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Milford Kindergarten2024-08-01T20:36:05+00:00

Kia ora and welcome to Milford Kindergarten

Milford Kindergarten is situated in a quiet street between two native forest reserves with a wonderful, natural environment that facilitates rich and integrated play-based learning.

Environmental focus – Located between the coast and two native Puriri Forests, we have a strong focus on nature, sustainable practices, and community. We’re part of the Enviroschool programme where we learn to care for Papatuanuku by, for example, recycling, gardening and sharing our harvest. Encouraging Rangatiratanga (leadership) and Maanakitanga (care and kindness) is also an important part of the Enviroschool programme for us.

Nurturing mana – Our environment provides the perfect place to nurture our children’s mana naturally. Our extensive natural environment is a great place for growing strength, coordination and balance. Mana is enhanced as tamariki gain mastery of their bodies, act as tuakana, learn to take turns and challenge themselves, and to celebrate their development and extend their skills.

Whanaungatanga – Relationships are at the heart of life at our kindergarten and are so important for each child’s learning journey. We work in partnership with our families who are actively involved in kindergarten life – from parent meetings, workshops, Storypark, portfolios, celebratory hui, school visits, trips and special events!

Community connections– Connecting with the community is an important part of our kindy experience. Milford Primary School tamariki, the Takapuna Children’s librarian, and grandparents are regular visitors We are closely involved in Pupuke Kahui Ako community of learners, working collaboratively with local schools.

Ready for school – We support children in developing skills for school and have a good relationship Milford, Campbells Bay, and Takapuna Primary schools. This helps our tamariki feel confident and excited about the next stage in their learning journey.

Holistic approach – We place a lot of importance on supporting children to develop their social and emotional skills – dispositions that they will continue to build on as they grow. While they are with us tamariki have opportunities to develop communication with others, make friends, share, develop resilience, express their feelings and more. These skills set tamariki up for life.

Healthy bodies, healthy minds – Milford Kindergarten promotes healthy lifestyles. We have achieved the Healthy Heart Pā-Harakeke award for the four times in a row. Tamariki learn that good nutrition and physical exercise, are important for physical, mental, and emotional health. We integrate learning, incorporating hauora (wellbeing), science, technology, mathematics, and literacy in real life learning activities that really appeal to children.

Learning through play – Our qualified and passionate team provide a quality learning programme to engage and inspire our tamariki. From water play to carpentry, arts and gardening, our tamariki enjoy a wide range of activities and experiences that support them to develop important skills and positive attitudes that will set them up for life. Our kids love to explore, to be creative, and to learn along the way in our welcoming environment, where they can belong and feel at home, included and nurtured. Children love our loose parts resources that encourage open ended learning. With loose parts anything is possible! Children indulge their imagination as they explore the materials and solve problems. This supports the development of communication, negotiation and social skills as they play together.

Specialist care – Our kaiako are trained in implementing the Incredible Years Teacher Programme which supports young children with self-regulation and their social, emotional and academic competence.

Inclusive learning – Each child is on their own learning journey and we pride ourselves on our ability to support each child and their individual needs. We undertake continual professional development and also work with outside agencies such as MoE to ensure that the best possible learning outcomes are achieved for each tamariki and their whaanau. We understand that trusting relationships with families, whaanau are key to these outcomes too.

Our younger children’s needs are valued and supported as they settle into kindy, acknowledging the greater care they need as they grow their belonging and confidence. Tuakana-teina relationships are valued and older tamariki are supported to learn how to care for their younger peers, showing manaakitanga.

We welcome children from 2 to 6 years old and offer 20hrs free Early Childhood Education for all ages. We are open from 8.45am to 2.45pm during school terms. We’re a language rich community and our staff languages include Te Reo Maori, Japanese, Romanian and English.

We ask interested families to come in and visit so they can get a sense of our kindergarten, and learn more about the work we do. If you believe that our kindergarten is a good fit for your child, we then recommend completing a waiting list form or taking an information folder home so you can complete the waiting list form either on-line or in person.

We welcome you to come and visit us on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9.30am until 11am – we’d love to show you all we have to offer.

  • WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

    Milford Kindergarten is a nurturing and playful environment where every child and their whanau is made to feel welcome and cared for.  We have really loved the experience that Milford Kindergarten has given our children, and have seen just how fully inclusive the teachers and other children are of all tamariki that get to experience this amazing place.    Like all tamariki, our kids started their first day a bit nervous about being away from us for the first time.  Thanks to the amazing indoor and outdoor environment for play and the way that the teachers really seek to understand and bring out each child’s personality, they have both blossomed into confident little people with a true sense of themselves. - July 2022

    Mellor whānau

  • WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

    Wow, so hard to say good bye…. We feel so very lucky to have been able to watch our boys grow and explore at Milford Kindy. To have a safe environment where they could be themselves and learn through play, with guidance from teachers we love and trust!  All unique experiences for four very different boys. Hawken we are so proud of all you have learnt and achieved in your time at Milford kindy. - May 2022    

    Powles whānau

  • WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

    We could write a lot about Milford kindy, and it is all good! We have absolutely loved our time in the Kindy community and it has been such a great experience for Ben. We have seen Ben develop from being a little bit timid and shy when he first started, to being a confident, energetic chatterbox! It has been awesome to see him become more independent, watch him persevere and develop life skills. We really love the free-range nature of the kindy, and the absence of too much structure. The emphasis on the environment, the gardens, animals and the introduction to Maori culture have all added to his experience. We have developed a great relationship with teaching staff and have enjoyed watching Ben build a special bond with you all. Thank you for everything you have done for Ben. We will always cherish the time we have spent with the kindy! - June 2022  

    Page whānau

  • WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

    Child feedback - I Remember when I made a quick flip book of the two hamsters by taking lots of pictures on the iPad and Amanda printed them out and putting the book together. By flicking through them really fast I created the effect of an animated movie. I loved Amanda’s dog Violet visiting and fire nights and picnics at kindy.  I will always remember my kindy teachers and I still have friends at school that I met at kindy.- May 2022

    Jackson

  • WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

    Child feedback - I loved playing with the bricks and wooden planks outside and making pools of water in the sandpit.   I miss all of the teachers and love seeing them when I’m  allowed to visit. I Remember my special construction portfolio for all of my block creations. I still find it hard to take my constructions apart. I loved the community forest experience with the teachers and kindy friends being there to play with. - May 2022

    Tasman

  • WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

    Child feedback - Really likes playing with the volcanos especially when it’s pink! Loves the smiles he gets to see every morning from all of the teachers. Enjoys playing in the boat and workshop plus hot glue guns but probably loves the sandpit the most. He has grown some great friendships especially with Harry. - May 2022

    Hawken

  • WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

    Child feedback - I had so much fun in the sandpit and you were perfect teachers, I liked playing with the other students. Playing in the workshop was one of my favourite things to do it was fun exciting and cool. I liked everything. I loved playing basketball it was another favourite thing to do. My second favourite thing was the wooden boat. I loved drawing and painting inside and tied favourite was getting ready for the community forest and going into the community Forrest. - May 2022

    Mckinley

  • WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

    Child feedback -  I have had such a great time over the last 2 years at Kindy, I have loved playing and learning & have made lots of new friends.  It was a little bit scary at the start but now it’s not scary at all. I am really fond of all the teachers and love doing things around the kindy with them.  My favourite part of kindy has been playing outside. I really love the swings but my favourite thing over the last wee while has been the monkey bars. I could not do them when I first started here but have learnt over time and now I can do them all. I also really like having all of the animals around.  I really like making things and taking them home for mummy, daddy and Hugo. It is really cool that I have been able to have a week overlap with Hugo and I am going to show him around and all of the activities that he can do here. I am going to teach him how we do things here like matt time and lunch time and playing. Thank you, Milford Kindy, and all of the teachers for caring for me, helping me, teaching me, playing with me and making me feel at home. - June 2022

    Ben

  • WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

    Milford Kindergarten has been an incredible experience for our two children. They've flourished and learned immensely during their time there. The teachers are exceptional—truly passionate about what they do. The variety of engaging activities provided always keeps the kids interested. The outdoor play area, rich with nature, is ideal for exploration. We always enjoy the frequent events and opportunities to connect with other parents - July 2024.

     

    Alice

  • FROM OUR ERO REPORT

    High quality planning, assessments and evaluations indicate that teachers are responsive to children’s changing needs and interests.

    Milford Kindergarten 2015 ERO Report

  • FROM OUR ERO REPORT

    Children are engaged in real learning experiences that frequently stem from their own wonderings, goal setting and investigations.

    Milford Kindergarten 2015 ERO Report

  • FROM OUR ERO REPORT

    Children are settled and have warm, friendly relationships with their peers and staff.

    Milford Kindergarten 2015 ERO Report

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