Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu – Although it is small, it is precious

Welcome to Glenfield Kindergarten, a nurturing and inspiring environment where tamariki are encouraged to explore, discover, and learn through rich, play-based experiences.

Teaching team – Our passionate team of qualified and experienced kaiako from diverse backgrounds bring a wealth of knowledge, creating a stimulating, supportive and safe learning environment that fosters curiosity, creativity, and confidence, ensuring each tamaiti can thrive and develop to their fullest potential.

Relationships – At Glenfield kindergarten, relationships and whanaungatanga are at the heart of our philosophy. We foster a warm, welcoming environment where tamariki feel a deep sense of belonging and connection. We prioritise the building of meaningful relationships between tamariki, kaiako, and whānau, coming together to support and work towards shared aspirations and goals. These relationships are treasured, and we value the collaborative efforts with whānau, which are fundamental to the learning and development of each child.

Environmental focus – As a Green-Gold Enviroschool kindergarten, we are deeply committed to teaching tamariki the importance of kaitiakitanga and sustainability. We empower tamariki to engage respectfully with nature, fostering a love for our environment. Tamariki learn to plant, nurture, and harvest our beautiful fruit and vegetable gardens, and they are involved in sustainable practices such as composting, worm farming, and recycling through our special recycling stations. These activities instill a sense of responsibility and a lifelong commitment to caring for the earth.

Community – Our connections with the local community are something we pride ourselves on. We have developed strong ties with the surrounding schools, regularly visiting and welcoming visits from them to promote tuakana-teina relationships and to support a smooth transition to school for our tamariki. We also extend our sustainability focus into the homes of our whānau by supporting their own journeys with visits from programmes like the Compost Collective and Kaipātiki Pest Free, ensuring that our commitment to the environment is shared beyond our gates.

Belonging – We celebrate the diversity of our community, ensuring that every child’s culture, language, and identity are seen, valued, and woven into the  kindergarten. We recognise the richness that each child and their whānau brings to our learning environment, and we create opportunities for tamariki to share their cultural practices, stories, and celebrations. This commitment to cultural visibility and appreciation ensures that all tamariki feel proud of their heritage, while learning to respect and understand the cultures of others, promoting kotahitanga and a strong sense of belonging in our community.

School preparation – Our rich school readiness programme is designed to prepare tamariki for their next learning journey at primary school, while staying true to our philosophy of learning through play. In collaboration with local schools and whānau, we have developed “The Koru Club”—a tailored programme that supports tamariki in making a confident transition to primary school. Through The Koru Club, children strengthen executive function such as fine and gross motor development, early literacy and numeracy, social skills, and independence. They are also encouraged to enhance their problem-solving abilities, creativity, group play, and storytelling. Our kaiako are committed to providing high quality education, social emotional competence and early academic preparation.