BestStart Willowpark Road  

Kia ora, Welcome, Namaste, Kamusta, Nihao, Marhaba, Fakaalofa atu, Talofa and Malo. BestStart Willowpark Road (formerly EdiKids Queen St) is a quality, multicultural childcare centre for babies through to preschool children. We are in the heart of the lively Hastings CBD, directly opposite Queens Square Park. To support our working whanau, our childcare centre is open from 7.30am until 5.30pm

Our vision - Where all cultures come together to learn

Our unique multicultural community - Our nurturing teachers come from different cultural backgrounds. At BestStart Willow Park Road, we celebrate the different languages and cultures within our community. We recognise the importance of the child’s first language and support this through multiple literacies such as art, drama, music and drawing. You will find that as you arrive,, you are greeted in your home language. Children have opportunities to experience and make sense of the world around them in an environment where different cultures are valued and accepted. We take pride in the diversity of cultures within our centre and it is our differences that unite us and have shaped our centre.

Sharing and celebrating our cultural values - We recognise our parents and whanau as first teachers. Our teachers are passionate and dedicated in learning about our whanau values and aspirations and incorporating these into our daily practice. We respect the uniqueness of each family and the wealth of knowledge and expertise they bring to our centre. Our teachers show respect and support different ways of learning. Teachers carefully select resources that reflect the different cultures of our centre community.

Taking advantage of our central position in this community - We are in the heart of the Hastings CBD. This gives us great opportunity to explore our immediate surroundings with regular outings to the Hastings Library, Queens Square Park and our local New World supermarket. We also visit Age Concern weekly and join in with their active movement and share waiata. Through our community involvement, we foster a warm, welcoming and friendly atmosphere for our children, whanau and community.

Be School Ready - Our unique Be School Ready initiative prepares children for school and their next stage of learning through innovative activities that cater for both small groups and individuals. Our learning programmes promote self-help, social skills and a sense of belonging through interest based investigations.