BestStart Ponsonby
About BestStart Ponsonby
About Education & Care Service
Education & Care Services are mainstream early learning centres that offer full-day or part-day care with a structured curriculum, qualified teachers, and a focus on learning through play. They cater to families needing flexible childcare options and wanting a balanced approach that supports social, physical, and early academic development in a diverse environment.
What Is 20 Hours ECE funding?
20 Hours ECE is a government-funded initiative that helps reduce the cost of early childhood education for families with tamariki aged 3–5. Eligible children can receive up to 20 hours of funded care and education each week at participating services. Centres can set their own enrolment patterns and may ask for optional charges, but the funded hours themselves should be free of compulsory fees. If you are unsure how this works at BestStart Ponsonby, it is best to ask the centre directly how they apply 20 Hours ECE.
Community Profile
Roll & age distribution
BestStart Ponsonby currently has a roll of 79 children tamariki , with most children enrolled in the 0–5 years age band.
Ethnicity profile
European tamariki are the largest group (74% of the roll), alongside māori, pacific, asian, other children.
Roll and demographic figures are based on data supplied by the Ministry of Education and were last updated on 01/07/2024.
Parent Reviews
“Love this daycare, we have had two boys attend BestStart. They set them up for life in a very nurturing a caring way.”
“Awesome childcare center, teachers and all staff have great sense of responsibility to caring kids. Just half year my daughter have strongly sense of belonging , and learning more social skills, becoming more and more confidence and outgoing.”
“Unfortunately this child care allows children to scream and scream non stop while playing in the playground unabated, which can be heard for miles around. They are never told to stop.”
“I can't speak highly enough of BestStart. My son attended from 13 months until he turned five, and my daughter is currently in her last year there. I know that my kids are in the best hands and know of many friends, and my sister, who have sent their children there too. The centre is expertly run and the teachers are committed to caring for the children and providing interesting experiences for them. There's always lots of great play options and the teachers act on the interests of the children as they come up. My children have been introduced to group exercise, yoga, setting the table and table manners + good old creative and messy play. If you're looking for an ECE with a personal touch, this is the one. In the child's final year, from 4-5, they move to The Workshop, which is a pre-school environment where they model some of the school classroom routine. It set my son up so well - he had a great year and was confident when he went to school.”
“I have both of my kids attending Beststart Ponsonby and I couldn’t be happier about it. With an amazing structure (probably the biggest outside area I have ever seen in a daycare) and great location the Centre is in a peaceful spot with lots of green around given everyone a break from the city. Also it has the most lovely staff you can get. We have a long drive to it but every morning the way to daycare is full of excitement from the kids, they just love going there.”
Interested?
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Getting ready for daycare?
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