Kidsfirst Kindergartens Wales Street

Welcome to Kidsfirst Kindergartens Wales Street, located in the heart of the Halswell community in Christchurch, New Zealand. Our kindergarten is a beloved meeting place for families and has been serving the community for years. We are proud to have multiple generations of local Halswell families bringing their children to experience the best of kindergarten.

As you step inside Kidsfirst Kindergartens Wales Street, you will feel a sense of calm, warmth, and welcome. Our environment has a homelike feel and is designed to evoke curiosity, thinking, and exploration in our tamariki (children). We provide a range of carefully chosen resources to support their learning journey. Our goal is to create an environment that supports the mana (spiritual power), wairua (spirit), and mauri (life force) that our tamariki bring with them.

Outside, our beautiful and spacious backyard offers ample room for children to explore and develop their physical skills. We have a variety of movable equipment that allows children to set their own challenges, as well as grassy areas, trees, gardens, and specially designed equipment to support their physical growth and development. Our big trees provide shelter in all weather conditions, and we have peaceful areas for calm and reflection.

At Kidsfirst Kindergartens Wales Street, we follow the New Zealand early childhood curriculum, "Te Whāriki," which lays a strong foundation for later success. Our experienced teachers plan programs and focus areas based on the children's interests and their whānau's (family's) aspirations for them. We encourage tamariki to contribute to the planning process, giving them a sense of ownership and a voice in their learning.

Our dedicated teachers are here to support your child in building relationships with others, practicing sharing and cooperation, problem-solving, and developing independence. We focus on language, literacy, and numeracy skills, promoting sustainability, and fostering cultural awareness and confidence. Additionally, we place a strong emphasis on visual arts and physically active play.

We value whānau involvement and understand that each family has different demands on their time. We support and encourage whānau involvement to the extent that each family is able to give. We love it when visitors come to the kindergarten to extend the children's interests and learning.

You'll often find us out and about in our community, exploring our neighborhood and helping the children make sense of their place in it. We have strong relationships with local schools, ensuring a smooth transition for your child when they are ready for school.

We recommend enrolling your child initially for at least two full days, gradually building up to five days at their own pace. This allows our teachers to get to know your child and provides consistency in supporting their learning.

Nau mai, tauti mai - come in any time! We welcome you to visit our kindergarten, where we will show you around and make you feel at home.