Mt Albert Kindergarten

Welcome to Mt Albert Kindergarten, located at Mark Road in Auckland, New Zealand. As an establishment and point of interest, we are dedicated to providing excellent education for tamariki (children) in a welcoming and engaging environment.

At Mt Albert Kindergarten, we cater to children aged 2 to 5 years old and operate from 8.45 am to 2.45 pm. We offer 20 hours of free Early Childhood Education (ECE) to 2-5 year olds and provide two sessions each day. Our 4-hour session runs from 8.45 am to 12.45 pm, while our 6-hour session runs from 8.45 am to 2.45 pm.

One of our key focuses is empowering tamariki. In our mixed-aged setting, our teachers encourage and promote tuakana-teina relationships, where older children support the learning of the younger ones. Through this approach, children of all ages show compassion, aroha (love), tautoko (support), and manaaki (care) as they grow and learn together.

We also work collaboratively with parents of 2-year-olds to help them settle into kindergarten. Our friendly, warm, and nurturing environment and practices support parents and whānau (family) during the transition.

As a multicultural community, we celebrate diversity and cultural backgrounds. Our staff members are fluent in English, Te Reo, Mandarin, Hindi, and Samoan. This creates a sense of belonging for children in our kindergarten, where they can explore and appreciate different languages and cultures.

Our outdoor environment is truly amazing, and tamariki love to explore it. With challenging playground equipment, children develop their gross motor skills and balance. Our large sandpit is equipped with a variety of open-ended resources that foster imagination and creativity. Children are encouraged to independently choose resources that align with their unique interests and inquiries.

Learning through play is at the heart of our fully qualified, experienced, and passionate team. We provide a quality learning program and experiences that invite children to be curious, problem-solve, work cooperatively, and be resilient. Our large garden inspires children to learn about nature and sustainability, while our construction, science, art, and dramatic play resources further enrich their learning. We set up provocations based on individual and shared interests, allowing children to deepen their learning experiences.

At Mt Albert Kindergarten, we pride ourselves on our specialist care. Our kaiako (teachers) are trained in implementing the Incredible Years Teacher Programme, which supports young children with self-regulation, social, emotional, and academic competence.

Inclusive learning is paramount to us, and we have strong practices in place to ensure the best possible outcomes for each child and their whānau. We collaborate with outside agencies and undertake professional development to provide the best learning environment for all our children. We work alongside akonga (learners) and their whānau, as well as Plunket, local schools, the Ministry of Education, and education support workers.

Our dedicated teaching team is experienced and passionate about observing and extending children's interests. They document their learning through learning stories and wall displays, engaging in regular pedagogical discussions to ensure progress. Kaiako provide high-quality learning assessments, empowering children to grow their mana (power) and learning dispositions at the kindergarten. Our teachers are committed to their own professional development and internal evaluation to improve learning outcomes for tamariki and whānau.

We encourage you to get in touch with us today! We would love to show you around our kindergarten and answer any questions you may have. Our teachers plan collaboratively to develop programs and activities that reflect children's interests. We promote a calm and peaceful environment, where the pace of the day is unhurried. Children are encouraged to take increased responsibility for themselves and others.

Our kindergarten hours are from Monday to Friday, 8.45 am to 2.45 pm, while our office hours are from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4.45 pm. Please note that we are closed during term breaks and public holidays.

Don't forget to head over to our AKA blog to see what's happening in the extended network. We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming your tamariki to Mt Albert Kindergarten!