Kindergarten Education
Our Rudolf Steiner Kindergartens take an unhurried approach to childhood by providing a safe and secure environment that is homely and nurturing.
- Steiner/Waldorf philosophy with strong rhythms celebrating seasonal changes, festivals and storytelling naturally aligning with te ao māori
- An unhurried approach to early childhood, letting tamariki unfold in their own time through creative play
- Opportunity to foster the individual aspirations and creativity inherent in every child through play based/free play education
- Homely environment with beautiful established gardens that honours the rhythm of the seasons
- Simple natural resources supporting imaginative play and exploration which nurtures the curiosity of the world around the tamariki
- Nutritious meals are prepared with tamariki following tikanga māori practice
- Nurturing relationships between tamariki, whānau, kaiako and staff through community events, parent involvement, education and support
- Enrolments for tamariki from 3 years old up to and including 6 year olds
- All full day tamariki participate in rest time after lunch to support their growth and hauora
- An established transition programme to support tamariki going into Class 1 at Taikura Rudolf Steiner School
- Playgroup is available for tamariki up to 3 years and their whānau which provides a gentle introduction to Rudolf Steiner education
The first seven years are a time for tamariki to experience their childhood in a place where they can grow, feeling safe, without pressure to perform or compete. Through active, imaginative play, tamariki develop the skills required for this stage of their development, including cognitive and problem solving skills, creativity, imagination, self-expression, concentration, investigation, language, numeracy and social skills.
During the child’s early years, we work to foster the wonderful vitality and creativity inherent in every child, establishing solid roots for the future. Reverence for the surrounding helps to instil a feeling of gratitude; rhythm in daily activities develops into strong will for work; imaginative play helps to develop the creative and independent thought that will be needed for later intellectual learning. Tamariki gradually learn to work with others cooperatively, collaboratively and with initiative.
We have 2 kindergartens:
- Taikura Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten (opposite the school, on Nelson Street)
- Kererū Rudolf Steiner Kindergarten (corner of Nelson & Fitzroy Streets)
Both kindergartens are licensed for 40 tamariki & have a mix of tamariki aged from 2 – 6 years old
A nursery group is available for tamariki aged 2 – 3 years
Kindergarten hours are:
- Mornings (8.30am – 1.15pm)
- Full days (8.30am – 3.00pm)
Morning tea and lunch are provided
Families can use their child’s 20 Hours ECE at kindergarten
Fees are charged for hours outside of the 20 ECE hours
A transition programme is included for tamariki in their final year of kindergarten to support their transition to Class 1 at Taikura Rudolf Steiner School
For more information or enrolment options please contact the Kindergarten Operations Manager at enrolments@taikura.school.nz
Rhythm
The day at our kindergartens unfolds with ease as the tamariki move from one activity to another, gently guided by their kaiako. Free play is the basis for tamariki exploring, social development, growing communication skills, problem solving and expressing their creativity and imagination.
The days are structured to allow tamariki to take joy in big free movements at various times and to enjoy sitting quietly at others. Tamariki quickly become familiar with the rhythm of the day. Kaikao create a predictable routine, where tamariki know what will happen next and relax into each activity. Tamariki enjoy spending time indoors as well as outdoors every day and in every weather. The movement and fresh air satisfy their need to be energetic and run, allowing them to relax and become absorbed in stories and play when they move indoors.
Most resources are from nature or are hand-made from natural materials. This enables children to experience directly the beauty of the natural world, calls upon their capacity for fantasy and creativity, nourishes a healthy sense development and provides the beginning of relating to the world as a moral human being.
Our grounds are landscaped to enhance exploratory, imaginative and creative play, and to nurture a connection with nature and its elements” (Waekura, 2019).
Food
Each day the kindergarten children and the teachers sit down to enjoy a simple meal together. We use fresh seasonal produce and organic ingredients to make our daily lunch. Teachers and children come together to prepare the food and children can enjoy the rich sensory experiences of the process. Together we set the table so that it is beautiful and inviting.
Our meals become part of our weekly rhythms which feeds the children’s need for order and security, i.e. “Is it bun day today?” Where possible we use the food harvested from our garden so the children can experience, planting, tending, harvesting and feasting!
Play
In kindergarten, teachers strive to create the space to support children’s active self-directed play. Creative play is like a spring that bubbles up from deep within a child. It is refreshing and enlivening. It is a natural part of the make-up of every universal child. The child’s love of learning is intimately linked with a zest for play. Whether children are working on a new physical skill, social relations, or coming to new ideas, they approach life with a playful spirit. There is no distinction between work and play.
In their play, using open-ended resources, children create themes and motifs which reflect and re-order their understanding of the world as it is and as they will go on to create it. Play requires fantasy and imagination, the very foundations of flexibility and creativity which also promote self-confidence and self-esteem.
“Play embraces children’s total experience. They use it to tell their stories; to be funny and silly; to challenge the world; to imitate it; to engage with it; to discover and understand it; and to be social. They also use play to explore their inmost feelings. In a single game – playing alone or with friends – the child can switch play modes, making new discoveries which lead to new thinking; then being reminded of something else and changing the play accordingly, and suddenly being swamped by feelings, which require their own corresponding set of images, propelling the game in yet another direction. Like dreams, play is not ordered and rational. It does not give priority to one kind of experience or one kind of knowledge over another.” (Sally Jenkinson, The Genius of Play, 2002)
“Play is the foundation course for all vocations from Mothers and Fathers, to architects, nurses, dentists, astronauts, filmmakers, designers, and mathematicians, scientists…all have their geneses in children’s play. Play serves as the apprenticeship for all higher learning.” (Pennie Brownlee)
Term 1
Returning tamariki start on Monday 2 February.
Transition visits for new tamariki will be held on Monday 2 February and Tuesday 3 February.
New tamariki officially start on Wednesday 4 February (unless a longer transition is required).
The school term finishes on Thursday 2 April.
Kindergarten will be open during the second week of the school holidays from Tuesday 22 April to Thursday 24 April.
Kindergarten Closed:
Waitangi Day – Thursday 6 February
Kindergarten Holiday Week – Monday 3 April to Friday 7 april
Term 2
Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July.
Kindergarten open in holidays week Monday 13 July to Friday 17 July
Kindergarten Closed:
ANZAC Monday 27 April
Matariki Friday 10 July
Kings Birthday Monday 1 June
Kindergarten Holiday Week – Monday 6 July to Friday 10 July
Term 3
Monday 13 July to Friday 25 September.
Kindergarten will be open during the second week of the school holidays from Monday 5 October to Friday 9 October.
Kindergarten Closed:
Mid Term Break – Friday 28 August to Monday 31 August
School Holidays – Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October
Term 4
Monday 5 October to Wednesday 16 December
Kindergarten Closed:
Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Friday – 23 October
Labour day – Monday 26 October
Kindergarten Holidays begin – Thursday 18 December
Opening hours:
8.30am – 3.00pm
Kindergartens are open during school term times & one week in the school holidays of Term 1, Term 2 & Term 3 (dates confirmed in September for the following year)
Spaces are available now – we invite interested families to come along for an kindergarten enquiry visit. Please see our enrolment process page for more information.
Or register for one of our Kindergarten enquiry visits
