Henderson Kindergarten

Henderson Kindergarten provides a rich and stimulating learning environment and is a place where children can happily learn and thrive. We provide a large outdoor natural environment which fosters children’s curiosity and independence and is an area where children can explore a range of interests. We implement a play based approach to learning where children can explore, experiment, discover and solve problems in imaginative and playful ways.

We are located next to the Opanuku reserve and is a longstanding establishment with a well-established reputation for top quality, innovative teaching.

We cater to a range of age groups from 2 to 5 years where all children are encouraged to play and learn with and alongside each other. This fosters co-operation and the implementation of Māori concepts such as Ako and Tuakana-Teina.

We pride ourselves on offering a centre where everyone is welcome to learn confidently and at their own pace. Children here demonstrate a real sense of belonging. They settle quickly and establish effective relationships with each other and the teachers.

Children are able to pursue and develop their interests with the support of caring and capable teaching staff.

Our team values the input of family and whānau, and encourage regular involvement. We also ensure that we include family aspirations for their child in their documentation and ensure that these are encouraged throughout their learning journey. We also include family and whānau input in fundraising and other kindergarten events. We love to work collaboratively with each other and the families of our little ones to make sure they are being supported in ways which fit their unique needs.

We also help children with a smooth transition to school by ensuring that they have developed essential skills for life.

We feed into a range of local schools in our area and many of our children have gone on to attend these schools with confidence.

The teaching team all have a sound knowledge of Te Reo Maori to ensure that we deliver bicultural learning programmes based on the Te Whāriki curriculum.

Our learning philosophy

For the past 110 years, the Auckland Kindergarten Association has been igniting young minds by encouraging them to explore their imaginations through play. For many of us, kindergarten was where we began our life of learning; it was where we started learning skills like sharing, tolerance, patience, respect and self-confidence.

We view children as capable, competent, life-long learners, and our philosophy encourages children to make their own learning choices, problem-solve and observe and explore at their own pace…with support from teachers, parents, wider whānau and their peers. We value the importance of child-initiated, play-based experiences. Our kindergarten teachers nurture your children’s interests and natural curiosity by working alongside them, expanding language and introducing mathematical and science concepts, as well as literacy, digital technology and sustainable practices.

Our centres have gardens and natural outdoor spaces where children can create, explore, be imaginative and expressive. There’s plenty of room to safely run about, being imaginative and physically active. In fact, the natural world is essential to free-range play. AKA encourages each kindergarten community to explore and enrich their diversity and uniqueness. Some have regular excursions into the local community; some are Enviroschool kindergartens that live and breathe sustainable practices; while others engage in long-term research on child interest-based programmes of learning.

As an organisation, we formally acknowledge the dual heritage of Aotearoa / New Zealand, and work to uphold the spirit and intent of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in each kindergarten. We are accessible, secular and welcoming to the wide diversity of tamariki and whānau who attend our centres, and value ongoing partnerships between teaching teams and leadership staff with families and whānau. We value ongoing learning for teachers, parents and whānau, and the sharing of knowledge, skills and attributes is fundamental to achieving the best learning outcomes for children. Teachers and staff can access collegial professional time to ensure that quality practice is enhanced so current theories of learning and development within New Zealand’s world-class Te Whāriki early childhood curriculum are shared and understood.

Children learn

Children in our kindergartens have the opportunity to:

• Feel confident, develop responsibility and a sense of independence
• Play meaningfully alongside other children and adults
• Develop effective communication skills
• Persevere, problem-solve and take risks
• Explore limits, boundaries, routines and conflict resolution strategies
• Practice fine motor skills such as threading, writing, cutting and grasping
• Develop gross motor play such as physical games like climbing, throwing, kicking, balancing and lifting
• Develop creative expressions through painting, music, collage, movement, dance, finger-painting, drawing, cutting, pasting and story sharing
• Develop early numeracy, literacy and science skills
• Learn techniques through trial and error
• Explore the world through experimenting, questioning and curiosity
• Develop confidence and celebrate both attempts and successes
• Develop a passion for learning and a love of life
• Have fun!

Older children will be supported in their transition to school to make this process as simple and seamless as possible. Book a visit here on Kindello today, we’d love to meet you.