Our Team – At Roskill South Kindergarten, we cultivate strong partnerships with tamariki, whānau, and the wider community. Our fully qualified teaching team are skilled at fostering and nurturing children’s social competence, which includes developing self-confidence, communication skills, emotional regulation, and empathy.

Philosophy/Environment – Children learn by doing, and the power of play provides a vehicle for children to grow and develop knowledge, skills and learning dispositions. Our environment is richly resourced, featuring an expansive variety of loose parts. Exploring these open-ended resources encourages the development of learning dispositions, such as setting tasks (formulating their own plans), engagement (focused attention), persistence (problem-solving), playfulness, creativity, curiosity, and imagination. These dispositions foster the critical thinking necessary for mathematical, scientific, and literacy learning. This “hands-on” approach to learning not only develops and extends important foundations but also sets the stage for ongoing learning.

Weaving our local curriculum – Our teachers are skilled at implementing a high-quality learning programme based on the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whāriki. Our practices are research-based and serve to develop and strengthen learning dispositions, knowledge, and skills for children. This approach supports children to be motivated learners who love learning and taking the lead in their learning through their interests and passions.

Bush Kindergarten – We offer a weekly outdoor programme known as “Bush Kindergarten” at Bob Bodt Reserve, directly behind our kindergarten. This classroom without walls is a platform for children to immerse themselves in the wonders of the natural world. Here we actively promote opportunities for appropriate risk and challenge, such as tree climbing, imaginative play with sticks, and much more. Exposing children to the joy of manageable risks, helps them develop the ability to make wise choices and decisions. These experiences help shape the citizens they will become in the future: capable, confident, and connected individuals.

A growth mindset – We encourage children to embrace tricky challenges, as doing so fosters and strengthens a growth mindset—a vital attribute for lifelong learning.  We empower children to view failure as a stepping stone toward success, encouraging resilience and perseverance. Through “Bush Kindergarten” and other aspects of our curriculum, we strive to instil in our children the belief that their potential is limitless, and that with effort and determination they can achieve anything they set their minds to.

Connection with the wider community  – We are proud of the strong connections we have within the local community, including our partnership with the nearby Hillsborough Heights Retirement Village which was initiated by our dear Poppa Jim! This partnership fosters intergenerational relationships, allowing both young and older members of our community to connect and bring joy to each other’s lives.

Community Participation – Community participation at Roskill South Kindergarten is valued and encouraged, and there are numerous events throughout the year where whānau are invited to participate and contribute. The creation of our pou, Te Ōhāki, to commemorate our 50-year celebration is a recent and memorable event that connected the Roskill South Kindergarten community, both past and present. Te Ōhāki is a taonga that captures the wairua, memories, and stories of the Roskill South community from the past 50 years. It provides a sense of belonging for our kindergarten whānau and will guide and protect us for the next 50 years and beyond.

Teachers as learners – Our teachers embarked on a three-year action research project exploring the enhancement of learning and teaching using ICT. Our efforts were influential in inspiring educators not only in New Zealand but also internationally and we were proud to be selected as a Centre of Innovation in 2003. Another notable accomplishment was our advancement to the finals of the 2016 Prime Minister’s Education Excellence Awards, in the category of Atahāpara – Excellence in Engaging.

These achievements stand as a testament to our ongoing commitment to research learning and teaching practices at Roskill South Kindergarten, as well as our active involvement in further research projects. Our team continues to lead in our field, contributing to articles and books, facilitating workshops, hosting visitors, and presenting at conferences for the wider early childhood community.