and welcoming environment is vibrant and extends the children’s learning.

Innovation research project - We have been recognised by the Ministry of Education and granted funding to research new and more effective ways of supporting children with their social emotional learning and development. This is important as research shows that this can lead to more success at school and positive outcomes in later life. We are working with Drs. Tara McLaughlin and Monica Cameron from Massey University to see how we can strengthen this important area of learning and development. Innovations from our project will be shared with others in early childhood to help promote positive social-emotional competence for young children.  

Social emotional competency includes, but is not limited to, having the skills to:

• form close, secure relationships   
• engage in positive interactions with others
• understand, identify, express, and regulate emotions 
• resolve peer conflicts
• persist at tasks
• be resilient

Space programme - We recognise the importance of the early years for children and extend the support we provide families with new babies by running the Space programme for you and your baby at our centre. Space offers a unique combination of post-natal support and early childhood education for new parents and their babies over their first critical year. You and your baby, aged 0 – 4 months, can meet with others weekly for 25 – 30 weeks. As the babies grow, you have the opportunity to discover ways to support and extend your baby's learning and development, including ideas and opportunities for play experiences at home. Contact the team at BestStart Palmerston North to register or email: Space.PalmerstonNorth@best-start.org