Big preschool - 3 to 6 year olds

Kiwi Kids Preschool offers children the freedom to move, be self expressive and learn in our large indoor and outdoor environments with the support of caring and responsive teachers.

Children are encouraged to develop at their own pace with uninterrupted play and freedom to explore the classrooms and outdoor area within a safe and secure environment.

Our programme allows for children to learn while having fun! The programme is based on the emerging interests and developmental stages of the children, allowing for spontaneous experiences as well as planned. Kiwi Kids allows for children to be children and to have fun alongside their peers and teachers. 

Our transition to school programme enables the transition to primary school to be a fun and positive experience, while learning essential skills that will support that move.

Each day is a Kiwi Kids Preschool Adventure.

We are conveniently located in Hillmorton, Christchurch, just 5 minutes off highway 76 and nearby to the suburbs of- Halswell, Hoon Hay, Cashmere, Spreydon, Addington, Middleton, Wigram & Riccarton.

We start our day in the Harakeke room where we are welcomed by our friends and kaiako. 

Breakfast is on offer from 7.00-8.00.

• 9.00- Teacher hui
• 9.30- Mat-time
• 9.45- Kai
• 10.00-10.30 Inside quiet activities
• 10.30- Indoor/outdoor flow. A balance of teacher led and child-initiated experiences are on offer.
• 11.00 -Music and movement. An optional music movement session on offer.
• 11.30- Lunch for ToeToe and Eva’s group (transition group play outside)
• 12.00- Mat-time and quiet indoor activities (transition group lunch)
• 12.30- Indoor/outdoor flow. A balance of teacher led and child-initiated experiences are on offer. (transition group activity)
• 2.30- Kai
• 3.00- ToeToe room closed and join with Harakeke for indoor/ outdoor flow.
• 3.45- End of day mat-time.
• 4.15- Join in the JP for end of day play
• 4.30- Late snack

Transition To School

Violetta takes this group after lunch and works with the tamariki on the skills to help them be school ready. The tamariki love belonging to this group and they each have a scrapbook where they put their work. These scrapbooks are a real source of pride and they will love sharing all their amazing work with you. The scrapbooks are kept in the classroom.

Playball

We proudly fund Playball for children aged 4½ years and older as part of our school readiness programme. Delivered each Thursday, this age-specific movement programme supports tamariki to develop important foundational physical, social, and emotional skills through fun, engaging sessions.

From simple movement experiences through to more advanced foundational sport skills, children are guided and coached within a supportive environment that promotes learning across multiple domains. These include social and emotional skills such as cooperation, turn taking, confidence, resilience, and teamwork; early literacy and numeracy concepts including oral language, colours, shapes, and counting; alongside physical development including balance, coordination, spatial awareness, and ball skills.

Playball also supports children to listen to and follow instructions, participate positively in group experiences, and build increasing confidence and competence in movement and active play.

Playball is something our tamariki look forward to each week and helps create a strong foundation for positive participation in sport throughout their school years and beyond, encouraging healthy, active lifestyles and a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity.

The team

We are a fun and collaborative team. Everyone has their own strengths and we try to utilize these as best we can. We use hui time to share our thoughts and ideas and we are open to different points of view.  We engage in internal evaluation (self-review) regularly and want feedback and ideas from the whole team.