Sandringham Kindergarten

Welcome to Sandringham Kindergarten, a warm and nurturing establishment located at 2 Kenneth Avenue in Auckland, New Zealand. As an important part of our philosophy, we strive to support children in developing their independence, self-help skills, and social competence.

At Sandringham Kindergarten, we embrace Te Ao Māori and incorporate values such as manaakitanga (respect and generosity), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and whanaungatanga (relationships) into our daily practices. Our calm and engaging environment encourages children to take ownership of their learning at their own pace.

We believe in creating a dynamic learning environment that evolves and adapts to the interests and needs of the children. Each day, we set up different provocations and activities that focus on current interests and develop various skills for individual children and larger groups.

One special role that children have the opportunity to take on is being the 'Special Helper' for the day. This role empowers them to lead activities, ring the bell, and sit next to the teacher during mat time. It fosters independence, helpfulness, confidence, and leadership skills. It also helps create a sense of citizenship and learner agency within the kindergarten community.

Through our mat times, we prepare children for school by teaching them patience, listening skills, and respect for others. We also give them the opportunity to build confidence by sharing news, stories, creations, or photos of their adventures. Our mat times include a range of games, songs, and movement activities to keep children engaged.

We practice 'Manaakitanga' daily, where we acknowledge and nominate children who have shown kindness, bravery, resilience, and respect towards others. Nominated children get to put a special Manaaki stone in the Manaakitanga bag, creating a positive and uplifting experience for them.

We understand the importance of supporting families during the transition process from home to kindergarten and kindergarten to school. Our dedicated team works closely with parents and whānau to ensure each child has a fun and positive experience, feeling nurtured, safe, and confident throughout the transition.

Our kaiako (teachers) are skilled in implementing the Incredible Years Teacher Programme, which supports young children in self-regulation, social, emotional, and academic competence.

We invite you to visit Sandringham Kindergarten and witness our wonderful learning environment and the experiences our tamariki (children) enjoy. Our programme planning is based on children's ideas and interests, and we value assessment portfolios that celebrate each child's successes, progress, and cultural identity.

We foster strong partnerships between home and kindergarten, actively involving parents and whānau in our programme and events.

Our kindergarten operates from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 2.30pm, and our office hours are from Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.45pm. We are closed during term breaks and public holidays.

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We look forward to welcoming you to Sandringham Kindergarten, where children thrive, learn, and grow in a supportive and enriching environment.