BestStart Stokes Valley  

Welcome to BestStart Stokes Valley (formerly ABC Stokes Valley). Our childcare centre is tucked away in a quiet residential street within walking distance of the local library, parks and schools and offers quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years. We are a fun, creative and community orientated centre that celebrates individuality and cultural diversity.

Our Vision

To work collaboratively with parents, whanau and the community to grow children to positively impact the lives of others.

Our Philosophy

• We provide a programme that extends children’s knowledge, curiosity, skills and dispositions to enhance new and continuous learning
• We work in partnership with family and whanau
• We promote reciprocal relationships with our community

Out and about in the community

Here at ABC 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.

Family Events

Family and whanau are a big part of life here at BestStart Stokes Valley. We hold monthly events as an opportunity for families to get together. This includes events such as Easter and Christmas parties, Matariki, cultural celebrations, shared meals, parent education workshops, parent/teacher interviews, performances by the children and displays of their learning. We also encourage parents and whanau to be involved in our weekly excursions into the community and be involved in our centre programme.

Infants and toddlers

In our Tahi room, our passionate team of teachers follow our youngest learners cues and rhythms providing a respectful, calm and unhurried environment to explore at their own pace. They are dedicated to following the principles of the RIE Philosophy and the Pikler approach.

Preschoolers

In the Rua room, we have an enthusiastic teaching team who encourage the children to take the lead in their learning and to follow their interests. We support our children to become capable and confident explorers through learning, discovering and researching alongside them through ‘The Project Approach.’

Be School Ready initiative

This initiative is introduced when children first start at our centre through the way teachers support children to develop independence, make decisions, problem solve and develop a love of learning as well as providing experiences that promote literacy and numeracy in all play areas. At the same time as they get older we ensure that they are able to take responsibility for themselves, their belongings and others as these are all important skills for school.

In preparation for school we have also built very close relationships with the local schools in the Valley and visit them frequently with the children to support a smooth transition.