BestStart Wigram is an early childhood education centre in Christchurch, part of BestStart — New Zealand's largest early childhood education provider, founded in 1996 by Wayne and Chloe Wright in Tauranga and now operating over 260 centres nationwide from Whangarei to Invercargill.
The Wigram centre takes what it describes as an unhurried approach to teaching, built on the belief that there's always time to learn, explore, collaborate, and have fun. Teachers engage openly with whānau, providing frequent updates on each child's learning and development, and the centre values each child's unique culture and identity. Community engagement is a core part of the centre's approach, with reciprocal relationships built with surrounding schools, a local museum, and local businesses, supported by regular centre excursions.
Like all BestStart centres, Wigram follows Te Whāriki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, which focuses on learning through play and building a strong foundation for further learning. The centre offers a range of session times for families, fresh and healthy meals prepared daily by its own centre cook, and access to 20 hours free ECE funding for 3-5 year olds, with WINZ subsidies available where needed.
At BestStart Wigram, the centre's own words set the tone: "there is always time." It's an unhurried approach to early childhood teaching, built on the belief that children need time to learn, explore, collaborate, and have fun without being rushed.
BestStart Wigram is one of more than 260 centres nationwide run by BestStart, which started in 1996 when Wayne and Chloe Wright opened the organisation's first early childhood education centre in Tauranga. What began as a team of four has grown into New Zealand's largest provider of early childhood education — a New Zealand-owned charitable organisation with preschools, kindergartens, and Montessori centres from Whangarei to Invercargill.
Like every BestStart centre, Wigram follows Te Whāriki, New Zealand's early childhood curriculum, which centres on learning through play and building a strong foundation for future learning. Teachers design learning spaces and activities aimed at creating a welcoming, safe, and engaging environment where every child can explore, grow, and reach their full potential.
The centre places a strong emphasis on open communication, frequently updating families on their child's learning and development. Each child's unique culture and identity is recognised as part of that relationship, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach to care.
BestStart Wigram builds reciprocal relationships with the surrounding community — schools, the local museum, and local businesses — and runs regular centre excursions as part of that community involvement, aiming to strengthen children's sense of belonging beyond the centre's walls.
The centre offers a range of session times to suit different family schedules, along with fresh, healthy meals prepared daily by its own centre cook. Families of 3-5 year olds can access 20 hours free ECE funding, with WINZ subsidies available where needed to support enrolment.
Parent reviews of BestStart Wigram describe children who are enthusiastic about attending, learning skills like counting in Mandarin and Māori, and forming strong friendships. Parents specifically highlight the care and attention shown by kaiako (teachers), particularly in helping children settle in on harder drop-off days, and the thoughtful learning experiences built around each child's individual interests.
BestStart Wigram is located at 7 Mustang Ave & 40 Corsair Drive, Wigram, Christchurch, and is open Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 6:00pm. Families can book a visit or make an enquiry directly through the centre's website.
What comes through at BestStart Wigram is a centre that pairs the resources and curriculum consistency of a large, established national provider with a genuinely unhurried, relationship-first approach at the centre level — reflected in both its own messaging and the parent reviews that describe it as a place children are excited to attend.