BestStart Dey Street  

BestStart Dey Street (formerly TopKids Dey Street) is a purpose built childcare centre licenced for 70 children. We are located on the east side of Hamilton, situated close to the University of Waikato. ERO has rated TopKids Dey in the top 7% of NZ childcare centres providing positive learning outcomes for children.

Our Vision - To provide a truly authentic environment that embraces cultural values, beliefs and identity.

Our Philosophy - Maanakitanga – We provide a nurturing, caring and fun learning environment where children develop high self-esteem and a belief in themselves as being competent and capable learners.

Whanaungatanga – We work in partnership with our whanau and wider community maintaining open and positive relationships based on mutual respect.

Aroha – Our children deserve to be immersed in an environment of aroha where teacher build and maintain close, authentic relationships with tamariki and whanau

Whakamana – Through play-based learning, we empower children to develop independence, responsibility, creative thinking and a passion for life long learning. Children have a sense of mana/well-being that builds on their personal identity and place in the world.

Ako – We recognise knowledge that both teachers and learners bring into the centre. Through our innovative curriculum, based on Te Whariki and incorporating the Treaty of Waitangi, we provide robust and meaningful learning experiences through our daily practice.

Our Nursery Room - Welcomes tamariki from 3 months to approximately 2 years of age. We believe that building strong and trusting relationships is essential to our children’s wellbeing, sense of belonging and learning.  We begin to foster these relationships with our children and whānau through our primary caregiving practice where children learn to interact and build close relationships with others. We also provide all nappies, wipes, milk and food in this room.

Our Toddler Room - Welcomes tamariki from approximately 2 years to 3.5 years of age. Toddlers love to explore and get physical!  Our teachers have developed an innovative curriculum and environment that enhances this unique age and stage of development. The programme for toddlers empowers them to be confident and independent learners in the different areas of play.  Our children learn through play based learning and a variety of meaningful experiences are provided everyday such as dressing up, painting, working with play dough, construction, cooking, and outdoor physical play.

Our Preschool Room - Welcomes tamariki from approximately 3.5 years to 5 years of age.Within the preschool room we take a project based approach to learning, in which the children are encouraged to learn through the exploration, research and investigation of the world around them.  Teachers follow children’s interests and use these interests to add complexity to the planned experiences provided, thus enhancing learning. Our preschool room has a focus on preparing children for the school environment through play-based learning.  Children are encouraged to prepare themselves for their years at school through the acquisition and strengthening of self-management, social/emotional and literacy/numeracy skills. The preschool room teachers believe that quality education is provided through a collaborative approach to learning in which teachers, students, whanau and the community come together to provide quality learning outcomes for children. We take regular trips to a local primary school to participate in their school preparedness program. This program allows our children to become familiar with the school they will be attending, the routines, environment and expectations.