Hira Rural Kindergarten is a modern, spacious and attractive building in a semi rural setting which sits comfortably in its unique natural environment.
It is proudly owned and maintained by the community and is used by other groups including a very successful licensed playgroup.
We encourage this unique, strong community partnership and this is reflected in our programme. We delight in regular visits from experts in the fields of music, dancing, yoga, kapa haka and sensory motor programmes. Children and families are welcome to visit us any time...
Whanau are welcome at all times. We enjoy and value their active support in many areas ... as parent help during sessions, as part of our committee, as learners and as teachers sharing their talents, skills and interest with us. Most importantly they are experts on and advocates for their children.
Our mixed age range is fundamental to our programme as tuakana/teina (or older children mentoring others) is central to our teaching philosophy.
Children and adults celebrate and share knowledge, understanding, learning and experience. This is reflected in the acknowledgement of the uniqueness of each individual in the context of our community of learners.
Our experienced teachers provide a rich and varied programme of play and learning, with a mixture of the familiar and the new ... the challenging and the predictable.
Our older children have a daily planned group time in our special “whanau room”.
Their programme emphasises self directed challenges, sustained projects, complex thinking, conversations and readiness for school experiences.
We celebrate a wide range of cultures at Hira Rural Kindergarten, valuing and promoting the richness that diversity brings.
All teachers have a personal commitment to upholding the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, and to strengthening the bicultural partnership of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our outdoor play area is quite special, providing children with the opportunity to connect with nature...neighbouring sheep, beautiful gardens and trees, rocks and logs to climb on and move around, a place to dig and make mud pies and most importantly lots of space to explore. All this and just 12 km from the city!
Our indoor environment is very well resourced and provides a calm yet vibrant setting where children can be creative in their work and play.
We are a small and friendly centre with just 30 children.
Green Gold Enviroschool
Hira Kindergarten is a Green Gold Enviroschools Kindergarten, after attaining the highest level in 2020.
Click here to read how they achieved this outstanding result that not only benefits the children at Hira Kindergarten, but the wider community and their local environment.
