A place for everyone Epsom North Kindergarten provides a welcoming and inclusive environment, valuing and respecting all the diverse cultures, beliefs and languages of our community. 

Independence and confidence – With us children are supported to develop their individual mana through independent investigations, negotiation, goal setting, and problem solving. Questioning, mistake making, risk taking, and trial and error are all encouraged as valid and essential to their learning and development within the safety of our learning environment. 

Tikanga Values and Virtues – Through modelling and communications, teachers support children in acquiring empathy, conscience, self-regulation, respect, kindness, tolerance, and fairness. Our own kindergarten treaty, known as Our Responsibilities, encourages the use of these values and respectful behaviours.  

Tino rangatiratanga, children lead their learning – Our learning environment enables teachers to ‘step-back’, safely supporting and empowering children to build tino rangatiratanga in their exploration and learning. Children choose their own activities and learning resources and their interests and ideas lead our planning. 

Whanaungatanga working in partnership – At Epsom North teachers see ourselves as equal partners in the learning process. We work alongside children, facilitating and scaffolding learning through play and social interactions.  

Mana Aotūroa Relationships – Whānau share their cultural skills and knowledge to enhance learning. Whānau and child voices are woven throughout children’s learning portfolios. We have a Parent Whānau Group who work together to support us in all that we do. The meetings are open to all families and are a great way to get involved in kindy life.  

Bicultural curriculum – The New Zealand bicultural curriculum is woven through our practices, responding to and respecting Tikanga Māori and Te Reo within daily interactions and the learning environment. As a multicultural kindergarten we believe the more we work together to enhance understandings and awareness of Māoritanga the stronger and richer our understandings and responses shall be.  

We welcome visitors weekdays from 9 to 11am. Your children can explore our environment while you learn more about us and our programme. We hope to see you soon!