Welcome to Kauri Park Kindergarten, where wonderment and curiosity of the world around us fosters a positive learner identity for a lifetime!

We’re located in a quiet suburban area of Birkdale alongside Rangatira Reserve, next to Kauri Park School. We welcome tamariki aged 2-6 years old and offer 20hrs free every week. Licensed for just 40 children, we really get to know our families well and work together to ensure each child has the very best early education.

Our philosophy focuses on children’s identity, encompassing four aspects: Self-Identity, Social Identity, Cultural Identity, and their Nature Connectedness. These serve as a framework through which we view each child’s individuality within a diverse community of learners.

Relationships at heart – Supporting tamariki to develop a sense of belonging and building strong relationships with our parents and whānau is very important to us. We work in consultation with parents and whānau around your aspirations for your child, making time and space for regular discussion. We facilitate an engaged Parent Whānau Group where parents can actively participate in organising fundraising and family events.

Individualised transition – You can be assured that your child will be nurtured in kindergarten life by experienced kaiako. Each child is unique so an individual transition plan will be designed in partnership with families. We support each child within a group setting and work alongside them to understand and support their unique strengths and interests.

Mana and Kaitiaki – We have a strong emphasis on social and emotional learning, creating an environment of empathy, communication, listening and kotahitanga (team work). Through group experiences, outdoor play, and collaborative inquiry children learn to cooperate, solve problems and support one another. Tamariki enjoy regular walks to the ngāhere (bush) next door, being active caretakers of their environment, supporting their mana.

Our environment – Kaiako have created a home away from home where plants and natural resources create an inspiring space to explore. From cosy reading nooks for quiet reflection, to a bustling art area where children work on their masterpieces, we have areas to cater for every interest. Children can move freely from inside to outside which supports their sense of independence and connection to nature. Our large leafy outdoor environment has lots of magical spaces with ‘loose parts’ to make and create whatever a child’s imagination can dream up! All of which offer physical challenge with lots of managed risk helping children build resilience. We offer year round garden to table experiences. These are important for children as they promote healthy eating habits, sustainability, and hands-on learning about food sources.

Learning through play  – We create time and space for learning through play as we understand the importance of play in supporting creativity, imagination, language and social skills, physical and emotional development. All curriculum areas including literacy and numeracy are woven thoughtfully into the kindergarten day through the use of games and wide range of resources.

The inquiry approach – Children experience the inquiry process alongside kaiako who co-construct the learning while facilitating opportunities for questioning, investigation and collaborative exchange of ideas. We acknowledge and foster dispositions of learning which encompass curiosity, critical thinking, collaboration, reflection, and a growth mindset, fostering a deep and lifelong love for learning. Children’s successes and milestones are shared through portfolio’s and online through the Storypark app.

Community connections – We have recently celebrated our 50-year anniversary. Over this time, we’ve developed strong connections with our local community, schools, environmental groups, businesses and other organisations. Our relationships with school networks support smooth and positive transitions to school for our tamariki. Working together ensures children thrive and develop a strong sense of belonging to their community.

Our Kaiako/teachers and team

Our kaiako are all qualified, registered, experienced teachers who have worked together for several years. Our team are proudly diverse, with a variety of cultural backgrounds (Speaking English, Te Reo, Tongan, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Sinhala). We are dedicated to ongoing professional development and regularly participate in research projects with local universities and welcome wider educational groups.  We are trained in the Incredible Years programme which supports young children with self-regulation and their social, emotional and academic competence.