BestStart Educare

BestStart Educare is a New Zealand-owned charitable organisation and the country's largest provider of early childhood education. It was founded in 1996 by Wayne and Chloe Wright, who opened the first centre in Tauranga with a team of four. Today, BestStart operates more than 260 centres across New Zealand, from Whangarei in the north to Invercargill in the south, serving children from three months to six years of age. The organisation offers preschools, kindergartens, and Montessori centres, all following the New Zealand early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki. Its programmes emphasise learning through play, with a dedicated Set for School programme to help children transition smoothly to primary school. BestStart has been recognised as New Zealand's Most Trusted Brand for Early Childhood Centres by Reader's Digest multiple times, and has won Quality Service Awards and OHbaby! Awards. As a charitable organisation, it reinvests into its centres and communities, focusing on nurturing environments where children are at the heart of their own learning, connected to whānau and community.

BestStart Educare was founded in 1996 by Wayne and Chloe Wright, who opened the first early childhood education centre in Tauranga. The organisation began with a small team of four and has since grown into New Zealand's largest provider of early childhood education. Over the years, BestStart expanded its network to over 260 centres nationwide, covering regions from Whangarei to Invercargill. It operates as a New Zealand-owned charitable organisation, offering preschools, kindergartens, and Montessori centres. The organisation follows the New Zealand early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki, focusing on learning through play. BestStart has received multiple awards, including Reader's Digest Most Trusted Brand for Early Childhood Centres (2020-2022, 2024-2026) and Quality Service Awards (2019-2026), as well as OHbaby! Awards (2020-2024).

• 2024

  BestStart wins OHbaby! Gold for Best Childcare Provider.

• 2020

  BestStart named Reader's Digest Most Trusted Brand for Early Childhood Centres.

• 2019

  BestStart receives Reader's Digest Quality Service Award for Highest Quality ECE service.

• 1996

  Wayne and Chloe Wright open the first BestStart centre in Tauranga.

New Zealand's most trusted early childhood education provider, offering nurturing, high-quality care and education.

• Set for School programme

  A programme to ensure a smooth transition to primary school by incorporating play activities linked to the national school curriculum.

• Te Whāriki-based curriculum

  Follows the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, focusing on learning through play.

1. 1BestStart | Leading Childcare Centre & Early Learning in New Zealandbest-start.org
2. 2About Us | NZ’s most trusted Early Childhood Educationbest-start.org
3. 3Award-Winning Childcare | NZ's most trusted childcare brandbest-start.org
4. 4BestStart Educarewikidata.org