At St Margaret’s Pre-School, we encourage children to be curious about their world. Our teachers provide opportunities for boys and girls to develop inquiring minds as they become creative and confident communicators and responsible citizens with a love of learning. In partnership with parents and whānau, we provide a nurturing environment where all children will thrive socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually.

Curriculum
Our curriculum is based on the vision of Te Whāriki: that children grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society. We support and extend children’s learning by providing opportunities through an inquiry-based curriculum, enriched by specialist classes, facilities and teachers.

Inquiry
Our qualified teachers, support and extend children’s natural curiosity by planning an inquiry based programme drawing on current interest, events and questions. Teachers provide a variety of experiences that weave the emerging inquiry into various curriculum areas that support the development of literacy, numeracy, motor skills, social interactions, art and music. Through active investigation children develop working theories and learn to question, investigate, experiment and theorise in their quest for answers and solutions.

Transition to school
We understand the importance of a smooth transition from pre-school to school as our children move to the next stage of their learning journey. Our transition to school programme offers older boys and girls the opportunity to experience the routines, environment and expectations of this next stage with one of our ECE and primary qualified teachers. All children are offered a term of this classroom experience up to three times a week. This complements the school visits they may be offered by the school they will be attending. In addition, our Pre-School boys are also invited to experience an all-boys environment at Medbury School.