Our Curriculum
Our curriculum is grounded in Te Whāriki, Aotearoa New Zealand’s early childhood curriculum. Te Whāriki provides a holistic, inclusive framework that supports every child to grow as a confident, capable learner. It weaves together the aspirations of whānau, teachers, and the children themselves, recognising that learning happens through relationships, exploration, and meaningful experiences.
Ako and whanaungatanga sit at the heart of this approach: we listen, learn, and design learning together.
What Learning Looks Like — Te Āhua o te Ako
Children at Kaitiaki Kindergartens learn through:
- Open‑ended play that supports imagination, language, and thinking skills
- Group experiences like music, stories, and shared discussions
- Kai times that foster independence, self‑help skills, and social connections
- Outdoor exploration that builds confidence, resilience, and physical development
- Project work and extended learning sparked by their interests and questions
Our qualified and experienced kaiako work alongside children, observing, listening, extending ideas, and gently guiding learning. Through this, tamariki build essential skills such as confidence, problem solving, kindness, cooperation, and a love of learning.
Te Whāriki Early Childhood Curriculum
Enviroschools
Our kaitiakitanga Enviroschool approach fosters sustainability by encouraging tamariki to care for people and the planet. Tamariki learn through hands‑on exploration, shared decision‑making, and meaningful action in their local environment. The Enviroschools kaupapa guides us with principles that empower children, honour Te Ao Māori, celebrate diversity, and strengthen sustainable, connected communities.
Every Enviroschool looks different, shaped by its people, place, and culture. Our journey is created alongside tamariki, kaiako, whānau, and our community as we work toward a healthy, sustainable future. We have been globally recognised for our innovative approach to sustainable education, you can see some of our Enviroschool mahi by watching the video linked below.
Transition to School
The move to primary school is an exciting and natural next step. Throughout their time with us, tamariki develop the confidence, independence, and foundational skills that help them feel prepared for school. Our daily programme weaves in early literacy, numeracy, problem solving, communication, and social skills, aligning with the New Zealand Curriculum.
We maintain strong relationships with local primary schools; many kindergartens take part in visits or shared activities so children can become familiar with school environments in a safe, supported way. Our team partners with whānau, offering guidance, organising school visits, and sharing information so tamariki leave kindergarten confident, capable, and ready for their next adventure.