About Us

the Liverpool street story

When we purchased Bright Beginnings Liverpool Street in 2014, we were immediately drawn to it’s charm and warmth. Our initial thoughts were that this centre felt like a home away from home. The old style villa had been lovingly maintained, the grounds were immaculate and the teaching staff made you feel at ease as soon as you arrived.

Three years on, and nothing has changed. We have had some amazing children through the doors at Liverpool Street. And when those children leave, their brothers and sisters and wider family members join the Bright Beginnings family as well.

Our focus is on developing young children into life-long learners. We want your child to enter the world as balanced, socially equiped and ready for the challenges that lay ahead. We encourage children to follow their passions and seek their input into their own development.

We also encourage parents and whanau to join in and experience the learning of their child as they enter different phases of their pre-school journey

how to get to our liverpool street centre

Located just north of the CBD and close to the Whanganui River.

Liverpool street staff members

I ‘started with’ Bright Beginnings eight years ago as a part time educator. I was then, and am to this day, proud to be part of a team and culture who value the importance of providing to all children high standards and quality education and care. Our teams are committed to providing many opportunities for children to explore, discover and learn about themselves and their immediate and wider worlds.
Lorri Bishop
Centre Manager
Kia Ora, I have been teaching in Early Childhood for 30 years. I hold a Teaching Diploma from Palmerston North Teachers College. I have worked in both the kindergarten and childcare sectors. I have been at Bright Beginnings for 10 years and during this time I have worked in both the Under 2’s and Over 2’s rooms. However, I have a real passion for working with the Under 2’s and their whanau.
Natalie
Qualified Teacher
I am a qualified Early Childhood Teacher who has a passion for working with young children. I believe in supporting children through building respectful relationships to develop lifelong skills. I am passionate about interest based learning and enjoy inspiring children to discover the world they live in through their interests. I have been the team leader at Hatrick Street for just over 12 months and have enjoyed building a team who are strong, devoted and caring.
Nikki
Qualified Teacher
When I first became an early childhood educator, I had known with heartfelt conviction that I wanted to work with children. Over 20 years later I can just as passionately say the same thing. Originally from Canada, I have worked within different areas of early childhood education both abroad and in New Zealand, and am now with the wonderful Bright Beginnings team of educators and community.
Tara
Qualified Teacher
I have been working in early Childhood Education for the past 25 years and am currently formalising my experience by studying for my degree in E.C.E. I am passionate about providing quality early childhood care and education to our children and feel privileged to be working with a fantastic team of committed professional teachers. I respect all children and view all children as capable and competent learners. I will support your child through building responsive, reciprocal relationships to develop the lifelong skills that will help guide them on their journey from Bright Beginnings. My special passion is early childhood literacy and I have a strong commitment to biculturalism, tikanga practices and Te Reo Maori.
Liz
Qualified Teacher
Information to come
Jenna
Teacher

the hatrick street story

Bright Beginnings Hatrick Street was purchased in October 2014. At the time, it was a struggling Centre with low enrolment numbers, poor educational programmes and a real disconnect between what was happening on a day to day basis compared to the high expectations of what  early childhood learning should be. It needed a complete and total overhaul.

Fast forward three years, and we are proud to say that our Hatrick Street Centre is right up there, level with our Liveprool Street Centre as one of the premiere centres in Whanganui. We have enjoyed rapidly increasing roll numbers, amazing ERO Reports and fantastic feedback from our parents. We have a team of dedicated teachers who have worked tirelessly to provide our children and families with a world class ECE environment.

We have worked closely with the Ministry of Education, whanau and members of the community to deliver on our promise of elevating Hatrick Street to a place that it has not been at for a long long time. Our success outcomes for our children have been nothing short of dramatic. Our structured and non-structured learning programmes are the envy of centre’s far and wide.

We are also extremely proud of the recognition we have received. We recently participated in a study by the Ministry of Education to review how we could attract new entrants to Early Childhood learning. During the course of the study, we were held up as an example of how a dedicated team of teachers can increase roll numbers through hard work, dedication and a belief. We believe in ourselves to deliver outstanding outcomes for you and your children.

how to get to our hatrick street centre

Located just south of the CBD next to the racecourse.

hatrick street staff members

Kia ora, my name is Vanessa Raikes and I am the team leader at Bright Beginnings Hatrick street. I have spent most of my professional career in Auckland and much of it dedicated to one particular centre which was inspired by the educational philosophy of Reggio Emilia.
Vanessa Raikes
Team Leader
Hi I’m Sam and I have been working in the Early Childhood sector for eight years, during which I have acquired a Bachelor of Education (0-5). I am currently in the last stages of finishing my teachers registration. When I was just out of high school I was asked to work at Bright Beginnings as a reliever and when I did I fell in love with it.
Sam
Qualified Teacher
I have a Bachelor of Education 0-8 years. I value tamariki as unique individuals, encouraging them to extend their interests and strengths. I believe in building positive relationships with tamariki, supporting them to develop respect, kindness and patience and a sense of well-being. I am passionate about early childhood education and believe all children deserve to be treated with respect, kindness and empathy.
Kylee
Qualified Teacher
I value Bright Beginnings as being a second home for many children, therefore I feel strongly about providing a loving, calm, fair, healthy and fun (to name a few) place for nga tamariki. I am passionate about children learning social skills in their early years building the foundations of their journey in life, friendships, schooling and careers. I firmly believe children learn through their play which is enriched by experiences and opportunities to sustain their current interests and discoveries.
Christina
Qualified Teacher
Hi, I am Sam and I have three years experience working with mainly the Under 2’s age group. My teachings are based on respectful practise, free movement and development, and spirituality. I moved to Whanganui last year after seven years in Auckland. My areas on interest within early childhood education and specific to this age group is Play-Based learning and the complex role of the teacher, educational theory, your children’s working theories, imagination and story telling.
Samantha
Qualified Teacher
Information to come
Aimee
Teacher
Tēnā koutou katoa Ko Emma Cole tōku ingoa Ko Chirstie tōku hoa wāhine Ko Eli te mātāmua, ko Loulou rāua ko Valerie te pōtiki Ko Whanganui ahau.Kia ora, my name is Emma and I am from Whanganui, where I live with my partner and three children. I am currently in my second year of study, working towards my bachelor of education (moving into year three in July). Studying is an awesome journey and I am learning a lot about my whakapapa and kaupapa Māori, which I am excited to share with the tamariki within the centre. When I’m not here at Bright Beginnings I like to spend my time with my family and exploring the outdoors.Ngā mihi Emma
Emma
Teacher