BestStart Careers

06/10/2025

BestStart achieves top rating by ERO! 🎉

We’re proud to share that BestStart has been recently reviewed by the New Zealand Education Review Office (ERO).
ERO has judged BestStart as “Excelling” in creating the organisational conditions to support high quality education and care for children.
This is the highest rating possible.

We want to acknowledge the passion and commitment that our amazing people bring every day to supporting children and families.
ERO's recognition is another step toward our vision to stand up and stand out as leaders in early childhood education.
A huge thank you to every BestStarter who made this possible. ✨

BestStart has been recognised as Excelling by the Education Review Office (ERO) in its latest Governing Organisation Review - the highest result possible.The rating was awarded for organisational conditions, which consider how well a provider’s leadership, management and systems create the foundat...

29/05/2025

Thank you to the many Kiwi families who voted BestStart as New Zealand's most trusted Early Childhood provider!

We are delighted to announce our fifth win and appreciate that so many families continue to place their trust in us. We know that love, care and trust are the magic at the heart of learning, and we are proud to be nurturing the unique learning journeys of over 20,000 children each week.

08/10/2024

At BestStart we don’t just teach - we inspire, learn, and grow together!

Recently, our Sir Tristram and Dixon Heights centres hosted 23 early childhood centre directors from South Korea as part of their Ministry of Education's training programme. 🌏 This was a unique opportunity for our Kaiako to share their expertise and gain fresh perspectives from international peers. Join our team and be part of a place where innovation and collaboration in early childhood education thrive.

09/06/2024

We did it! BestStart voted 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐙𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝'𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞!

We’re excited to announce that New Zealanders have voted us the Most Trusted Brand for the Early Childhood Centre category for 2024!
We're proud to provide families with a place where their child is in safe, caring and trusting hands. 💙💚

11/03/2024

Meet Raymond Johnston, one of BestStart's incredible participation van drivers. Raymond spends his days ensuring children who otherwise might not have access to early childhood education arrive safely at our centre to learn and play.

“What I love about the job is seeing the excitement and joy on the parent’s faces as they close the van door, knowing their children are going to a great centre for the day,” he says.

We currently have 30 permanent van drivers and 75 support drivers who complete comprehensive training in order to become a van driver for BestStart. Our wonderful van drivers are responsible for ensuring all compliance areas are met each time they pick up a child, bring them into the centre and into their respective classrooms. They effectively communicate with whānau, tamariki and teachers, and we are so lucky to have such a dedicated and caring team.

13/02/2024

Happy Valentine’s Day!

24/12/2023

✨ Happy Holidays ✨ As we head into the festive season, we wish all of our whānau & tamariki a fun, exciting, safe and restful holiday period, filled with happiness and love ❤️

28/11/2023

Recently Moira Storer, our Head Teacher at BestStart Montessori Kilbirnie, was invited by Chief Executive of Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand to contribute to Montessori Voices Magazine. She was tasked with choosing a quote by Maria Montessori that inspires her and share her reflection on it.

Here’s what she had to say: “It inspires me to be a better teacher for our tamariki. It reiterates the responsibility that all adults – whanau and kaiako – have in helping raise the next generation.”

In 2020 Moira completed her Bachelor of Teaching in ECE where she discovered her passion for Montessori. In 2021 Moira began her teaching journey at BestStart Montessori Rongotai. Moira is currently studying her Aperfield Montessori Diploma and is excited to use what she’s learning to support her team and the tamariki in her centre.

26/08/2023

At BestStart we’re incredibly proud to be part of the Kia Tīmata Pai self-regulation research study involving around 1600 BestStart preschoolers. We’re two years into this research and it’s the first-time oral language and self-regulation interventions are being used together to measure whether oral language helps children manage their emotional responses in a healthy way.
A lot is known about the importance of oral language in early childhood education, and we know from the Dunedin Longitudinal Study that self-regulation is key to better adult outcomes. We also know that these skills can be taught.
If successful, this research could lead to positive changes for generations and pave the way for groundbreaking changes in the way we teach in the early years.
Kia Tīmata Pai is funded by the Wright Family Foundation and headed by Director of the Dunedin Longitudinal study, Richie Poulton. Other key partners are the Methodist Mission Southern and ERANZ.
Keen to learn more?
https://best-start.org/blog/beststart-self-regulation-research-in-ece-announced

23/08/2023

At BestStart we strive to empower our leaders with the skills, knowledge, and passion to grow future leaders.

Manpreet Kaur is our Centre Manager at BestStart Pukekoke West and experienced firsthand the benefit of having access to the best Professional Development in the sector and ongoing development with a Professional Growth Cycle. She now leads her team with the purpose of making them feel capable and confident in their own abilities.

Interested in a career at BestStart? Visit our careers page now:

What we can offer you As well as a flexible, inclusive and supportive culture, BestStart has a range of benefits and resources to help you get the most out of working here. Read more