St Heliers Kindergarten

Kia ora and welcome to St Heliers Kindergarten

Kindness – At St Heliers Kindergarten we teach our children the value of atawhai/kindness and believe we must learn to look after and be kind to ourselves, each other and our environment. We are proud protectors of the environment and are working towards our Silver award as part of the Enviroschool programme.

Respect and support – We’re passionate about supporting children to develop their social competence. We believe for children to learn effectively it is essential to focus on their wellbeing and social skills. We give children strategies to use to solve their problems and teach them how to be a good friend.

Whanaungatanga – We believe that whanaungatanga, the relationships that we have with our whanau, our tamariki and our community are integral to our children being confident learners at kindergarten. Our children support each other and we value the peer relationship between older and younger children that the tuakana-teina relationship affords. We invite our whanau to share what they are doing at home so that we can make close connections between home and kindergarten.

Space to explore and learn – Children create and explore their own interests in our large learning spaces. We regularly visit Dingle Dell, the nature reserve close to our kindergarten. This provides our children the opportunity to learn in the natural environment and has become a valued extension of how our children learn at kindergarten. Our experienced teaching team work alongside children to facilitate their learning and challenge their thinking.

Healthy bodies, healthy minds – Our large outdoor area has plenty of space for children to be active and develop their physical skills, all things that support healthy brain development. We received our Pā-Harakeke Healthy Heart Award in 2022 and encourage our tamariki to make healthy choices and to drink water.

We welcome children aged 2-5 years old and are open 8-45am to 2.45pm throughout school terms. We provided 20 hrs free for children over 3 years old. We’d love to show you all we have to offer you and your child.

FROM OUR ERO REPORT

Children learn in a richly resourced and stimulating learning environment that is welcoming and inviting to adults and children. Interesting play areas support children’s engagement in play for sustained periods of time.

St Heliers Kindergarten 2015 ERO Report
FROM OUR ERO REPORT

Teachers are highly effective in enriching children’s learning through play. Their sensitive and skilful interactions extend children’s ideas, language and knowledge in play and discussion. They encourage children to be creative, imaginative and curious.

St Heliers Kindergarten 2015 ERO Report
FROM OUR ERO REPORT

Children's social and emotional competence is well promoted. Children play co-operatively with their friends and are creative and imaginative. They make choices about their play, freely accessing a range of resources to support their interests. The large learning environment promotes large motor development and fosters group play. Teachers are responsive and engage positively with children.

St Heliers Kindergarten 2020 ERO Report
FROM OUR ERO REPORT

Teachers provide a curriculum that focuses on children's interests and dispositional learning and skills. They know the children well and follow their learning cues. Children confidently lead their own learning, choosing from a variety of learning opportunities that support and challenge them. The environment promotes exploration, curiosity, imaginative and physical play.

St Heliers Kindergarten 2020 ERO Report