BestStart Lemon Street  

BestStart Lemon Street (formally TopKids Lemon Street) is a family focused centre providing quality care and education in Taranaki for over 20 years. The centre is nestled in a large section with mature trees and developed gardens, right on the edge of New Plymouth’s CBD.

Our beautiful environment includes a kiwi big-backyard and peaceful atmosphere creating a beautiful surrounding for children to learn about life and the world around them. We are open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 5.30pm, welcoming children from birth to school age. We offer morning and afternoon sessions as well as school day and full day attendance to support your family’s needs.

At BestStart Lemon Street ‘We are one family’. ‘He whanau kotahi tatou’. BestStart Lemon Street belongs to everyone. Kaiako/ teachers, tamariki/ children, whanau/ families and the community are welcomed as if it were their home. The strengths of all everyone will be acknowledged and encouraged so they can participate confidently within the centre.

Me hoki ki te ukaipo – Breastfeeding welcome here - Our centre reflects home virtues and values, and if you are thinking of returning to work while you are breastfeeding your baby we welcome you to come into the centre to feed as needed. We have a private breastfeeding space available so you and your baby can enjoy this special time. Our infant’s team are highly skilled in the storage and heating of breast milk to ensure it retains its nutrition for your baby.

Kaitiakitanga – Sustainability - We are passionate about tamariki understanding sustainability, knowing where food really comes from and caring for our environment. The Kaiako/ Teachers help the children to bake for the whole centre, grow vegetables and plants, reduce, re-use and recycle. Tamariki/ Children are offered meaningful and authentic moments and opportunities to be responsible world citizens. We collect eggs from our chickens, care for our live-in  animal friends, and use natural materials to offer real and tangible experiences for play, the best way to learn.

Te Ao Maori – The Maori world - Alongside our bi-cultural curriculum Te Whariki and in support of the principles surrounding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, we promote whanaungatanga, te reo, nga tikanga, and tuakana/teina relationships. We affirm and celebrate cultural differences and are proud of our inclusive education model. Kaiako are passionate about teaching children where they come from and embed Taranaki Reo and tikanga into all aspects of our centre. We value the principles of Tataiako and weave ako, manaakitanga into our daily practice.