Ponsonby Kindergarten

Welcome to Ponsonby Kindergarten, located in Auckland, New Zealand. Established in 1926, Ponsonby Kindergarten has been providing an inquiry-based programme for nearly 100 years, where children are encouraged to discover, experience, and understand the world around them.

At Ponsonby Kindergarten, we believe in learning through play. We follow the learning interests of our children and provide resources and teaching strategies to extend those interests. Our children experience a rich, child-led play environment where their interests and inquiries are responded to. We advocate dispositional learning, which encourages the development of traits such as patience, perseverance, and resilience, setting up children with the attitude and tools for life-long learning.

We value strong partnerships with parents and whānau (extended family) to help children achieve their aspirations and connect their learning across home and kindergarten settings. We love to celebrate the diverse cultures and special events within our kindergarten community.

Te Ao Māori, the Māori world, is an integral part of our curriculum. We acknowledge Māori as tangata whenua (people of the land) of Aotearoa and explore the rich values of Te Ao Māori. Our children sing waiata (Māori songs), recite karakia (prayers), discuss pūrakau (Māori legends), and speak te reo (Māori language) daily. We have a range of resources to support our learning of te reo me ngā tikanga Māori (Māori language and customs).

Nature and sustainability play an important role in our learning at Ponsonby Kindergarten. Our children love our large garden, where they actively participate in its formation and upkeep. They also learn to value the bug and insect life it attracts. Our teachers explain and help children see the benefits of sorting and recycling. We are proud to be part of the Enviroschools programme, which helps us build a sustainable future and teach the importance and benefits of looking after our planet.

Our dedicated teachers at Ponsonby Kindergarten are warm and welcoming. All teachers are experienced and qualified, and they have completed the Incredible Years Teacher Programme, which supports young children with self-regulation and their social, emotional, and academic competence.

We invite you to arrange a time to visit our kindergarten, as we would love to meet you. Our teachers share information about children's learning in presentations and record the learning of each child in portfolios that clearly show continuity and developing complexity.

At Ponsonby Kindergarten, our children are confident, capable, self-managing learners. They know the routines and rituals of the kindergarten well and share that knowledge with others.

Our kindergarten hours are Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 3.30pm, and our office hours are from 8am to 4.45pm, also Monday to Friday. We are closed during term breaks and public holidays.

Head over to our AKA blog to see what's happening in our extended network. We look forward to welcoming you to Ponsonby Kindergarten, where learning through play and strong partnerships create a nurturing and enriching environment for our children.