Kindergartens
We have 24 kindergartens throughout Southland placed at the heart of rural and urban communities.
We work hard to ensure all children at every kindergarten experience the best teaching and learning environments.
Our kindergarten locations are listed below.
Spaces available now at Bluff, Clarendon, Elston Lea, Grasmere, Kew, Northern Southland, Ranui, Rockdale
Otatara Kindergarten
Kia Ora Koutou, Otatara Kindergarten is located on-site at the local primary school, which means we have a strong relationship and get involved in weekly kapa haka sessions with the new entrant class and Jump Jam in the community hall with the whole school. We have an excellent transition to school process as the majority of our tamariki go to Otatara School next door.
As we are an Enviroschool kindergarten, we believe in promoting sustainable environmental practices. We value manaakitanga, which is the ways we care for people, places and things, in a nurturing, caring, friendly, environmentally aware manner.
We respect both parties of Ti Tiriti o Waitangi and we include te reo, waiata, and tikanga within our environment and practices.
Our kindergarten operates a full year model and only closes for an extended break over the Christmas/New Year period.
To find out more and arrange a time to meet our friendly team, please contact us.
Our own Place for Discovering Nature – Taiao Tuhura
Aligned to our strategic goals, we have an emphasis on nature and have programmes within our kindergarten days called Nature Discovery. In these programmes, small groups of children/tamariki go out on a regular basis to play in and with nature at local parks and reserves.
Our Board of Governors is committed to providing these programmes for our tamariki and to further enhance this we have recently purchased our own section of land. We are really pleased to have found our own place for Nature Discovery in Myross Bush, which includes part of the Kerr’s Bush native reserve.
Doing what kids have done for centuries – playing with nature, climbing trees, splashing in puddles, making mud cakes and caring for one another – builds resilience, cooperation, perseverance, playfulness and risk taking.
Our Nature Discovery programmes require whanau involvement for tamariki to participate and parents love it, especially the Dads.
We believe this is the very best use of our resources and that we are preparing our tamariki to become the citizens of the future, who will help protect the environment and our communities for healthy, happy tamariki and whanau of the future.
Oxford Kindergarten
At Oxford Kindergarten we love to have fun! We offer interesting, natural spaces for children to explore and investigate, providing an unhurried and relaxed environment for them to develop confident and competent learners.
We are passionate about the community of Gore and regularly plan excursions to provide opportunities for learning outside the classroom. Recent outings have included visiting the Windsor Park Rest Home, attending a basketball game, taking part in the Christmas Parade and visiting local primary schools.
We also make annual trips to visit Dolamore Park and the Mataura River where children can make connections with their everyday learning within the natural environment.
Relationships with whanau/family are integral to our kindergarten. We are lucky to have a diverse range of urban and rural families attending, and their identities and culture are reflected throughout the kindergarten. We love to involve families in our programme and hold family nights each term, regular family excursions and informal chats on a daily basis.
Flexible spaces for attendance are available, with options for children to be at kindergarten all day or just for the morning.
To find out more and arrange a time to meet our friendly team, please contact us.
Ranui Kindergarten
At Ranui Kindergarten children are nurtured and supported to discover their own capabilities and successes. We work with and alongside whānau to create strong links between home, kindergarten and community environments. We strive to make everyone feel welcome as soon as they walk through the gate.
We have a vast, natural outdoor area which invites tamariki to explore their physical skills and take managed risks while having fun.
As an enviroschool kindergarten, we are committed to the protection and sustainability of our whenua (land). Once a week, through the Nature Discovery programme, a small group of tamariki explore the natural environment and world around them.
Whānau are an important part of our kindergarten community and are encouraged to take part in experiences with their tamariki. We have an open door policy and whānau are welcomed.
Our kindergarten operates a full year model and only closes for an extended break over the Christmas/New Year period.
To find out more about us and to arrange a time to meet our friendly team please contact us or pop in.
Riverton Kindergarten
At Riverton Kindergarten we value relationships, learning together and using conversations to connect us. We encourage children to be active, confident explorers, solve problems and make decisions.
Our smaller group size of just 20 children ensures all children have space and time for exploration.
Community involvement is important to us; we encourage our community to be involved with the kindergarten and we involve our children with the wider community.
We use local resources such as the museum and seashore within our programme. Wherever possible we incorporate what is happening in the community with our learning.
Parents and visitors are welcome to join in with us at kindergarten and on excursions.
Our kindergarten operates a full year model and only closes for an extended break over the Christmas/New Year period.
To find out more and arrange a time to meet our friendly team, please contact us.